I'm not a teen but I'd like to make a statement. My daughter's father and I have been together since May 20, 1998. Nine and a half years. We got married in 2004, on our 6 year anniversary. When we got married, we'd already been living together for two years.

We decided to live together before marriage because, even after 4 years together, we wanted to make sure we were compatible. Dating someone and living with someone are worlds apart. We dealt with each other's bad habits, getting our bills in order and deciding how we were going to handle our finances, and really spending that time getting to know each other. I learned more about him in 6 months of living together than I'd ever dreamed of knowing during those 4 years we hadn't.

We married when we were comfortable doing so. It was never really a question in our minds that we would. We certainly planned on it. But that two year test drive really cemented in our minds that we were compatible and on the same page. When we took our vows, we meant them and had no reservations.

I would personally rather be dating someone for 10 years and break up than marry someone after a short period and be divorced before I turned 30. Most relationships these days don't last anyway... I strongly suggest to girls to take their time with big decisions (marriage, children) until they're positive they're with someone who's right for them. Planning pregnancies with a boyfriend you've known for less than a year isn't a great idea in my opinion. I don't remember even having a major fight with my husband until around the 2 year mark. Those rough patches will test the foundations of your relationship, and if that foundation isn't strong the relationship will probably end. If you're married, it will end with a divorce. That, at least, can be avoided.