Stories of high school sweethearts are heart-warming, but what about preschool sweethearts? Matt Grodsky and Laura Sheel were besties in preschool, with Matt even once declaring his love for her in front of the entire class! But when the two went to different schools, and they moved away from each-other, they thought they would never meet again, but they were wrong…
From A Young Age
Matt and Laura met almost 25 years ago at a preschool in Phoenix, Arizona. 3-year-old Matt eyed 3-year-old Laura on the playground and quickly made her acquaintance. Although both their parents didn’t think much of their friendship, the two were going to become an inseparable duo!
From A Young Age
The Early Days
Matt confessed in an interview with Today, “I don’t remember the first time I saw her, but she was always a girl who let me follow her around.” That following would eventually lead to something amazing.
The Early Days
Safety Buddies
The two of them really got to know each-other on a school trip. Each child was to choose another to pair up with as their “safety buddy”. The two found each-other and didn’t let go for the entire duration of the field trip.
Safety Buddies
Silly Matt
Soon enough, Laura realized that Matt was a kind-hearted and warm person who just wanted to be her friend. Before anyone knew it, the two were best friends, doing everything together from hide-n-seek to mischievously not sleeping during nap time.
Silly Matt
Not Just At Preschool
The time that Matt and Laura had together at preschool proved not to be enough. Their parents soon learned about their close friendship and set up playdates for them. Some of those dates included going to the movies together.
Not Just At Preschool
Protecting Laura
It was during the movies that they watched together that Matt showed how much he cared for her. He would hold Laura’s hand when things got scary.
Protecting Laura
Impressing Laura
One of Matt’s favorite Disney movies was The Lion King. While other kids would brag about their dads or moms, Matt would recite the lines from his favorite movie by heart in order to impress his best friend.
Impressing Laura
The Teacher
There’s no doubt that Laura was impressed with Matt’s Lion King recital skills, but it was Matt who was ultimately impressed with Laura. She taught Matt how to swing on the swings, how to draw rolling hills (I still can’t) and believe it or not, how to eat string cheese the correct way. Matt was blown away by his brilliant best friend.
The Teacher
Winning Her Over
During a Cinco De Mayo celebration at preschool, Matt found a way to impress Laura again. While all the kids were trying to break a piñata open, Matt took his chances and swung so hard that he cracked it open. Matt recalls that moment, “Fortunately, I was the kid who managed to do it and I assume it got her attention.”
Winning Her Over
Young Love
At the age of four, Matt and Laura were what some would call, “love birds”. Even though Matt was only four years old, he didn’t want his feelings about Laura to be a secret.
Young Love
Declaring His Love
In fact Matt made it his business to announce to his classmates one day that he would marry Laura, and while they all found it very amusing, he shouted, “Just you wait!”
Declaring His Love
Birthday Parties
The two of them remained as close as ever and enjoyed spending time at each-other’s birthday parties, standing side-by side. They continued spending time at each-other’s houses and went on more adventures together. But as a preschool was coming to a close, kindergarten was going to bring a big change to the two of them.
Birthday Parties
Fearing The Future
There was enough to worry about when they realized that they were going to kindergarten. It was possible that they wouldn’t be put into the same class, and as you can understand, that would be dreadful for the inseparable pair. The realization that they might not be at each-other’s side any longer made them fearful.
Fearing The Future
Different Schools
Their worst fear turned out to be worse than they had anticipated. Not only were they not placed in the same class, but they were also put into separate schools. It wasn’t their parents’ choice, but rather where they were enrolled by their region. Their parents promised that they would still be able to meet up for a playdate here and there.
Different Schools
Shaky Promises
Like their parents promised, the two met on weekends to enjoy each-other’s company, and they had so much to catch up on! They now had new friends, new experiences on a daily basis, but they were experienced without each-other.
Shaky Promises
Drifting Apart
Soon the weekly visits would become less frequent. Soon they were progressing from kindergarten and they were seeing each-other less and less. This photo shows them enjoying time together on Christmas. Soon Christmas would be their only time to be in touch.
Drifting Apart
Just Christmas
As time ticked by, Matt and Laura’s contact was reduced to mere Christmas cards every year. The two once played every day together, and now with such infrequent contact they were losing each-other. Of course they were making new friends as the years went by, but no friendship was ever like the one they had created together.
Just Christmas
Growing Up
The years raced by and soon the yearly Christmas cards became less sentimental, and soon less frequent. There was no-one to blame for the change in their relationship; they were simply growing up, and they were growing up apart. They had an incredible childhood together, but now they were maturing.
