Too Young to Marry?

[lvpets2002]

Well I married my first time at age 18 right out of highschool & for the wrong reasons.. It lasted maybe 2 yrs.. I married the second time at age 25 & again for the wrong reasons & that lasted 17 yrs.. So who is to say who is too young or too old to marry.. I do think once your into your early 20s that should be old enough.. Now I do not aggree with teenage marriages.. However I have seen those last for many of years too..

[Cataholic]

LOL, I am sure some think I have no business replying to this. That's okay, at least they are thinking.

I think people should wait as long an they can, certainly till after thrus education is finished, and a career path found or started. I think living on your own, responsible for yourself exclusively is a good idea.

I see no reason, personally, to get married.

As for Poms crack about us oldies having kids, I see far more benefit to having a child "late" in life than early. Heck, by the time I lose my ability to drive safely, I will have my own chauffeur!

[pomtzu]

As for Poms crack about us oldies having kids, I see far more benefit to having a child "late" in life than early. Heck, by the time I lose my ability to drive safely, I will have my own chauffeur!

LOL. But I'll have my kid or grandkids to choose from in that department.

A lot of interesting posts in this thread too. Even tho I married young, I didn't rush into it a matter of a few months, and I didn't "have" to get married, in spite of what a few of the nosy aunts thought. I was married over 2 years when son #1 came along. That sure put an end to their gossip!!

[Taz_Zoee]

I do not think age matters. I know two couple who married young and they are still happily together after 22 and 19 years together.
The couple that has been together for 22 years got married when they were both 20 years old.
The couple that will celebrate their 19th anniversary in November were married when she was 19 and he was 22.

My grandma married my grandpa when she was just 16. She lied about her age and apparently back in 1941 you did not have to prove your age. They were married until he died in 1996.

My boyfriend got married when he was 30 and it lasted less than 2 years. So age has nothing to do with it, IMO.

I am 37, have never been married and honestly do not ever see myself getting married. Oh well, I'm happy!

ETA: I just looked at the article and it looks like the youngest person was 21 (I didn't look through all of them, too slow to load). Didn't Macaulay Culkin get married when he was like 17 or 18? That was a HUGE deal too when that happened back in 1998.

[lvpets2002]

I will admitt I am done with the Marriage thing.. Two down the road was enough for me.. I am very content with taking care of myself & my babies.. My babies & other things keep me busy enough.. Pluss there is Lots More Crazy People Out There In The World that I do not have to meet & know..

[k9krazee]

I am a bit suprised that there are a lot of people that I graduated high school with that are married already, and I'm (almost) 22.

What bothers me is when people are rushing in to marriage because they like the idea of it (or that's my assumption of why they're rushing). If you are together, and plan on staying together, why do you need to rush into getting married? My 18 year old cousin just got married to a girl he knew for less than 6 months. And this was after the his ex broke up with him after he proposed. How can you want to marry two different people in the course of 6 months? Marriage is a huge decision! I have two 15 year old cousins that are "engaged" and they've each been dating their boyfriends for less than 4 months. Rich's 19 year old cousin got married last year and is due for her first baby soon.

It's crazy. People constantly ask Rich and I when we'll get married, but I feel like 22 is too young. I would at least like us both to finish school (he's done, I have one more year) and get a job in our field. Plus, I have NO idea how these young'ins afford a wedding (if they have one). I'm thinking about all of my student loans and when I start paying them off it's going to be $300 a month...I have no idea how we would be able to EACH pay $300/month on the loans, pay rent (or down payment + mortgage), bills, cars, etc and afford a wedding.

I think that's why the divorce rate is so high. There are stories of people marrying young and staying together forever, but I don't think that that's the norm. I think too many people are rushing in to it for wrong reasons. I had another cousin get married at 18 so they could get on welfare. Or my brother got married because (well, he won't admit this was the reason) his gf got kicked off of her parent's insurance, she's extremely diabetic, and he was joining the Air Force and she would get benefits too.

But hey, it's not my life To each their own.

[k9krazee]

My sister is 17 and has been dating this boy for a year. He wants to get married as soon as she finished high school (so 1 more year), and his MOM is even telling her how happy she'd be if she was her daughter-in-law. I don't think that parent's should encourage their 17-18 year old children to get married. I keep encouraging her to at least finish college first!

[RICHARD]

"We'll get married when you buy us the ring and pay for the wedding, no wait,
We'll pass on the wedding, Pay our loans for a year to get a head start on life......"


Look, Don't go crazy and think you need to married. Check out those people that spend 10 gajillion dollars on a wedding? I look at the prices and convert them into "material" things.

