a word to the young

Watching a twenty-something year old girl speak about planning her wedding. Her excitement is vivid and she glows with youthful enthusiasm when reporting the proposal. A flash of the ring, dances across her face, boasting a price tag of at least five figures. From there, she shows a form of sheer panic for nearly losing her preferred venue and most importantly, she cannot believe that she finally picked out a gown.

While I am able to empathize with her elation on this very wonderful time in her life, I anxiously wait to hear something, anything about marriage. The separation of this part of the union of two lives I think is the culprit of our massive divorce rates.

Not to be the bummer of the year, but I also think no one should marry before they are thirty. A thing happens to all people during this sensitive time in development and I think jumping into marriage for the excitement of blowing thousands on a wedding before their life even begins is just as bad as walking into traffic with blinders on, if not worse.

I am happily married and truly devoted to my husband and our children. I only wish I could offer them more by being a more well-rounded person through world experience. My cynicism only stems from my fear of seeing my children devote their lives to a spouse and family before they even know what the world has to offer.
Since my choice to become wife and mother affords me a life I have always wanted, I am grateful. I now offer this advice to young ladies, live your life first and then settle down. That thing you have waited for all your life does exist when you have a husband and children. It is wonderful, exhausting, and so much fun, but it will be so much more worthwhile if you know you lived your life exactly as YOU wanted to, first. cheers!