Conflicted. Advice?

[Leiatherabbit]

Hi :)

So, I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to what I'm going through? If so, I could really use some advice.

Here's the basic story.

I'm 17 years old, and currently a sophomore in college. My boyfriend is 19 and waiting for boot camp, which will be in March.

We met last November through a mutual friend while he was attending college in Texas, where I live. Due to financial reasons, he had to quit attending and move back to his home in Colorado.

We hit it off right away and sort of started talking and moving towards dating, but we'd only known each other about a month when he found out he couldn't come back. So we just decided to try long distance friendship and see if we drifted apart. Well, long story short, we've now been dating several months long distance.

He started discussing the possibility of military about six months ago, and we've always talked everything out and I'm definitely okay with him being in the Navy. :) As for the long distance, we already do that, so I don't think it will be an extremely hard adjustment. We have a really close relationship and both think we can make it work. :)

But, my family is against it... Their opinion basically is that I'm young and I can find someone else, and I don't need to get caught up in a serious relationship yet. I don't really know how to handle it or explain to them. Right now it's just a constant source of tension. Has anyone else experienced anything similar??

P.S. If anyone is open to private messaging, I'm kinda bummed and need to vent. XD

Thanks, everyone!! :) This group is the best! <3

[Anti M]

LOL, I was 30 years old and divorced, and my father tried to stop me fro getting married a second time.  He tried to get my aunt, who was a social worker, to "talk" to me.  She told him I was a grown woman and to mind his own business.  Dads are like that!

Yes, he ended up adoring my husband.

[JLH]

I hope my dad is not like that, but I have a feeling he will be!!! I'm sure my dad will try to get people to talk to me, some already have by telling me I need to be single in college and enjoy my life, when I already am enjoying my life! I'm going to a small tech school in the fall and I am very thankful to have my boyfriend while I am down there, even though we have to be apart. I already chose a school 6 hours away which my dad was not happy about, I can already see how mad he would get if I finished my schooling in another state!! My dad also likes my boyfriend, but he can be so negative about relationships sometimes when it comes to talking about the future.

[abuon18]

I have not gone through this. BUT I do have other life experiences and being older than you I hope that you can find my advice helpful.

Like someone else mentioned, you ARE young. Of course your parents are worried that you will be cutting yourself off from a lot of experiences if you tie yourself to someone so young. Also they don't want to see you get hurt. They're thinking what if he breaks up with you while he's away? Then you wasted all that time with him. They just don't want you to miss out on anything.

My advice to you is to stay with him. You don't have to explain anything to your parents. You are 17 & already a sophomore in college. I think that shows your maturity & I think you need to sit down with your parents & tell them you're giving this relationship a shot & if they are not going to be supportive you would rather them keep their opinions to themselves because it only upsets you. It's something you have to agree to disagree on.

You AND your parents are both just going to have to give it a chance and see how it plays out. You will always regret what could have been if you listen to them & you'll resent them. Nobody wants that to happen. You are both really young so you may not be each other's forever but you can't let maybes stop you from being happy now.