16 hours ago
29 People Who Married Their High School Sweetheart Are Opening Up About Their Relationships (And Whether Or Not They Made It), And I Need A Tissue
We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community who married their high school sweethearts to share what happened and if they stayed together. We also perused this Reddit thread filled with similar stories. Here's what people revealed:
1."We just celebrated our 13th anniversary last week (19 years total, including dating years). We have two young kids and love each other a little more each day (well, maybe not EVERY day 😉). More than anything else, marriage is a choice. You must wake up and choose your spouse's needs above yours. There are many days when this is tough, and you will fall short. But making this choice daily when you marry your best friend is FAR EASIER. All the rest you figure out together. Oh, and laughter. Almost all divorces among our friend-couples share one thing in common: Their marriages were devoid of being able to poke fun and joke with each other."
—PurpsMaSquirt
2."We're filing for divorce as soon as the house sells next week (I put in the entire down payment, and divorcing first would've meant a 50/50 split). I should've left a few 'failure to launches' earlier. Everyone always says don't fall in love with potential, but when you're 16, what else is there to fall for?"
—teacherttc
3."We met in seventh grade. We've been married for 12 years so far and have one awesome kid. We have outlasted most other high school/college marriages (we live in the South, so there were many). Every time I see another divorce, I don't feel good, but I do feel validation that we're making it. He drives me bonkers, but he's also my best friend and the only person who really gets me. I will say, we broke up for a couple of years in college, and it was definitely the best thing for us. We grew as adults and got out of the high school mindset. I tried dating other people, but I compared everyone to him. Same for him. We eventually ended up at the same wedding back in our hometown, and the rest is history."
—Mousejunkie
4."I married my high school sweetheart. Apparently, he married the wrong sweetheart. After 13 years, we divorced, and he married the other high school sweetheart. Annnnnd, they also divorced after 13 years. Ironic, no?"
—flamingoastro
5."I met my husband in high school. We were each other's 'one that got away' in our early 20s. Life happened, and things got in the way. We both married other people and didn't speak for about 12 years. He had two kids. We both ended up divorcing our spouses and reconnected. We supported each other through everything. We officially got together in 2018 and got married in 2021. It pains me to think of all those years without each other, but I don't think we'd have the relationship we do now if we hadn't gone through everything we did. He's my human."
—jellise26
6."My husband and I met on our very first day of high school and had nearly every class together for the next four years. We started dating at the beginning of senior year, went to different colleges far away from each other, and stayed together throughout. After graduation, we moved in together. I went to law school, and we got married after I graduated. Overall, I think going to different colleges, living together for several years, and figuring out our careers before we got married was the best decision we made and is why we're still together almost 20 years later."
—Anonymous
7."We divorced after five years. They decided they wanted to try being single as an adult because they had never been before and initiated the divorce. Before it was finalized, they decided they'd made a mistake and wanted to reconcile after realizing the grass wasn't greener, but they'd burnt the bridge. I didn't feel like working to rebuild it, so I had to take over getting the divorce finalized. We stayed on good terms for a couple of years as we moved in similar social circles until I moved away from the area, and we stopped bumping into each other or having friends in common, and I haven't been in contact since."
—toodlesandpoodles
8."It was the winter of 1995, and my senior prom date canceled at the last minute. My friend said, 'Take my cousin. He's about our age.' He went to the rival high school and was a sophomore while I was a senior. I met him in November 1995 on a blind date, got married in September 1998, and we've been married ever since. He's my best friend. I think we stay together because we grew up together. All of our memories are of each other. We make each other laugh, we support each other, and I can't imagine life without him."
—catschelin78
9."I'll never regret marrying him because of the two beautiful little girls we made together. However, that was 12 years spent in a toxic relationship that I didn't realize was toxic until our lives were so dependent on one another that I felt like I had no way out. I will always have love for him, but I firmly believe we were too young and our personalities were too underdeveloped to have decided to be together forever. Getting divorced was the hardest and best decision I ever made for myself, as well as for my kids. Now, I'm in an incredibly healthy and happy relationship. We've blended and added to our family. I wouldn't change a single thing."