Growing Up
High School
High school seemed so far away from kindergarten, and especially from preschool, so it’s no surprise that the two weren’t thinking about each-other at all anymore. But then one day something happened in high school and it would change everything.
High School
An Accident
During Laura’s freshman year, she was scrolling through a friend’s phone. Suddenly she stumbled across a name that she had once known really well. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
An Accident
Heartwarming Memories
Laura could hardly believe her eyes when she read the name, “Matt Grodsky”. Her childhood sweetheart’s name was staring back at her on her friend’s phone’s screen. Before she knew it she was overwhelmed with memories of their close friendship. Her friend didn’t know why Laura went pale.
Heartwarming Memories
A Different Plan
When Laura caught her breath, she explained to her friend about their young romance and asked how she knew Matt. Her friend told her that they had met in middle school. Laura decided not to think much of the find, but her friend’s mind floated elsewhere.
A Different Plan
Setting Them Up
Laura’s friend was mind-blown by the story that she had just heard, and she really wanted to set the two up again. Laura was hesitant about the idea, and understandably. The two hadn’t been in touch for years; Matt didn’t know anything about Laura, and vice-versa. How could their relationship be the same as it was when they were just little kids?
Setting Them Up
Going Ahead
Even though they were talking about Matt, her first love, Laura wasn’t sure that she should have a boyfriend then at all. She explained her feelings to People, “I was a freshman in high school so I was like, ‘I don’t think so!’” She was also nervous about the idea as a whole. Despite all this, Laura’s friend gave Matt her number.
Going Ahead
Matt’s Move
When Matt received Laura’s number, he felt compelled to text her. He wrote her a text, but he wasn’t sure how she was going to react. But when she replied, he knew that things were going to be good.
Matt’s Move
Seeing Her
The first thing that Matt noticed when he saw her again, was her infectious smile. Matt remembers how he always felt about that smile, “She always had a huge smile.”
Seeing Her
The First Date
Pretty soon they had set up a date to go see a movie together – just like old times. When they met, Matt said that it was like love at first sight…. again. They clicked again, just like they had so many years ago!
The First Date
Like Old Times
Their first official date went brilliantly and soon enough they were dating as actual boyfriend and girlfriend. Now that they each had a driver’s license, it was easy for them to drive to one-another, even though they were at different high schools. It didn’t end there – they accompanied each-other at their school dances and at other school functions.
Like Old Times
College Coming Up
Although they had been separated in the past, going to college was going to be far different from the separation they had endured before. Obviously they wanted to stay together, but seeing as they were going to different colleges which were in different states, they would have to make a difficult decision. “Right after we graduated from high school, we were pretty hesitant,” Laura told People. “We were like, ‘Do we stay together? Do we try to make it work?’”
College Coming Up
Long Distance
Neither one of them wanted to rob the other of their unique college experience. Matt was going to Chicago to attend Columbia University while Laura was heading to Northern Arizona University. They were 1,600 miles apart, but they were determined to make a long distance relationship work.
Long Distance
Staying In Touch
No matter how difficult it was going to be, Matt and Laura were not going to lose each-other again. So despite the fact that they were in different time zones, they made sure to speak on Facetime every single day. They also made trips to one-another whenever they could, making sure that their relationship was kept alive and well.
Staying In Touch
6 Months
They were grateful for the help of social media which allowed them to keep up with each-other’s lives, but they were still missing each-other greatly. At one stage they were apart for as long as six months! Matt decided that he had to do something about it.
6 Months
The Perfect Throwback
Before they knew it they were seniors, only this time in college. Matt put together a very unique date for the two of them. He prepared a picnic, and guess where? At their preschool! The date was set up as a surprise for Laura. But there was more to this well-thought-out date.
The Perfect Throwback
A Secret Plan
“I convinced Laura that we were going to a picnic at the preschool. We had just finished up our junior year of college, so I framed it as a nice relaxing date,” Matt recalled. Now that they had been together for a few years, Matt had something else up his sleeve, but Laura was completely unsuspecting.
A Secret Plan
Back To Their Roots
When Laura heard that they were going back to their preschool, she was touched. It was such a thoughtful and personal idea for a romantic picnic, after all it was there where they had first found each-other.
Back To Their Roots
Matt’s Strange Behavior
On the way to the preschool, Matt seemed to be acting fidgety in the car. Laura thought that he was probably just excited and a little bit nervous about their secret date. But after they had arrived and she noticed that he was still a little nervous, her emotions started to run high too.
