Ah, young love, what a beautiful thing. But do young couples really experience a happily ever after, or are they doomed from the start?
Many believe the college years include finding a special person and putting a ring on a finger. However, is marriage really built for younger couples?
It is easy to see younger couples do experience more troubles, and it is possible age is a factor.
I spoke to Karina Sergi, licensed marriage and family therapist, and she pointed out that though younger couples seek counsel more often than those older, troubles do not exactly originate from age.
“Seventy-five percent of the couples that see me are married young,” Sergi said. “The problem with couples is not necessarily that they were married young, but it is really about their commitment to one another.”
If marriage is within your sights, you have to be willing to grow and change with your partner.
The years of 18 to 25 are extremely important years within a person’s life. These years bring a significant amount of growth and change, and relationships tend to be challenged during these changing times. A sense of adaptability is necessary in a successful relationship, no one is the same at the age of 18 than at 25.
Though “Ring by Spring” is a popular belief on the college campus, do not think meeting someone can only happen in a certain timeframe, because in reality, love can be found at any age. Many people, especially those in college, are in such a rush to get married. Be patient, your special someone is not going to come around when you are desperately looking. However, if you are currently in a relationship, it is not bad to apply the brakes a little bit and take that extra time to solidify whether you want to spend the rest of your life with someone.
To allow each other to grow within a relationship requires a higher level of maturity, and it is a lack of maturity that can be detrimental to a younger couple.
Marriage is not easy, and most couples do not plan past the Pinterest-perfect wedding.
Weddings are fun to fantasize about, but marriage does not stop at “I do.” After the wedding day, reality sets in, and storms may arise. Emotionally immature people are not able to handle these challenges, and this is why divorce rates are so high.
If you or your partner are not able to invest in each other emotionally, you are not ready for marriage. Wait for each of you to mature, or leave the relationship entirely.
Love and marriage is great, but rushing into it is not the way to go.
Plan for the bad times, and wait until you are emotionally stable to handle them.