—sparklyslytherin
10."Started dating when he was 17 and I was 16. Got married two years out of high school. 10 years later, we finally saved up to buy our first house, and he cheated on me with our realtor. Don't marry your high school sweetheart."
—kitkay316
11."Great! We started dating at 14 and 15. We broke up for one year in college, but stayed close during that time. We've been together for 17 years, but married for only two due to putting education first. I wouldn't change a thing. He's the love of my life. I was privileged to watch him as a boy, a student, a man, and now a husband. Anytime I thought we were ready to be married earlier, he or I would learn another life lesson that brought us closer and matured us in a way that strengthened our bond and compatibility. We've always given each other the space to accomplish what we want and grow. It's been a very nurturing and fulfilling aspect of my life."
—buttchug42
12."We started dating in high school and got married shortly after college. Two kids later and a few decades together, COVID hit, and our relationship has never recovered. He has become very different — new hobbies, new friends, and a new job. We fight over everything — how to raise the kids, his family, and splitting household chores. I feel trapped in a marriage and know I'll never recover."
—Anonymous
13."I was divorced before I could legally drink. ☹️"
—JEharley152
14."We found out later that we had been buddies in preschool together. We never went to the same school besides that, but we met around junior high through my cousin. We awkwardly liked each other on and off until he broke up with a serious ex and pursued me again. It was all a slow burn even after that point, but we've been married almost six years now, and our siblings actually married each other, too!"
—rlmarlatt32
15."We met at 14, started dating at 15, got married at 19, and had twins at 21. We're 30 and still together, but we had some rough years. We separated for about a year but worked things out, and it was the best decision we ever made. The hardest part at the beginning was having no married friends or siblings. You're weird among people your own age, but other married folks and parents still treat you like a kid. There was no place for us socially."
—abigailmorrow
16."We're coming up on our 32nd wedding anniversary next week. Not only were we high school sweethearts, but we also happened to get pregnant in 11th grade and have a son. We both graduated on time. I went on to get an Associate's degree, and we got married a couple of weeks later. We eventually had another child (daughter) 15 years after the first one. I got my BA in 2021. Our son has a son who just turned 1, and our daughter is a rising college junior. It hasn't always been perfect by any stretch, and we had a lot to learn, but we couldn't imagine it any other way."
—LLB73
17."We met while working in a mall cinema when I was 16 and he was 19. I knew immediately that he was the one. We dated for two years, then got married a few months after I graduated from high school. Three daughters quickly followed. The first 10 years were rough, mostly due to power struggles from immaturity on both our parts. We should have both gone to college and started our careers first. While I don't recommend marrying young to anyone, it has worked out for us. We've carried each other through life's various ups and downs. We're the only people we really trust. Open and honest communication will solve every problem. It's always brought us closer to each other. Recently, he was my caregiver after a stroke and brain surgery. Could not have created a better partner if I tried. Today, we have two grandchildren, and we just celebrated our 33rd anniversary this month, and we're looking forward to so many more!"
—Anonymous
18."It's going great! She's down the hall watching TV while I work from home. It wasn't easy, though. We broke up after high school and went our separate ways, somehow thinking the magic we had together was normal. It wasn't. We both tried living in the normal world, which never clicked. Years later, we ran across each other online and started talking, then long-distance dating, and we knew we had to be together. So we ran off, got married, and have been building a world together for the last decade. Life is good."
—LovesMeSomeRedhead
19."Wonderfully! While we didn't marry until age 28, we have been together since high school. The hardest thing was working through the immaturity and growing pains one goes through when one leaves home. When other friends are dating new and interesting people, I think it's natural to wonder what it's like, and avoiding resentment is important. But the best things are that we have strong shared values because we've grown together, our relationship has been a foundation for our lives, instead of a capstone, and we've pushed each other into more professional success that we would have probably had otherwise, because I'm willing to work harder for my family that I would myself. And I thank my lucky stars I've never had to go through dating apps. It seems hellish."