Matts Strange Behavior
The Big Move
Then as she started to realize that there was more than just a picnic going on, Matt dropped down on one knee and took her hand. He looked her in the eye, produced a ring, and said: “Will you marry me?” Laura’s jaw dropped. She immediately exclaimed a passionate, “YES!” I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this happening?’ I saw the ring and was like, ‘This is gorgeous. I’m so happy with it.’ I had no idea!”
The Big Move
Worrying
Aside from the fact that Matt was about to pull off the greatest move of his life, he also worried about losing the ring. “I kept checking my pocket when she wasn’t looking to make sure the ring was still there,” he said.
Worrying
Long Planning
Matt proposed to Laura on May 23rd, 2015, but the truth is that he had started planning this perfect engagement months before. As part of the planning, he had asked Laura’s dad for his blessing.
Long Planning
Going All Out
Matt went out to purchase the ring, and he even set his brother up with a video camera in the bushes. Matt wanted every moment to be captured on film.
Going All Out
The Picnic Basket
Matt borrowed a picnic basket from his parents. But this was no ordinary basket; it was the same picnic basket his dad had used on the day that he proposed to Matt’s mother. How special is that?
The Picnic Basket
A Special Place
Matt and Laura were standing in the exact same place where Matt had once exclaimed his love for Laura and the other kids had laughed. He was making his pledge to marry her come true in the very same spot. “I proposed to her at the place it all began… our preschool classroom,” Matt told the Huffington Post. “When you like someone, you just kind of stand up and say it.”
A Special Place
Tying The Knot
The day that they married eventually came on December 30th, 2016. And in true Lion King style, they shared the first dance to Elton John’s, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”.
Tying The Knot
True Soulmates
Family and friends watched as they danced together at the Arizona Historical Society. Matt’s uncle found the best way to describe their unique love. “For most kids in preschool, it’s about finding your snacks and your sleeping mats, but for them it was about finding their soulmates.”
True Soulmates
For Social Media
Just like any other millennial couple, their wedding had to be shared on social media. Mainly through Facebook and Instagram, the couple’s photos were shared with friends and family. But the reach of those photos and their story would go much farther.
For Social Media
Laura’s Dad Speaks Out
At their wedding ceremony, Laura’s father shared the amazing story of how Laura was adopted from an orphanage in India. Her father had a similar story with her mother.
Lauras Dad Speaks Out
Their Own Long Distance Relationship
Laura’s father was doing a tour in India and he had spent about a year there. During that time he was part of a relationship with Laura’s future mother. Eventually her mother found work at the American embassy in India and they were finally together.
Their Own Long Distance Relationship
Visiting The Orphanage
Soon they would become married. Laura’s mother told her husband about an orphanage that had a huge amount of children who didn’t have homes to go to. Together they went to see the babies there. The wedding guests listened with intrigue as he shared this intimate story.
Visiting The Orphanage
Adopting Laura
Even though there were hundreds of children in different rooms, they decided to head the room with the babies. When they came upon Laura, they noticed that she had tubes in her nose and drips in her arms. The nurses explained that she was suffering from double-pneumonia.
Adopting Laura
Not Leaving Without Her
Even though Laura’s parents were set on adopting her, the agency had a policy that they decided which babies would be adopted and by whom. But they were not going to be told that they could not take the baby that was meant for them.
Not Leaving Without Her
A Different Place
Laura’s dad realized that he needed a new strategy, and even though it was a risky one, it turned out to pay off. Since he was working at the U.S. embassy at the time, he was able to ‘bribe’ the officials at the agency with American products.
A Different Place
Back To Now
It was all of these events that eventually brought these two lovebirds together. Speaking at their wedding ceremony, Matt’s uncle said something that we should all think about, “Love is not one moment, not even this moment – it’s every moment.”
Back To Now
Dancing For Love
Matt and Laura’s love story was theirs to have, but it was also for others to take part in. When everyone started dancing alongside the loving couple, They couldn’t help but notice how perfect their moment was. “Our favorite part of the wedding was the dancing and having everyone we love there to celebrate with us,” they said about the wedding. “We tore it up on the dance floor and it was great being surrounded by everyone who played a part in bringing us together.”
Dancing For Love
Honeymoon Time
Following their dream wedding, the couple flew off to the island of Maui to enjoy a much-deserved honeymoon. Their life had changed from fairytale to paradise, it seemed. But this was not to be the end of their story.
