Do You Regret Getting Married So Young?

I've blogged before about things you hear when you get married young, and those still ring true. But now that I've actually stayed married for more than 72 days, there's been a new question added to the mix. 

Do you regret getting married so young?

While I think people should probably use their manners and never ever ask questions like this, I'm more than happy to answer them with a big, fat no. 

Every so often, I go through what I refer to as a mid-life crisis (though I hope I'm not halfway through my life already!) It's usually just something like wanting a tattoo or wanting to chop all my hair off or change some things in my life, but sometimes it actually feels like a crisis. One where I question all of my life choices, ever, and wonder what I will ever be able to do with my life with an degree in English.

Talking through these things with a best friend over coffee is great. But talking through them with the same person you'll be with ten years from now is fantastic. I know that no matter what, even if I have made ALL the wrong decisions and everything falls apart, I will still have someone on my team. And there just aren't even words for that.

I crave adventure. All kinds of it. I want to travel and see all sorts of places, of course, but I also want adventure here, now, at home.

It's fun to plan the future, to dream about all the trips we want to take. But it's also fun to just hop in the car and go exploring on a Tuesday night. Adventure can mean Australia, but it can also mean trying that new taco place across town. When it's with your best friend, it's all adventure.

We make the big decisions together. Where are we going to live? What's the first car we should buy? This part of life is full of those questions, and it's nice to have a partner in making them. When you're both planning on sticking together for awhile, it tends to make you want to make each other happy with the big decisions. Also, I sometimes don't make the best decisions under pressure. So it's nice to know that I won't have to explain to a future spouse why I own a house in my college town and drive a neon pink car.

We really are growing up together. I am an adult, living an adult's life, but I still feel like I have so much growing up to do. And I think I will probably feel this way for a long time...maybe forever. Sure, getting married young isn't for everyone. I'm sure there are people who maybe do regret it. But I don't. Having someone to do this with..to make the bad decisions and the big decisions, to go through the hard times and the best times and the let's-just-wing-it-times, there's just nothing like it.

I've read countless articles about things you should make sure you do before you get married, and I haven't done most of them. But I know I made the right decision, because when I read these kinds of lists, all I want to do is make plans with Chris.

Because once you've met the love of your life, backpacking through Europe without them just doesn't seem like fun at all.

Things You Hear When You Get Married Young.

I got engaged at 19 and married at 20. Apparently, this was confusing to a lot of people, because I got a lot of these reactions.

NOTE: I still get some of these comments, and we've been married for almost two years. 

1. Are you pregnant? 

Every. Single. Time. #RUDE.

2. But I'm confused...you're like, a baby. 

Ironically, this was most often said by people who were a whopping six months or so older than me.

3. But do you even know how to be married?

I'm pretty sure no one knows how to be married until they actually get married.

4. But how do you know that's what you want forever?

This is always a thinly veiled, "but how do you know there's not someone better out there?" And no matter how I answer it, we end back up at: "BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW?!"

5. Wait...have you never had sex with anyone else? 

And this matters to you because...?

6. How are you going to have money to live?

I'm pretty sure it costs money to money to live no matter if you're married or not.

7. Do you know that people who get married young are more likely to get divorced?

Do you know that people who spend their time telling other people statistics about their life are more likely to end up with zero friends? 

8. Do you even know what you want to do with your life yet? 

Not a clue. But I know I want to get married, so there's that.

9. Do your parents know about this?

Nope, my parents have no idea, but I'm telling you, random stranger. Nailed it. 

10. I would never get married that young. I mean, your life is basically over.

Anyone who thinks that their life is over once they get married should probably just not get married, no matter how old they are.

11. Why the rush?

I mean, I didn't know three years was rushing things, but that's cool.

12. But really...are you pregnant? 

Okay, bye. 

Get married, don't get married...I think everyone should just do whatever they want. I wanted to get married, so I did.

I think that meeting the person I wanted to marry so young is the luckiest thing in the world. It means we get to grow up together. Instead of telling my husband stories about things like my first real job, or my 21st birthday, or my first car wreck, I can just say, "hey, remember that?"

And I think that's pretty freaking cool.

Have you ever been asked these questions?