Less than 2% of people marry their childhood sweetheart

[LillyP88]

… according to Google! Do we think this is true? Has anyone come across the studies that these articles refer to? I suppose some couples choose not to marry so whilst they are in a long-term committed relationship, that wouldn’t count towards the data here.

Me and my DH are childhood sweethearts which was what sparked our conversation. We have a few friends who are still together too so I was a bit surprised the figures suggest it’s less than 2%!

Hardly surprising really. In almost 60 years of life, I have only known one couple who got married to their childhood sweetheart (dated since they were 13.) I am shocked it is as much as 2% to be honest.

that doesnt surprise me

Couldn't think of anything worse.

But what classes as childhood sweethearts

Good god no. Why would you want to get stuck in your teen era for ever. Arrested development at its worst. You’re just working yourself out - how could you possibly find someone to spend the next 50yrs with. I’d say those that did were settling or scared of change

God cannot imagine actually marrying my 6th form boyfriend 🙈. It is rare it’s people who don’t realise you are actually allowed to break up with people and you don’t have to stick with the first person you meet at school for the next 60 years.

Not remotely surprised.

my ‘childhood sweetheart’ turned out to be gay

I think it was possibly more common at one point, but im mid thirties and its really uncommon in my area/age group/circles. Be interesting to see how that differs across demographics.

I know one person who is married to someone she met at school.

I didn’t have a childhood sweetheart 🤦‍♀️

My parents met ar 17 and 18, married at 19/20, had me at 21/22 followed by brother and sister (2 year gaps to each) and still married at 82 and 83.

Though I think if they were a generation younger things may have worked out differently.

Never had one. First relationship at 30.

I weirdly know lots of people married to their childhood sweethearts. In my year of secondary school, many childhood sweethearts remained together through university, got married and had children and are still together.
My cousin married hers and a colleague married her childhood sweetheart too.
I met my dh in high school but we didn’t start dating until a few years after school finished. I definitely fell for him in high school though and knew I had a crush on him at age 11. Once we started dating he admitted he started to see me as a more than a friend at age 15 and loved our quiet chats walking to school together.

I know 2 couples who met at school. Both still happily married 30 years down the line. Some of the strongest couples I know.

I'm more surprised it is as high as 2% tbh.

Although I agree with pp that is probably likely to be skewed towards the elderly rather than younger people.

DPs met when they were 16 and 17, and were together until DF died. My aunt and uncle were together from the age of 14 until my uncle died.

That's such a bizarre take on it. Mother in law is 72, she's not in her teen era or suffering from arrested development 😂 I'm sure she'd love to know she's still only 15/16 at heart!!

You are incorrect.
I married mine. Together nearly 40 years.
Because he is essentially one of the best people in the universe.
Its a shame you have such negative view of what is an amazingly beautiful thing.
I always knew i was exceptionally lucky to find him, if it is 2%, that explains why.
Anothee 100 years wouldnt be enough.

I know three couples who met when they were at school. One couple in their early sixties now. One couple are in their middle fifties. And one couple in their late forties. All of them seem extremely happy so it obviously works for them.

Not sure we count as childhood sweethearts but DH and I have been together since we were at uni aged 18 and 19 - approaching 30 years! I think we just got lucky to find each other and did our growing up together. It does seem weird now we have teenage children to imagine them finding their life partners in the next few years.

Sounds about right. It’s a rite of passage, isn’t it, when you spilt up with your first boyfriend? You’re heartbroken for about 5 minutes and then spend the rest of the school year bitching about him with your girlfriends.

I hadn't met DH when I left school. DSis, married someone we went to school with but they'd never dated at school. After his death she reconnected with an old flame and they're now married.

Me and dh are, together 25 years now and still very happy, I think we are the only couple from our year at school who are still together and actually got married. My sisters still with hers 17 years later and my cousins with her also 20 something years. I can think of one other couple we know who were childhood sweethearts and that's it.

It very much depends on life style doesn't it?

I'm older generation. My parents grew up.in the same street and my father was my mother's brother's best childhood friend.

I went to an all girls school and the majority of the people I mixed with went off to all parts of the country to go to university or college and never came back to live in our home town.. So marrying childhood sweethearts didnt come unto it.

Other people who went to different schools and stayed lowel and were much more likely to marry childhood sweethearts.

I've always thought that as you mature and change you are much more likely to outgrow your initial romantic partners. But everyone is different.

I didn’t have a childhood sweetheart and my besf male friend from primary school is gay.

I know one couple who are still married, but they nearly broke up. They had to live apart for a few years when they went to uni and one of them got drunk and cheated.

I am so glad that i wasn’t tied down to someone as it was have hindered my life and career progression massively. Because i was free and single, it meant i was able to move down the country for a better job with 3 weeks’ notice.

My DS and his girlfriend are 16 and have been together for a year after being friends beforehand. They are so sweet together and are great friends. I would love them to end up together but realistically I know this is unlikely. I wish they had met later! I think there is so much growing to be done and experiencing of the world. I hope they have a natural break then get together again after they have both done some living independently.

I know one couple who got together in year 6 (!) . They spilt up last year. The other ones I know met at uni in the first week and now have 3 older teens. They have a great marriage and are very happy. Lots of challenges along the way but they are a strong team.

My own marriage lasted 5 years 😳