Honeymoon Time
The Way We Met
Laura wanted to share their special story with the world, so she set out to do just that. Laura took an old photo of the two of them, with a new photo, and shared it with “The Way We Met”. The Instagram account shares heartwarming stories of couples in love. Obviously their story was a huge hit!
The Way We Met
A Big Hit
It was obvious to them that their story was unique, but they weren’t expecting it to go viral! Matt spoke of his age-long feelings for Laura with pride, ” “I was enamored with Laura as a child, and I still am to this day.”
A Big Hit
Inspiring Others
Their story wasn’t just shared between “a few people”, it started to spread all around the world. Initially the Instagram post had 30,000 likes and almost 1,000 comments, but before they knew it, the post had 400,000 followers on it. As if that wasn’t enough, different media outlets wanted to speak to them to get a firsthand account of their remarkable story.
Inspiring Others
Social Media’s Feelings
This story might seem like something straight out of the movies, but soon they were surprised to find out that there were other people like them. Others who had similar experiences. At the same time there were people who shared how they had lost contact with their childhood sweethearts.
Social Media’s Feelings
More Than They Thought
But their influence was far greater than simple nostalgia. Interracial couples from across the country had seen their story too, and they wanted to share how they felt about it. Some interracial pairs came forward to tell Matt and Laura how they had influenced them to be strong and resilient.
More Than They Thought
Tyrese Gibson
Their story had reached so many people that even Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson read their story. He was completely warmed by their special connection and by the way these two didn’t give up on their love. He was so inspired that he decided to take action.
Tyrese Gibson
Treating The Couple
Tyrese Gibson has shared on a number of occasions that he’s a sucker for love stories, and this one seemed to be one of the best he had ever heard. He contacted Matt and Laura and shared his feelings with them. Then he offered them a 3-day vacation in Florida. They plan on taking him up on the offer.
Treating The Couple
The Grodskys’ Future
Now that they actually live in the same town and under the same roof in Arizona, they have their lives ahead of them. Two years have passed since they got married and Matt works as an account executive at a digital marketing agency, while Laura works with a non-profit organization that helps children who need foster care. Not too long ago they bought their own house!
The Grodskys Future
Becoming Parents
It didn’t take the two of them long to decide that they want to become parents… of sorts. They adopted a gorgeous puppy by the name of Kirby. Will these two have children of their own?
Becoming Parents
Real Parents
People was eager to find out if the pair were planning to have children in the near future, and this is what they said. “We would love to have kids at some point. Right now we are focused on our new puppy Kirby and our new house.”
Real Parents
What A Journey
For Laura and Matt, love has been a journey to remember. From falling in love at very young age, to being separated for 8 more years, these two found each-other again and lit up with true love. They are forever grateful for what they have found in each-other. “The best thing about our relationship is we are just silly and we appreciate each other every day,” they said. “Having gone through a long distance relationship, you learn really quick how much the other person means to you and we value our time.”
What A Journey
The Best In Each-Other
These two really have known each-other all their lives, so when they say that they have some favorite features in one-another, we can imagine that it must be difficult to choose which one. “My favorite thing about Matt is his humor, he always makes me happy and he is the most driven person I know,” Laura says. “He is always moving forward.” Matt shared, “My favorite thing about Laura is her infectious smile and her desire to help those who are less fortunate. She is a force for good and it’s inspiring to be around her every day.”
The Best In Each Other
The Moment They’d Been Waiting For
There are still moments in their lives where they look back at their wedding day and wonder. There was always a place in each-other’s hearts for one-another. Tying the knot was so special, but that’s not all it was…
The Moment They’d Been Waiting For
A Wedding To Look Back On
Like in many traditions, when the bride throws her bouquet behind her, the girl to catch it is usually the next in line to get married. Sometimes girls fight over the flowers, but at their wedding that wasn’t the case. Everyone was there in happy spirits.
A Wedding To Look Back On
Celebrating Their Love
Every day is a celebration for Matt and Laura. It’s not just that they’ve gotten married and that they are on their way to building a family together; it runs much deeper than that. Their souls were supposed to come together, and eventually they did. True love always prevails.
Celebrating Their Love
One Small Step
This is only the beginning for them. Despite their new lives starting off with a big bang, there is still so much for them to still achieve together, and we have no doubt that they’ll do great things. With a start like theirs, we can’t imagine it being any other way.
One Small Step