We’ve all been exposed to tales about high school sweethearts, but what about preschool sweethearts? Matt Grodsky & Laura Sheel were such a story. They met in preschool when they were only 3 and 4-year-old and they immediately bonded. They were inseparable, and Matt even declared his love for Laura in front of the whole class. But when they got older and went to different schools, distance proved too big of an obstacle and sadly, their blossoming relationship was interrupted. But, they met each other again at a later stage in life…Read on to find out more about their feel good and heartwarming story!

They Became Fast Friends

The story of Matt Grodsky & Laura Scheel begins approximately twenty-five years ago and it’s one that will bring a smile on your face. They met at their Phoenix, Arizona preschool when they were only 3 and 4 years old. Immediately, they became best friends. Matt first observed Laura on the playground and knew he wanted them to be friends, so he followed her around. Laura didn't play hard to get, and they became fast friends and were absolutely inseparable. Although their folks thought their relationship was charming, they didn’t overthink it. After all, they were just toddlers.

They Became Inseparable

Matt wanted nothing more than to be friends with Laura so he'd follow her around the playground all day. Anyway, there were just two little babies back then! He even said in an interview years later that he doesn't recall the 1st time he saw her, but she'd always let him follow her around. In the beginning, Laura thought he was really silly for following her around, but she also came to understand how funny and good-natured he really was. In no time, she and Matt were best pals. They did everything together, both in school and after school.

Meeting Outside of School as Well

For the young duo, they wanted more than just playing together at preschool— they wanted to hang out outside of school as well. By then, their parents knew each other well so the kids started playing on the weekends too. They scheduled fun play dates and saw movies together, with parent chaperones naturally. Matt would sometimes grab Laura’s hand during the scary bits. They were clearly joined at the hips, and although Matt was only 4 years old, he wanted the world to know how he felt about his dear Laura.

Matt Showed Off Quoting Movie Lines

It’s nice to reminisce and think about the time in which we were naïve young kids and remember what we did to impress our pals at school. Whether it was letting them see our collection of milk caps or swinging really high on the swings, those days were the very best. Matt loved Laura and was always trying to grab her attention. One of Matt's favorite ways to show off how cool he was, was to repeat sentences from his favorite Disney flicks like The Lion King. And we kid you not, he had learnt the full movie by heart!

Laura Taught Matt Important Things

Matt may have worked hard trying to impress Laura and put a lot of effort into it, but Laura impressed him effortlessly just with her first smile. She even taught him many things as well. She was the one who taught him how to swing on the swings. She helped him improve his drawing and even taught him how to eat string cheese correctly. These things might seem trivial to us adults, but when someone teaches you these things as a child, they become the moments that really stick with you for all of your life.

Matt's Prophecy

When they were 4 years old, everyone knew that Matt & Laura were best pals. It was clear as day. While at preschool, they were inseparable. They spent time together every weekend. Their bond was truly unique. Everyone knew they were little Romeo and Juliet. One day, Matt stood in front of all the kids and said that one day, he would marry Laura. Kids being kids, he was laughed at. But laugh all they want, Matt knew what he was talking about with his prediction that might later on draw comparisons to Nostradamus. What a sweet little affair!

Preschool was about to End

While nobody took what Matt said seriously, he & Laura remained good friends throughout preschool. They constantly scheduled playdates outside of school and always showed up at each other’s birthday celebrations with gifts or flowers and open arms. Despite being just four years old, their connection was truly special and out of the ordinary. It really looked like Matt’s statement might not even be that farfetched! But as preschool was about to end, the two were about to go through a major change — starting kindergarten. Sadly, their relationship would soon be up for a test.

A New Chapter in Life

Time passes really quickly, and before Matt and Laura even noticed they were attending their first day of kindergarten. They had graduated from preschool and were about to begin the next episode of their lives. Starting kindergarten is a significant thing in any kid's life, but it was even more crucial for Matt & Laura. The preschool lovebirds weren’t sure if they would be placed in the same class and were starting to understand that their days of playing with each other every day might have been over and done with.

They Went to Two Different Schools

Not only were they not in the same kindergarten class, but they also didn't even attend the same school. Needless to say, this wasn’t an intentional choice made by their folks, but rather, it was determined by where they resided. Still, Matt and Laura were upset when they learned they would no longer be able to play together as much as before. Their parents didn’t fully realize how attached they were either, and simply assured the kids they would still be able to play together on the weekends. However, could this have been enough?

Communicating Through Christmas Cards

Their parents promised them that they'd still be able to play with each other on the weekends, but this was only half true. Life becomes hectic, and before knowing it, Matt & Laura’s time together was regularly fading. Still, they tried to spend time together whenever it was possible. They even took a lovely Christmas card picture with 2 of their buddies one time. Regrettably, as they finished kindergarten and moved on to other grades, they began seeing less and less of each other. They didn’t know that Christmas cards would ultimately become their sole form of communication.