—thetroublebaker
20."The divorce was finalized just after 14 years of marriage. We were together for a total of 22 years. I miss him quite a bit and wish things had gone differently."
—cashmere_plum
21."We've known each other since first grade and were best friends for many years in grade school, then went to different schools for middle school, but met up again at the same school in high school and became friends again junior year. We started dating senior year and never stopped. We got married at 25 and had our first kid in 2020 and our second in 2022. We're certainly not perfect, but we're still going strong 14 years (almost to the day) after our first date!"
—emilyhkleeman
22."I actually met my current wife during the summer of my junior year. It was at my recent ex's birthday party, and we just hit it off. I had no idea that almost 11 years later we would buy a house, have two kids, and really build a foundation for ourselves. We trust each other so much and have been through many ups and downs that have only strengthened us. We are currently trying to figure out adult friendships in our late 20s, and it does kind of suck that people don't really prioritize friendships as much as relationships, but it is what it is. We have a lot to look forward to in the future, like traveling and seeing the kids grow up. So glad I went to that birthday party!"
—puertorican
23."My husband and I met when we were 15 in a summer theater program. We dated all through high school and got engaged when I was in college. We waited until after I graduated to get married, which was eight years of dating by that time. We're now at 26 years of marriage and going strong. He's still the person I want to spend all my time with, and I genuinely miss him when we're apart."
—Anonymous
24."Good! We started dating when we were 16 but didn't get married until we were 31. He needed to decide whether he wanted children, and I wanted time to live alone. We've had a small female clone of him, complete with surly attitude. I love them both so much! We're pretty happy. Any long-term relationship has ups and downs, strengths and weak spots. We're in a nice stage right now where our kiddo is more independent, so we get more alone time together. I'm still obsessed with him after 30+ years. He seems to like me, too. 16-year-old me would be thrilled."
—2beagles
25."We divorced after 21 and a half years and four kids. And now life is much better! The kids are fine, and we both finally have much more time for ourselves. I started a new life and I love it!"
—A_E_B_B
26."Amazing. Our first is due any day now. I will say, we've both changed so much over the course of our relationship that it doesn't feel like I've been with the same person for these last 18 years. We've done a great job at encouraging the other to grow, however they see fit, knowing those changes are what keep our relationship fun and interesting."
—skullpture_garden
27."I guess we were more like middle school sweethearts. We started dating when we were 14, and that was 11 years ago. We've been married since we were 18. The beginning was rough financially. We paid for gas with quarters and dimes and lived in a really shitty apartment. But aside from the initial financial aspect, it's been awesome and I wouldn't change a thing! We've both grown a lot and become pretty different people from who we were back then, but in the best way possible."
—PM_ME_SOME_ANTS
28."It'll be 20 years together coming up next week. It's been a wild, awesome ride with ups and downs, but mostly ups! I am so appreciative every day of him and our relationship, and we work so well as a team and partners. We've just decided to start trying for a baby, and I'm so stoked for the next era in our lives and relationship. He's going to be an amazing dad! So many people ask if I feel like I 'missed out' by marrying my high school sweetheart/marrying so young, but I truly don't. I feel LUCKY to have gotten to experience so much with my best friend. Most of my life's adventures so far have been with him (besides studying abroad and going on friend trips). I'm ready for a million more!"
—Sanch0panza
"We've been married for 25 years, have four kids together, and I'm more in love with him today than ever. It wasn't easy, though. We have been together since we were both 15 years old, and we are totally different people now from how we were back then. We grew apart/struggled multiple times over the years, but never gave up and continued to be committed to working on our marriage and each other. He's truly the love of my life, and the person he is now is worth all of the hard things we went through in the earlier years."
—GirlMomMeg
Did you marry your high school sweetheart? Are you still together? Did you call it quits? Tell us your story in the comments or share anonymously using this form.
