Not who you replied to but my parents married because my dad knocked up my mom at age 20 with my older brother. She still finished college and graduated with honors with a 2 year old.

It worked out. Maybe they were already considering marriage, IDK. My parents are religious and have never advertised that's why they got married because it wasn't the right way. No wedding pictures because they did it at the courthouse. No nice rings.

Now they have a 33 year old with 2 kids of his own, me at 28, and a final surprise child who is 15.

My parents have always prioritized their relationship over us. For example, we were to remain quiet if Mom and Dad were talking, we were told to go play outside if we were annoying, etc. No special dinners, you ate what the adults made. My dad talked to me about this when I was an adult. Said their job was to raise functioning, contributing adults and not putting us children first was how they went about achieving that (jokes on them, I suck as an adult).

I've heard my dad sheepishly complain to my mom that he misses her and their lives are too busy for them to spend enough time together. My dad has extreme anxiety and my mom has become a master at supporting him. They're happy. They have date nights and split all chores evenly. They joke. They've invented tons of little family games and activities they enjoy with us kids and just themselves.

They really love each other.