Matt & Laura Grew Apart

As the years passed, Matt and Laura saw very little of one another. While they once played every day and posed for Christmas photos together, now Laura and Matt only kept in touch when their families sent Christmas cards to each other. While they missed each other, school, classes and homework were the focus of their lives as well as family and new friends they made, and they couldn't find time for each other anymore. Being a kid in school isn't just fun and games, it can also be demanding and difficult.

Forgetting People from Your Past is Easy

They say distance makes the heart more doting, but that's not always the case. It surely wasn't the case for Matt and Laura. A few years passed, and the two dear friends didn't even wait in anticipation for the new Christmas cards. They were growing older and living their own independent lives. As we grow older and are always learning new stuff, meeting new people, and experiences new things, it’s not difficult forgetting about our past. It looked like Matt and Laura had a sweet childhood infatuation, but they’ve become older and moved on and did not look back on their affair ever since.

A Coincidence

Before realizing it, almost 10 years had passed, and Matt and Laura were about to start high school. Again, they went to different schools. By then, the old friends rarely thought about one other. After all, almost a decade passed since they were best friends. But one day, something incredible occurred. During Laura's freshman year, she was on her friend’s phone when one of the names she saw on the contacts list really grabbed her attention. It was Matt Grodsky! This was the beginning (actually, the continuation) of a wonderful friendship.

The World Felt Smaller

Laura was surprised to see Matt’s name right in front of her in her friend’s phone, and all of a sudden she started thinking about all the nostalgic childhood moments she shared with him! She asked her friend what's her relation to Matt and she replied that they met in middle school. For Laura, the world was suddenly feeling way, way smaller. She told her friend the story about her & Matt’s preschool friendship. She decided it was best not to do anything about it, but her friend thought it would be a nice idea to set them up.

Laura Didn't Know if it Was a Good Idea

Right after Laura told her friend about the blossoming relationship she had with Matt during preschool, her friend had a wild idea. She wanted to reunite the old lovers Matt and Laura. Laura’s friends shared the idea with her, but she wasn't sure if it was really such a good idea. After all, she didn't know anything about Matt anymore. They haven't spoken in years. Laura didn't think that they'll be able to reprise the same feelings they had years ago. She also didn't want to spoil all the lovely memories with a bad dating experience; after all, they had a very sweet affair. Was she wrong?

Her Friend was Determined

Laura was quite nervous at the idea of being hooked up with Matt. Not only that, she didn't even know if she was ready for a boyfriend back then. She even said to her friends that she was a freshman in high school so having a boyfriend might be too much to handle right now. But despite all that, Laura’s friend had a certain feeling about her matchmaking attempts. She decided to go through with it and gave Laura’s number to Matt. She never expected what Matt's reaction would be.

Lovers Reunited

Shortly after Matt got Laura’s number, he sent her a text and in no time, they agreed to set up a time and meet. They were both very anxious and excited at the same time and they wanted to go watch a movie together. Holding hands in the dark can be quite romantic. When they met it was as if they were never apart. Matt even told his friends that he felt it was love at first sight. Just like when they went to preschool together, they hit it off straight away in high school, too.

Like They Were Never Apart

While Matt & Laura were best friends in preschool, there was no way knowing if they'd hit it off now that they were in their teens. But when they reunited, it was becoming very clear. Their 1st date went perfectly and soon enough, they started formally dating, becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. They did go to different high schools, but now when they were able to drive, making it easier to maintain their relationship. They became inseparable again, going with each other to high school dances and other social events. But soon they'll start attending college.

They Had a Choice to Make

With college coming soon, they had a difficult choice to make. They spent time apart once before and didn’t want it to happen once again. But they were about to go to different colleges in different states and weren't willing to give that up as well. They both had their doubts regarding what they need to do in this situation. Trying to make it work despite the geographic distance might prove too difficult for the two. They attended different schools in the past, but this time around, they would have 1,600 miles between them.

Going the Distance

Eventually, Matt & Laura decided to go to their respective colleges but still try and make a long-distance relationship work. Laura went to Northern Arizona University and Matt moved to Chicago and went to Columbia College. They had 1,600 miles between them. But while distance didn't really do them any good when they were children, this time it was different. They really wanted to make it work and the distance made their hearts grow fonder. They knew being so far from each other would be challenging, but they cared so much for one another that they wanted to do everything in their powers to make it work.

Social Media & Facetime Helped

They tried their best to do well in college and meet new friends there, but also to keep up a working relationship with each other. It proved difficult at times, mainly since they were in different time zones. But with help from social media & Facetime, they saw each other every day, even if it was only through a computer screen. They also often took trips to visit each other in their new surroundings. Although social media & Facetime assisted them in communicating with each another, they still had long periods of time in which they weren't able to see each other in person.

They Both Understood Something Substantial

The longest period of time they had without seeing each other in person was nearly 6 months which is quite a lot. While they attended college, they both understood something substantial: they loved each other and really wanted to be together. But the distance separating them was starting to become a challenge for the two — especially for Matt. He felt like he really needed to do something about it. Time passed quickly, as it does, and it was senior year once again, but now it was their senior year of college.

