Against all the odds: The 4 things childhood sweethearts are so over

Disclosing your relationship status is a double-edged sword. No matter what the nature of your relationship, people will have something to say about it.

Somehow, giving people information about your love-life is taken as a direct invitation to make a judgement.

I met my boyfriend in the Gaeltacht.

If your reaction is “awwwww”, you will be even more pleased to know that our Gaeltacht romance produced a baby a few years later.

If your reaction is “why, oh why?", you are not alone.

I am aware that we are lacking in examples of people who end up with their Gaeltacht flings. Yet, here we are: attempting to make our daughter speak as Gaelige for sentimental reasons.

Here are 4 things that childhood sweethearts are sick of hearing:

1. You shouldn't let a relationship dictate your life at this age

Agreed, of course not, but this applies across all age brackets.

If you have ever felt like you have missed out on anything, or that your OH has prevented you from pursuing your dreams, that's warning bells.

If anything, being together since the birth of our dreams has solidified them.

If you meet as kids, you meet at a time where gender roles are less obvious. You establish equality because at that age, there is less that inhibits you because of your gender.

Once you enter motherhood, the workforce or real life, these roles become more prominent.

If they are not what you want for yourself, you’d better be sure to tell the person you love that you don’t want to give up your dreams for theirs. There is no question about this if you have grown up as equals.

2. Don’t you wish you had met later in life?

And miss out on being kids together? We met at a time before we became cardboard cut-outs of the system. Before networking and measurements of success. Before phoneys and fake smiles.

Think about your childhood best friend. Would you plan a future with them?

If sh*t goes down, it can be good to have years of a foundation for support.

Also, it’s such craic having a side of your relationship that resembles your childhood. The problem arises when the growing-up happens at different rates. If you happen to progress through life at the same pace, then the age you met shouldn't matter.

3. Other people?

Don’t be daft. Of course all of us long-timers have considered this question.

We talk about it often and of course feelings can arise with crushes and daydreams. But having that level of communication that you would have had at 16, can help.

Kids talk non-stop. They are not savvy enough to conceal feelings yet. The world has not left its mark on their trusting hearts. This makes for a lot (maybe too much) communication, something that stays with you as you grow up together.

If the relationship is not worth fighting for, you won’t fight. People, in general, don’t make an effort for things they don’t care about.

If this is a real issue then that should be enough to end the relationship, regardless of when you met.

4. These things don’t last.

I’ll tell you what doesn't’t last; life.

If you are truly happy and confident in yourself and your relationship, why would you listen to grumpy-arse in the corner? No two stories are the same. Relationships are too individual to cast an umbrella judgement over all childhood sweethearts.

If you are happy, you won’t regret your first love, even if it doesn't work out.

Anyone who is 100 per cent certain that their relationship will last, no matter when you met, is living on a different planet.

However, anyone who believes that you can’t end up with your first love is also incorrect. There are plenty of serious relationship issues that cannot be tolerated. The age you met is not one of them.