Posted on 04/20/2007 9:05:58 AM PDT by qam1
If it is the received opinion that Prince William and Kate Middleton were too young to be wed, then I would suggest that the received opinion is in error. Indeed, if it is the young Prince’s own view that 24 is too young to be married, then I would suggest this may be a mistake.
The mid-twenties are a perfect time for a young couple to be married. Indeed, at 25, a woman is already past the peak of her biological fertility, which occurs at the age of 23.
It has become the custom among the middle classes not to enter into matrimony until they reach their late twenties or early to middle thirties. In working-class milieux, it has become the custom not to marry at all, but to cohabit without benefit of state or clergy, although this is usually because of the reluctance of the male to “commit”, rather than the female’s refusal of a stable contract. These social trends are among the reasons why marriage itself is decreasing.
Having failed to take the plunge in the salad days of their twenties, the thirtysomethings grow ever more picky and choosy, and the young women ever more concerned about their fertility choices receding: while the available pool of suitable males shrinks ever smaller.
Marriage is a relationship that requires the paradoxical virtues of both fortitude and flexibility, or courage and tolerance, and these characteristics are best found in the young. The young are brave; they have valour; they are ready to plunge into the whirlpool and take the risk. And surely the marriage of true minds and one flesh has its most radiant flowering in the full sunshine of youth’s idealism — not of maturity’s calculation?
True, mistakes can be made. Very young marriages may founder, but marriages in the mature years may fail as well. The Prince of Wales himself was 32 when he undertook wedlock, and that was no guarantee of success. Many individuals in their thirties are already, in the old phrase, “set in their ways”. Whereas in the freshness and pliability of youth, couples can grow together. And even should the youthful marriage not endure, much is learnt from the experience during those formative years.
I am sure it is wise that William should not feel pressurised to marry, but neither should he be pressurised out of marriage by vogueish ideas that later unions are always better. It is not necessarily so.
Of course, there may be many other private reasons why the near-betrothal of Kate Middleton and Prince William has not come to pass. The course of any love — true or untrue — never did run smooth, and quarrels, jealousies and other storms of the heart are par for the course. But let it not be because the couple are thought too young and green. Once past the early twenties, the sooner married the better, surely.
“I am sure it is wise that William should not feel pressurised”
If figure 15 pounds per square inch should be about right. Anything less and he’ll wrinkle like Camilla, anything over and he’ll blow like Alec Baldwin.
I agree that 30 or so is a good time to start having kids. My husband and I, married for eight years, are expecting our first and I'm 32. We did get a hard time for waiting so long but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I suppose Viagra could skew these results north a little.. :)
Me too. I run into these types all the time in nearby Big Sky, MT. They're "ski bums" in the winter or live for fishing/mountain biking/rafting in the summer. They look at me in utter disbelief/confusion when they meet my college age boys. I've actually had some wonder why I "wasted" my prime years with raising a family instead of having fun.
They just don't get it.
Thanks for the photo of Camilla’s kids. Nice looking, but too bad the girl had that unfortunate weed whacker accident on her way to get her picture taken!
Cheers,
CSG
Well, yeah, if you think Madonna and Charlie McCarthy are good looking.
ROFLMAO!!!
“I’ve actually had some wonder why I “wasted” my prime years with raising a family instead of having fun.”
I’m 39 and envy my similarly-aged friends who have families. Granted, they’re both separated or divorced and carrying back-breaking child-support loads, but still they have kids that love them, and they seem to get a lot from that. If I’d gotten married and had kids when I was 20 they’d be done, or almost done, high school by now and I could still be doing a lot of the “fun” things (motorcycles, skiing, RC planes) that I’m currently in to.
Thanks for the picture—I think.
I wasn’t necessarily meaning that children should take care of their parents financial needs, but be financially stable enough so that they can be of assistance for other things (such as taking their parents shopping when they are no longer able to drive or mowing their lawn etc.). It is our responsibility to make good financial decisions now so that we can take care of those needs when we retire. But, there will come a time when our bodies are no longer able to do certain things. That’s when we’ll need the help.
I really wasn’t thinking in terms of financial help. I just want them to be financially secure so they are able to come over and mow my yard.
From my perspective it isn’t the fact that the “parent” is too young (when in their 20’s), but the fact that the extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) are not close enough in proximity these days to provide the layer of support my parents and their parents had with child rearing. Parenting is hard and the extended family use to be available to provide support (and relief) for young parents. Too many parents today do not know how to be parents and do not have that support to help them.
FYI My wife and I were young when married, reared 4 children (now ranging in age from 27 to 20) and have two grandchildren (and we are not yet 50). Are we exceptions? I don’t know, but I do know that having that support network was a blessing.
I got married when I was 17 and I don’t regret it for a moment. I’ve been married 36 yrs and have 4 grandchildren and I’m young enough to enjoy them.
I understand what you say. One of my grandparents died before I was born, two others were already elderly and bedridden when I was born (and died early in my life), and the fourth was fairly active but died when I was 10. I wouldn’t say I remember much of a “connection” with any of them — I was too young.
I didn’t realize what I missed out on until I got married and saw how close my wife was to her grandparents, all four of whom were living.
Totally agree with you. Although 40 today is not what it used to be. I think you might be feeling it now, but in the long run they will keep you young. Good luck!!!
That is probably one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.
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