Too Young to Marry?

[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.

[Twisterdog]

There is no magic number.

My best friend in high school got married at 18. 24 years, 3 kids and 3 grandkids later they are still very happily married.

Was I mature enough at 18 to get married? No WAY! And I had NO desire to get married. I got married at 38, and that was just right for me.

My son is 19 and there is NO WAY he is even remotely close to being mature enough to get married. It will be years before he will ready. But, a couple of his friends in our little town got married at 18, and are doing great, four years and two kids later.

[dab_20]

I think it depends on the person, and I honestly don't care what others do. For myself, I would like to wait until I am done with school. I am in a serious relationship with my boyfriend, and we both feel there is no rush for marriage! I am only 18, and we both have 4+ years of school ahead of us. I want to live life, and truly feel like I want to spend the rest of my life with the person that I am with. There is no age for when I want to get married. I would prefer to be out of college, financially sound, and with a great guy! No matter what age that is.

I do honestly think 18 to 21 is pretty young for most people. The majority of young people that age act on impulse and don't always think things through clearly... I know I still do! I do think I am mature for my age, but certainly not enough to get married. There is no reason to rush if you are with that one person. You've got the rest of your lives!

[Amberly]

I never thought that everyone in this world has their own Dating sites. Personally, I now communicate and registered on the site meetville.com. I created a questionnaire to find a good man for life and I hope that soon I will meet my happiness and have children.

[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 ????

[kitten645]

I'm sort of with Cataholic...I dont' think marriage makes sense unless there are kids involved. I know there are a lucky few that find "the one" and are together forever. I've always had long term relationships...10+ years. But I've always found that I grow and change and people grow and change and odds of us growing in the same direction aren't likely.
Regarding "celebrity" marriages, I think they are doomed no matter the age

[RICHARD]

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.

Why and where was she hiding you?

[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.