[TweedleDee199]

I've always thought that my parents are an interesting case study. They got married young. And I mean YOUNG. My mom was 19, only about a year out of high school, with just a few community college classes under her belt and had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. My dad was 23, right out of college and about to begin his first military assignment. They'd only been dating a year. Recently, they celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary. I've asked my parents about this time and time again and the commentary usually includes 1. Do not do what we did. Repeat, DO NOT DO WHAT WE DID. 2. Why the hell did anyone let us do that? and 3rd, what they consider their secret to success: low expectations. They always say it somewhat jokingly but it's entirely true. Right after their wedding they relocated from their hometown [Pittsburgh] to the middle of nowhere in upstate New York [Seneca]. My Dad had to leave about a month in which meant my mom was left in a tiny town where she didn't know anyone with a dog to keep her company. They made virtually no money for the first 5 or so years of their marriage. It was a testament to their maturity that they agreed to wait ten years to have kids, hit that mark and didn't feel ready, so I didn't come along for another 3 after that. Yep, 13 years of marriage before children. This philosophy is starting to make more sense to me as I get older. I'm now the same age my mother was and despite having had a steady boyfriend for 3 years I can't even begin to imagine making that decision right now. I know that if I or any of my friends ever did in the next few years then we'd be in for a hard run, trying to be married and in school at the same time. I don't understand how anyone could go into that WITHOUT low expectations. I think people expect too much from marriage right off nowadays, they forget that is perpetual hard work and not a continued wedding daze. I know that when I get married, a longggg ways down the road, I'll take that advice with me, knowing that the first few difficult years are in pursuit of the beautiful long lasting relationship that my parents have.