I am 17 and still in school, but I am mature. To young to get engaged?

United States
December 12, 2006 4:52pm CST
My mom and dad are not happy that my boyfriend asked me to get married. He bought me a ring, and my parents made me give it back. I don't see what the big deal is. We don't plan on getting married until I am 18.
4 responses
@Jshean20 (14348)
• Canada
12 Dec 06
Your parents are probably just concerned that you're too young to be jumping into marriage at the age of 17. I'm sure they would like to see you complete your education and to be a little older before becoming engaged. It's the job of our parents to look out for us and so they did have the right to force you to return the ring to your boyfriend. Just remember that no matter how unfair your parents seem to be, it's only because they love you. It wasn't that long ago that I was a teenager too, and there were times that I hated my parents. Now I fully understand why they did the things they did though, it was out of pure love and concern, not punishment.
• United States
12 Dec 06
Yes, they love me. But I have never done anything to make them not trust me.
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
13 Dec 06
Being a parent, I can tell you it has nothing to do with not trusting your child. It has everything to do with reliving your experiences and wanting to make sure that child doesn't go through the same mistakes. For example, if you were my daughter (mine is 2 so hopefully I have a few years before I have to have this actual conversation with her) I would tell you that people change. I am a completely different person now than I was when I was in high school (I graduated 12 years ago). In fact, I was a completely different person 2-3 years after graduation than I was in high school. So, before you jump into marriage, you should take that into consideration. It's quite possible the things you love about him now won't be there later.
• United States
13 Dec 06
I see your point, but sometimes we need to experience our own mistakes too right?
• United States
12 Dec 06
well my sister got married at age 17 also she was taking high school classes and she managed to do it but now she is 22 and her and her husband are now in a fight right now and not sure whats going to happen so truly i dont see the rush but also it is your life your choice so if u think it is what u surely want to do i say go for it -_-
@srhelmer (7029)
• Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
12 Dec 06
Why the rush? I think any age under 25 is too young for marriage, especially if you're under 20. I have no doubt your mature. But, teenagers often confuse love with hormones. And, there's a lot more to marriage than what you see in movies and television. Just look at the statistics. The divorce rate for women under the age of 25 is roughly 1 out of every 3. The divorce rate for women over 25 is only 1 out of every 8 and continues to decrease the older they are.
@Jetdanet (1025)
• Portugal
12 Dec 06
Yeah if you are mature, you should know that its better take baby steps. So finish you school, go to university and wait to see if that love is for marriage.