Rocky:
Huh, seems to me you do have a problem. After reading your letter I got confused. You say you really care for this girl yet there are so many girls out there you want to be with, well something is missing. I mean first you are 20 which is too young I think to marry you haven't even experienced life yet much less finished school and got your career set up. Those things need to come first if any marriage is going to have a chance.
Let's take your first question, if you were madly in love with this girl I could see how what happened so long ago might be an issue but you are not or you wouldn't want to date all these other girls waiting in line.
So why do you bring this up in fights I think just to press her buttons. I wonder if it is ego and you know if you hit her with that she will back down and you feel you win I mean what can she say. Who can argue the past? I think you should re-evaluate why you need to bring back the past and why you can't live in the present. We all make mistakes I am sure you are not a saint and we all grow from our mistakes. If you care about someone and are growing as a person you never throw the past up as it is a moot point in the present. You either accept it or get out of the relationship as something you can not accept but you don't keep using it as a weapon. So let it go or let her go.
Now, next about marriage as I said you are far from ready just from what you wrote in your letter here much less your feelings for this girl are not "that" strong to warrant marriage in the present at 20 and 18. You both have a lot of growing up to do. Just your wording shows you are not ready for marriage with her or anyone which is good. Now is the time in your life to experience life in all the ways you want to so that when you do get to the place that you are ready to marry you will be able to have your life of experience to give to being a good mate and not needing to mess around because you feel you missed out on life when you were young. So it is quite normal and healthy to be single throughout your 20's most people are not marrying until their 30's now if you meet Ms. Right then you will know it and you will have no doubt and no hesitation about all the girls you will be missing out on. It is nice and clear when it comes to marriage if you listen to your inner voice. You will know when the time is right and who the young woman is no doubts I promise you that. IF you have doubts about anything time, person, losses, whatever then don't even consider it. I also warn you if she is wanting marriage I would be very careful about birthcontrol and make sure you are taking precautions or you may find yourself a father before you are ready.
What is wrong with dating her and other girls? Then you will find out how you truly feel, be able to enjoy your youth and know when the time is right who you want to spend the rest of your life with and when. Think about talking lovingly and straight to your girlfriend about not being mutually exclusive because I am afraid if you don't you are going to keep throwing the past up at her, hurting her and using it as an excuse to either go out behind her back or as an excuse to get out of the relationship so you can date others you find tempting. I think it would be much kinder and more mature to face this straight up and tell her you care for her but you are no where near ready to marry. That may take care of everything or if it doesn't then you may need to sit her down and say you are not ready to be exclusive in your relationship. Yes, you may lose her or at least have one major unhappy girlfriend but to keep beating her up for the past as an excuse and having desire for other girls anyway you are eventually going to go out or hurt your girlfriend so bad you will lose all respect for her for taking it from you. And you will have really hurt her for a long time which is the most loving way? I have a feeling everytime you throw the past up at her you are really hurting her already so you need to get straight with her. Think about her feelings as well as yours even if you have to endure some pain, care for her enough to let go if need be.
OK, let me know what you think and decide,
MaryAnne
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