If you met your DH very young, for example under age 20

[Summerbreeze81]

If you met your DH very young, say under 20, did the relationship last?

Do you feel happy that you always had security or companionship, or do you feel you missed out on dating / sex / other life experience?

I got talking to a lady today who met her husband during uni Freshers week at age 18 and it got me thinking. I personally met my DH at 30 so I can’t imagine what being in a relationship with the same person since 18 must be like. But then obviously I never met someone I wanted to spend my life with at age 18, and if I’d settled down with any of the men I’d dated back then it would have been a disaster!

I’m now early 40s for context.

Met my ex when I was about 8. We got together at 18, married at 22. Divorced at 25. We still are in touch. To be fair, I don’t think I should ever be in a relationship - or maybe I just have never found the right person!

Yep. Met DH at 18. Im 28 now married with DD. He's my soulmate and there's no one I'd rather spend my life with!

Met my husband at 19 and been married for 37 years now, I don't feel like I've missed out at all, he is a year younger than me too.

We met at 20, married at 32 and now 38. To be honest I do wish I’d had more experience of relationships as an adult - I had a few teenage boyfriends and student flings and I sometimes feel like I don’t know how to do serious relationships properly, especially when we argue about something (rare, but still). Obviously there’s no guarantee that I would feel more able to maturely deal with that, but still.

I also miss the heady rush of falling for someone, and get quite melancholy/nostalgic when that’s depicted in books, films or music. Comfortable deep love is great, but there’s nowt quite like that magic spark when you realise you both like each other and life seems full of potential and excitement.

I was just 20 when I met DH. He wasn't my first boyfriend, but he was my last. We have just celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary.

I met my H when I was 18 and he was 17. Married at 21 and 20. We’ve been married 18 years now and I don’t feel I missed out or regret getting married young.

We've been together since I was 18 and he was 21 and we worked together in a nightclub. Married for 16 years and been together for nearly 30 years.

Met mine at 20. Now 44 and happily married. I had a couple of wild years from 18 to 20 and got it out of my system. Glad I did as it was fun but also taught me what is good and bad in a relationship.

Met at 15/17 been together ever since.
25 years and counting (15 years married) ❤
I wouldn't change a thing...😃

Yes, I did. Met DH at 17, he 18. We're now 30 and 31, married with our 3 beautiful children.

DH and I got together when I was 18. 31 now and still together, married and 4 kids.

I have times when I feel like I've missed out but that's mainly because I had my first child at 20 rather than being in a relationship.

Obviously when I was 18 I wasn't looking for the person I'd marry, it just turned out like that.

Met my DH when I was 19 1/2, he was 11 years older. Engaged 8 months later, and married the following year; a month after my 21st birthday. We were married until I lost him this January. He was my first serious boyfriend.

Met at 18 married at 19 and was our 56th Wedding Anniversary last month. We also worked together for most of our working life and retired early to live in the sun.

Met at 18 married at 20 still together 12 year later

I think 24 people got married in my year group (12 couples) of them I've heard of one divorce.

High school

Met my DH when we were both 18. We married at 22 and are still married today, 45 years later!

Two of our friendship couples are also still together for a similar time.

Yes still with dh only just though for many reasons, probably because we have been together too long has not helped. That would be a whole other post on its own. 😢

I met DH at 18 few weeks into university term - got to know him till Christmas when we started dating. By end of that year he went of to do PhD else where - so we were together boy/friend girl friend living in different locations seeing each other when we could till I was 24 and we got engaged.

It was nearly another two years and a new location for his work before we married - I ended up moving up to him - I was 28 before pfb was born - all the kids are now teens.

So I don't think we rushed anything and we are still together.

I met my dh at 16, got together at 17. Married for 22 years. I dont feel I missed out on anything as I always have been quite independent. Went to uni at 19 without him, just been to Latitude without him.

There are so, so many crappy men out there, so why not stay with the one you click with. Lots of ups and downs like any relationship but when I hear of my mates dating experiences I dont envy that at all.

I met my husband at secondary school, we started dating properly in year 9 (age 14/15 I think?) But we're kind of a think as early as year 7/8 and we've been married for 7 years. We got engaged at 18 and married at 20, have a 2.5 year old and another baby in the way. Never regretted not sleeping with other people and we are happy 😊

Met DH at uni, when I was 21. After uni, got a house, then married and have now been together 25 years, married for 20. Very happy but never felt that I missed out as I spent most of my uni years dating various guys. Most of my uni friends met their DHs whilst at uni (I believe that's the statistical likelihood).

Don't feel it was particularly young either though. My mum met my dad at 17, and have now been with him for 60 years and had several friends at school who got together at 14/15 and are still married.

Similar story for me - met now DH in Freshers Week at uni, aged 17. Very on/off romance all through uni, got together after graduation and been together ever since. 22 years now.

What's it like to be with the same person since age 20 (in my case)? I don't know if we are the same people! I mean, yes, in fundamental ways like sense of humour, values, intelligence. But our goals and interests have changed, our lifestyle, the way we communicate. We have definitely grown up together and in many ways the period in our 20s was the hardest because we were still figuring out what we wanted from life. But we each pushed each other out of our comfort zone, and made compromises. We've had an amazing life together and both of us would say we've also changed because of the other, and in a good way.

We waited 11 years to get married and 16 to have our first DC. So definitely didn't rush the settling down part! Having said that, I think we've coped well with the strain of baby & toddler life because we just know and understand each other so well. And you have so much love and trust after so many years together. I feel I was lucky to find him so young. Absolutely cannot imagine my life without him.

Met when I was just turned 19 and he was 23, married 35 years, have never felt I missed out on anything