At what stage in life do you think you were mature enough to engage in a long-lasting relationship?

[Tarifa]

For those of you who knew their current partner at an early stage in life, where do you think it’s most common to meet : high school (or higher secondary education in other countries) at the ages between 14 and 18, or university from 18-19 onwards?

Or another way to ask the same question: at what stage in life do you think you were mature enough to engage in a long-lasting relationship?

[sage2021]

I was 20 when I got married and had 4 years of bliss. We got along great together and loved each other right from the beginning. He was 18 and I was 20 when we met.
My next real love relationship didn't come until I was 63 years old and Patrick was a complete surprise to me so late in my life.
I never thought that I would fall IN LOVE like that ever again, but I did and he did❣️ We were together for 6 years until he died suddenly September 8th of 2023.
I miss him every single day and night. He was one of a kind and no one else was like he was. He was everything I owned ever wanted in a real love relationship.
I still can't believe that he's gone and that I will never see him again unless it's in heaven.

[Tarifa]

Sorry to hear about that.

[sage2021]

@Tarifa
Sorry that sometimes it comes out of nowhere and I talk about him and that he is in heaven now.
But thank you for your empathy and kind words ❣️🙏🏼✝️

[Caroline91]

I'm so glad you had him for the time that you did! I'm sure you will be reunited in heaven. Real love endures.

[sage2021]

Thank you for the MHO 🙂🧁🌷

[Nikki1989]

I started dating at 12, so by 18 I already knew what I wanted.

[AI Opinion]

As a relationship coach who loves to share the joys of love and laughter, I met my partner in university when those hormones had simmered down, and I could say goodbye to lovebombing and hello to real connections. For many, 18-25 is the sweet spot where maturity takes a front seat, but it varies! Whenever you stop ghosting and embrace open communication, you're ready to rock a long-lasting romance!💕 Keep your heart open and your mind wise! 🌟

[Shiprex]

I was not all that interested in girls at school. There were much more interesting things elsewhere (still are to be honest) but once at university it became the next stage in live to find a partner that I wish I'd sought the ride or die type but found someone who was going along a similar path to me. That took up a decade of finish education, get a job, career, house (hers) then leave job, join the army, come back, leave her and army find old crush, buy a house, realise teenage crush isn't so compatible as 15 years earlier, change jobs, meet another younger squeeze, catch her cheating, kick her out, find another and follow her around the world then here we are.

[RavVid]

That would be yesterday that I finally became mature enough for a long lasting relationship.

I know a couple of couple who became couples in HS. They are very strongly bonded. The rest of us have gone through a first relationship which we thought was forever till it wasn't.

There is a lot of trust that is lost with that first forever relationship. I am thinking a long lasting relationship is dependent on not being mature.

In being mature you know relationships have their day and dissolve.

[LazerBean]

18 definitely, maybe down into 17 or 16. My husband and I started dating when we were 17 And 18

[Tarifa]

Good for you. It surely helps when you meet the right partner early on.

[LazerBean]

I definitely agree with that

[HungTexan]

I think my mid-20s. Before that I’m not sure I was mature enough to know what I was doing.

[Tarifa]

That reflects my own take on the subject. I was 20 when I met someone really special, but I was too immature still to value the relationship to its full extent.

[NathanDavis]

not sure what do you call a "long lasting" relationship... how long is that long?

but anyway... I was 16 with my first girlfriend and we did last some few years, we were both mature enough for that

[Tarifa]

I mean more than a few weeks. It seems that at some point, most of us at an early age will just go from one girl (or guy) to the next. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

A member of my family knew her now husband when she was 16. He was a bit older, 19 if I recall correctly. They're still together after 40+ years and parents of two sons in the early twenties.

[NathanDavis]

I've never had a weeks long, relationship...

at least three years or so, minimum

[Abbycado]

I’m 19 and in a relationship. It has been since last fall and I see no reason anything will change.

[SleepingHazard]

I wouldn't want to step in one, without it being long-term. That said, a lot can happen to change that.

[Anonymous]

like 25. you know. when your brain is fully developed.

[Tarifa]

I agree with that. It's when you see what's important and where your priorities are.

[Anonymous]

For me I was always ready and available for life long relationship. But I met my match only when i was 25 years old.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Never !!!(Why do you think I'm called "Golden Boy" and "Cowboy?"

[SeriouslyNotSerious]

I felt like I was ready ever since 21.

[orange_roach]

Never been in one