January 1, 2014

A response to an innocent Facebook post

Someone I know posted this on Facebook, but when I read this article, I got irked in a whole new way that I HAD to respond. As most of you know, it takes a lot for a stranger to upset me or at least enough to make me respond. I usually just shrug it off, however when I woke up this morning and I was still seething about it, that's when I knew I had to take action. 

First of all, let me say that yes, I agree. Not everyone should get married before they're 23. Some people do get married just because it is the thing to do and don't worry about the consequences or the work a marriage takes. However, just as the married life isn't for everyone, neither is the single life. 

In the article, she says "...At the age of 22, I have no idea who I am, what I’m doing, and who I’ll be doing it with for the next year… let alone for the rest of my life.  And that’s awesome.". Great. I'm glad you are happy about that, but at the age of 22, I had some idea of who I was going to be (still ever changing, of course). I had just graduated college and was finding (and found) a reliable job that has been my employment for the last 3 years and still continues to reward me every day. At the time we got engaged I was 21 years old, hoping to get into grad school in Chicago and I knew my husband would be there every step of the way of my journey. The author acts as though every 22 year old is the same way. Inexperienced, high-school graduate, with nothing on the brain but partying and drinking. Speak for yourself. 

I love that the author wants to follow her dreams and develop herself, but why not do that with someone if you have that chance? I got married when  was 22. If I had not married my husband, we would be in no way where we are now. Because we were married, we paid off my husband's student loans, we have lived independently since that day, and we saved and bought a house. We have traveled and taken at least one vacation a year because we could pool our money and save for the adventures we wanted to take. I know none of this would have happened if we hadn't joined together and tackled each other's interests and saved our money together to tackle the student loan. Paying off the student loan together, enabled us to save our money which we were dumping into the loans into vacations and savings. The author acts as though marriage is a condemning, boring matter. It is an ever-lasting bond, which shouldn't be taken lightly, but I have just as much, if not more fun being married. My husband brings out the best in me. I enjoy a party or two, especially if there are board games involved, but if there isn't anyone I know, I enjoy knowing there is always my husband at my side. He is my permanent travel buddy. The guy who will always have my back. We will start a family, with babies and all that, eventually, but being married does not mean we have to start a family right away, or that I can't go out for a night with my friends. We still do the same things we did when we were dating, just now we have one bank account and share the same last name. 

The author's own anxiety over marriage is truly showcased in this article and I think she needs to work on her own issues instead of beating down young marriage. The statistics she chose may be true. I'm sure young marriage divorce is increasing, but all divorce rates are increasing. It would only makes sense to point out this statistic if all other ages were static or even decreasing. Divorce is increasing throughout America, that includes all ages, races, and class. 

In regards to her "list", I could do pretty much all those things on her list (and have done many of them) with or without marriage. "Date two people at once" and "Make out with a stranger" are two things I never want to do and are things I never would have done single or not. I know many single people and some of them won't do either anyway. What is the point of the list? You've already said what you wanted to say, but knew the list fad would get you readers? The 23 things to do instead of getting engaged is completely arbitrary and useless. It indicates to me how fast and unthinking your article was written. Next time you want to display your opinions, I would recommend letting your attitude and words cultivate instead of sounding like a 23-year-old who is afraid of commitment and wants a boyfriend. 

I know how much it hurts to hear things like I just ruined my life, or it will never work out. At my Bachelorette party in a dive bar in a sketchy part of Worcester, I was having an absolute blast, then I went to the bathroom. I was wearing a pretend veil and a "Bride" sash, as you do and when I came out of the stall, two middle-aged woman were at the mirror primping themselves. I went up to wash my hands and as I was doing so, they asked how old I was. I told them I was 22 and they cackled "it won't last. At least your young and will have the rest of your life to live". To this day, I wish I had said something. I wish I had shoved in their faces how their life seemed to be going well (oh, how sarcastic and witty). This is just one instance of people scoffing at us because we were "too young" to marry. We know what we got ourselves into. I'm not going to lie and say it has been easy; there are good days, months, years and there are troubled days, months, years, but the point is we said forever and we will be together in sickness and in health. Till death do us part. I'm sure there are many people who do not realize that everything will be rainbows and butterflies (was it all rainbows and butterflies when you dated too?!), but I bet some of the people whom this article is referring to, have some idea as to what commitment they are making. 

People, age is just a number. I may be silly and my husband may act immature at times, but trust me, we are mature and always have been. You never know what someone has been through and no one should judge another based on their age or their choices without understanding their situation or lifestyle. I'm not going to beat marriage down your throat, why would you say I should have wanted 3 years to get married? This is my life, the woman who wrote this article has her life and the people she writes about have their own lives. Maybe they will divorce and increase the national rate, but maybe you shouldn't bash them. You don't know what they have been through and honestly, it's their decision and their life. Let them live in peace while you live in yours. 
 

2 comments:

  1. You go girl! You and the Drew are the most amazing married couple I know! As you said, fulfilling your dreams with someone by your side is far more fulfilling than doing it alone. .. You Have someone to share it with. power to you Mrs. Wheeler! !

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  2. Thanks for posting this, Em. Beautifully stated.

    -Jon

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