When I was 13, my now fiancé and I started dating, and at the end of my 18th birthday party years later, he proposed.

Naturally, over the past two and a half years, I have heard some comments from people who I know mean well but sometimes come across as less than nice. So, here are a few of my favorites over the years:

1. "You are so young!"

I mean, we have been dating for four years and engaged for two and a half (for a total of six and a half years together). What do you qualify as waiting if this does not? We did not get engaged and then elope the next day. He proposed, I said yes, and we waited and waited and waited and waited and are still waiting. So, yes. I do think we should wait. Thank you.

2. "Don't you think you should wait?"

Counter question, when do YOU think would be a good time? There is really never a "good" time. Life is crazy and people will always be busy.

3. "This really isn't a good time, don't you think?"

Counter question, when do YOU think would be a good time? There is really never a "good" time. Life is crazy and people will always be busy.

4. "You have your whole life ahead of you!"

Now you are getting it! We have our whole life ahead of us! How exciting is that! Our whole life to figure out this next great adventure together! Why is that a bad thing? Why does that mean we should have to wait? Life is short and I want to spend it with this one person and I am excited to start sharing my life with him!

5. "Don't you want to see what else is out there?"

How? In what way would that suck? I am in a committed relationship with my best friend, the most amazing person I know, which means I am not worried about trying to find a relationship while in college and can focus on my studies. I have someone by my side who constantly builds me up and supports me through thick and thin, who knows me inside and out, who is there for me and can help me grow and share in new experiences.

6. "It must suck to be engaged in college."

Yeah. Just terrible.

7. "Aren't you rushing things?"

I don't know how long your relationships tend to last, but from what I have heard, six and a half years tend to be pretty long for two people who met when they were twelve. Rushing things? Really? It has been six years for us. It just seems quick for you because I am twenty and that feels young to you.

8. "But how do you know he is really the one?"

You don't date someone for six and a half years, starting when you are twelve (so through all those awkward bits in middle and high school) and come out the other side more in love every single day not one thousand percent sure they are the one.