marriage

AlphaSigLana · #1 02-13-2002, 12:51 PM

So my mom emailed me and let me know that my brother will probably be getting married this summer. He's 18 and his girlfriend his 16, but very mature. She has a son who is so cute. He is 9 mths. My brother treats John like his own kid. They spend a lot of time together. It is one of those relationships where they just know they are right for eachother. My mom said her and my dad- surprisingly support them. They know it will be rough bc they are young, but my brother and his girlfriend will both be attending community college.
It's weird bc he's my baby brother, but I am happy for him. He is not a typical 18 and that is probably due to being born with club feet and having to go through surgery and putting up with people who make fun of him for walking funny(more when he was younger).

AchtungBaby80 · #2 02-13-2002, 01:27 PM

I don't want people to take what I say the wrong way, but I don't think age is as big a factor in relationships/marriage as people think. Maturity is more important...waaaaaaaaaaay more. There are some 16-year-olds who are more mature than people my age (21). My sister waited until she was 33 to get married, but she has always been very "young-acting" and I'm glad 'cause I think she made the best decision because now she's finally ready to settle down. My parents weren't that young when they got married (early to mid 20s), but they ended up divorcing because my father was, quite frankly, not very mature in spite of his age. And way back in the day (I'm talking when my grandparents were courting), it wasn't uncommon at all to see people getting married pretty young...I think it was the way they were brought up that made them emotionally mature earlier. So really, I can't say anything about 16 and 18-year-olds getting married because they might be really ready. Who knows? Tell them congrats!

h2oot · #3 02-13-2002, 03:06 PM

Eighteen and sixteen are young. If he were my brother I'd hope he'd wait a few years, but he wouldn't listen anyway.

The issue I see, and its a supposition, is that he may see her as being needy (having a child), and feels an urgency to be there for her. This doesn't mean that he isnt in love, but if she weren't a single mom, then they would probably wait.