A Romantic Date

Matt felt he wanted to do something nice to celebrate the couple starting their final year of school. While both of them were home for the summer, Matt had an idea for a cute date. Since both of them gave all they had in order to do well in school, he wanted Laura and him to go on a fun, nostalgic and romantic date. He wanted to take Laura on a picnic at their preschool. How romantic is that? But that wasn't the only surprise Matt had in stock.

Matt Took Laura to Where It All Began

Matt's plan to have a nostalgic and romantic picnic at the lovely location, wasn’t all he had panned out. He convinced Laura that all they were about to do is go on a picnic at the preschool. They just finished up their junior year of college, so Matt framed it as a nice low-key date. Although they knew each other for years at that point, Laura certainly didn't see this one coming. He really appreciated their one of a kind love story and wanted to take Laura back to where their relationship began.

Matt's Bigger Surprise

Before they arrived at the preschool Laura saw that Matt seemed to be uptight. She thought it was due to the fact that he was bringing her to a surprise spot. When they reached the preschool, Laura was really touched by the wonderful gesture. She already felt so fortunate to have Matt in her life, but now she was really overwhelmed. Laura's surprise was about to get much bigger since Matt got down on one knee and asked Laura to marry him. Laura was completely unready for this… and said yes!

Matt Had Help from His Entire Family

Matt planned his romantic proposal for months. He bought the lovely engagement ring months before, and even asked Laura’s father for his permission like they did in the old days. Matt also asked his brother to hide out at the preschool, so he could film everything with his camera. Another heartwarming element was that Matt used his folk's old picnic basket that his dad had used to propose to his mother. His parents also wrapped the basket with fizzy cider & wedding mags. Matt wasn't done with his surprises just yet.

The Wedding

Matt & Laura were still in college, but Matt didn’t want to wait till both graduated. He had no doubt Laura was The One and wanted to seal the deal. Matt proposed to her in the same spot where he announced many years ago in front of the whole classroom that he'll one day marry Laura. Matt & Laura married on 12.30.2016 at the Arizona Historical Society. They picked Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love Tonight as the song for their first dance. Most kids pick their noses and play in the sand during preschool. Matt and Laura chose the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with there.

The Celebrations Continue

Matt & Laura’s wedding was clearly a special day for the couple, but the most important thing for them was to share their love and good fortune with their friends & relatives. Partying with their loved ones, dancing with them for most of the night was the perfect gift as far as they were concerned. Now that they were formally married, they weren't planning on stopping the celebrations. They went on their honeymoon to the amazing island of Maui. Their honeymoon lasted two weeks and both of them were overwhelmed with joy.

Their Story on Instagram

Matt and Laura's friends and family kept telling them how unique their love was. While Laura always knew their love story was exceptional, Laura really wanted to share their story with the world. She shared an endearing snapshot of the 2 at preschool next to a recent photo, together with the story of their relationship, she called it “The Way We Met.” The Instagram account often shares the moving stories of how couples met, and knew they had to share Laura’s as soon as she submitted it. While Matt & Laura thought people would probably enjoy their story, they never imagined the amazing response that would soon follow.

Media Sensation

Matt and Laura turned viral! Everyone loved reading about their love affair. While Matt and Laura thought people would probably enjoy their story, they never imagined the amazing response that followed. When “The Way We Met” shared the couple's story, it initially got more than 30,000 likes and almost 1,000 comments. Laura learned that their story was shared with almost 400,000 users. Immediately, several media channels wanted the couple to tell them more about their love story. They were contacted by the likes of the Huffington Post, The Today Show, and People.

How are They Now?

So how are the Grodskys now? They have been married for nearly 2 years now and are truly content with life. Matt & Laura reside in their home state of Arizona where Matt is employed as an account executive at a digital marketing agency while Laura works for a non-profit that aids foster children. They just recently purchased a new house and are enjoying adding unique touches to make their house a home. They also extended their family unit – a puppy they called Kirby. A new house, a new dog, a lot is happening in the couple's life.

They Don't Take Each other For Granted

Although they are both very busy people, they are already thinking about having kids. From the day they met at preschool to not seeing one another for 8 years to reuniting and ultimately falling in love — Matt & Laura's love story is one of a kind. And they never even consider taking it for granted. In an interview they said that they are both silly people who love to laugh, and they both appreciate each other so much. They also said that the long-distance relationship they had helped them realize how much they meant to each other and how much they really need each other.

What They Love Most About Each Other

Matt and Laura are newlyweds, but they’ve been with each other for so long and know how to make their relationship work. Two things that they consider to be crucial to the relationship are drive & positivity. Laura really loves Matt's humor, he always manages to make her happy with his sense of humor. Matt said that the thing he loves most about Laura is her infectious smile and her willing to assist those who need help. Matt added that she is a force for good and that he feels inspired being next to her every day.