A 50,000 dollar wedding?


I could live off that for five years. EASY.

You are being smart by THINKING about marriage.

On second thought?


Don't listen to anyone and run your own life. It's way too short to
wake up one day and say, "Why did I ever listen to THAT crap!"


Rock on!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Honestly, I think it all depends on the person. I know a girl from my high school who got married even before we graduated, which I found really bizarre. Then I also know a bunch of people who are "engaged" or whatever and I think most of them are jumping into it way too soon.

Personally, I don't want to get married till I'm at least mid-twenties or later. Maybe even after I'm out of Vet School or what not.

I don't think ages mentioned in the article are too young per say, but I really think people should think it through a lot harder before they jump the gun and get married.

[wombat2u2004]

I think everyone is different, and know when they wish to get married.
My mother was married at 16, and 9 months later I popped out. Mum and Dad were married for 51 years (Dad passed away in 2000), and life was always good to them, and their marriage was terrific. Mum can now sit back and enjoy her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Me, I was married when I was 24, again at 43, and again at 59.
A sucker for punishment ????

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Or my brother got married because (well, he won't admit this was the reason) his gf got kicked off of her parent's insurance, she's extremely diabetic, and he was joining the Air Force and she would get benefits too.

I guess I don't see anything wrong with this- I think the real problem is that people have to make these kinds of choices because they can't get health care otherwise.

I see no real reason to get married personally except for the fact that there are financial benefits (insurance, taxes, etc). My husband and I decided to get married when we did so I could be on his health insurance. I had no desire to have a wedding be a big production (we got married in the municipal building) and it wasn't really a romantic thing for me, just a practical decision. We were both committed to the relationship already (and already lived together) and getting married made not a whit of difference in that regard. It also wasn't a religious thing since we are both atheist/agnostic...everyone has their own reasons for marriage and I don't really think they matter.

[wombat2u2004]

Or my brother got married because (well, he won't admit this was the reason) his gf got kicked off of her parent's insurance, she's extremely diabetic, and he was joining the Air Force and she would get benefits too.

Marriages of convenience are quite commonplace nowadays. It's easier to get the house on the hill complete with china ducks on the wall, than it is being single.

[Marigold2]

I think 30 is a good age.
After college or similar school.
After living alone for at least a year or two to learn how to take care of oneself.
After one has had some travel and culture to understand the world around us better.
After some charity work to give back.
Aroundr 30 so one has some knowlege of one's own soul, heart, intererts, beliefs, dreams, ambitions.
The 20's are such a time of great change. Who you are at 21 is not who you are at 27.
After one has time to set aside some money to start that new life with someone special. Going into a marriage broke nowadays is very difficult to say the least.

Times have changed, years ago women went to college to get their degree in MRS. now women get their degree in something for themselves.

No longer is it enough for a women to be a mom and wife. We can rule a college, a country, a hospital a foutune 55 company.

It now takes two people to support most families, women now realize they have power to lead the world and staying at home and doing diapers is not enough to satisfy their minds or their hearts.

Having a child is a great thing but so is working and be all that you can be. Using your mind, talent and hard work to get ahead and change the world if that is what you want.

Doens't mean you can't have a child, look at Hilary Clinton, Barbara Walters, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Pat Benetar and your own Dr or lawyer, electrician, nurse, clergy, soldier. They have it all.
As do millions of women. To just have a child and not experince life and use ones gray brain cells to the fullest I feel is sad.

Some women choose not to marry at all. And then there is the gay/lesbian population as well.
They should be able to live their lives as they see fit without any judgement or punishment.
If they want to adopt I think it is a beautiful thing.
I believe they will make better parents then some uneducated 15 year old inner city girl.
In fact I think their parenting skills are every bit as good as a regular family is of a man and a women, often better.
I fail to understand how any educated person can have a problem with a gay/lesbian adopting at all.

[kokopup]

I think that most men should wait until at least 30 before even thinking about getting married. I know I was not mature enough to be married until that age. Most of the problems that I encountered in marriage were because I felt like I missed out on youth. I ended up being married to my first wife for 23 years and recently celebrated 28 happy years with my second. I married my first wife when I was 18 and she was 15. Yes I know that was way to young to be getting married. I honestly believe for me I was at the right age for marrying when I got married the second time. I know that all of the petty things that made my first marriage rocky have never surfaced with my second wife. The old saying youth is wasted on the young was definitely true in my case. Get an education and see a little of the world before making that big step. Later is better, believe me.

[sana]

My mom got married ta the age of 21. I want to get married at the age of 19 or 18