LIFE

 

“OMG your parents are seriously the cutest!” I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve been told this, or something along the same lines. My parents met when they were 15 and 16, and despite breaking up twice—once in college and once after they had graduated—they’ve pretty much been inseparable since high school. So what’s it like growing up with two people who got their “fairytale ending?”

Granted, I don’t have anything to compare it to, other than the narrow and probably unrealistic lens through which I see other couples or families interact from a distance. But as far as I can tell, it really doesn’t change much about my day-to-day life. Of course, there’s the occasional “sit around the kitchen and joke about some random mutual acquaintance from high school” moment, which is always fun to sit in on, but for the most part, their marriage is just as normal as the next.

Fighting, however, is a different story. No matter whether it’s a petty tiff or a serious argument, I never fear that it will result in anything more than a day of storming around the house. There’s a great deal of reassurance in knowing that if they’ve been together this long—through all the fights, the break-ups and not to forget, the  magical moments (both simple and grand)—they truly are in it for the long haul. As my mom once told me, they had to learn how to be together because they just couldn’t bear to be apart. 

When I was little, I didn’t really appreciate how special my parents’ relationship was. But as I grew up and began my own high school adventure, I finally realized the rarity and beauty in a love like theirs. Did I feel any pressure to meet my soulmate in high school? Absolutely not. It’s tough to get into a serious relationship at such a young age, especially if you’re going into it with the expectation of it resulting in a forever” type of love.

But that’s not to say the thought wasn’t (and still isn’t) always stirring in the back of my mind. Visiting their hometown and getting the VIP tour of “their spots,” flipping through their prom pictures and listening to endless stories about their lives are just the beginning of the many perks of being a daughter of high school sweethearts. And it’s times like those when I get just the tiniest bit jealous, and find myself wishing that one day, I too would marry that boy who I thought was my everything in high school. 

Now I’ve come to understand that it’s not the everyday things that make their relationship or our family dynamic so special. It’s having the ability to take a step back, string all these memories together and learn the importance of treasuring those who matter. And an added bonus? Ever present inspiration for my own relationships moving forward. 

Does your parents' relationship inspire you like Allie's does? Share in the comments! 

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by Allie Burrows | 5/21/2017