Search Results: marriage when young

I met an amazing guy, who is my age.
My dad does not agree with the relationship because he thinks I'm being lustful and emotional and taking my focus off my education, which is funny because he never took the time to ask me how I'm going with my studies but the minute he knows I'm in a relationship he says that even after I told him that my grades have improved and that I go better in school ever since I've been with this guy.

I have an African dad, and most African people or at least Nigerian people, when they hear relationship they think immediately of sex outside of marriage. And me being in a relationship at 18 is like me being rebellious and thinking I can do whatever I want because I'm 18, that's what my dad thinks. But the reality is that I met this guy now at 18 and I couldn't let the chance go.

He tries talking me out of this relationship he does not care about the fact that I'm genuinely happy and that many things have improved in my life... for once I do not have to deal with everything alone. All he cares about is me being submissive and taking his word as law.

My aunty called and said the same thing and basically that I'm too young and that I should just focus on my education. I just feel stressed, overwhelmed and misunderstood.

Even when it comes to lust or sex... as a Christian couple we talked about these things and we have boundaries and our thoughts aren't focused on those things at all because we believe that things like that should be done in the confines of marriage.

But yet, nothing, almost as if no one other than my mom and close friends understand.

I feel overwhelmed because I've always wanted a guy like the guy I currently have right now yet it's like I can't be happy.

My dad, and my aunty and I'm sure my other close relatives will continue to say the same thing, they make me feel young and stupid, I'm even tired of standing up for myself and relationship. It is exhausting, I just want to be happy, I don't know what to do.