How can my boyfriend (44M) and I (25F) determine when the right time to get married is?
This is a bit of a long story with many details to consider, so please bear with me. My boyfriend and I have been together for about two years and moved in together six months ago, and we’re really happy. We’ve talked about our future, including our desire for marriage and kids, despite the age gap between us. Growing up in Utah, we know that a two-year relationship is considered lengthy, especially compared to the typical six months before engagement. This holiday season, we’ve faced a lot of pressure from our families to tie the knot, with repeated questions about our wedding plans. Coupled with the age difference (as he isn’t getting younger when it comes to wanting kids), the pressure feels even more intense. I personally feel ready for marriage sometime in the next year, but my boyfriend expressed that he wants us to be emotionally stable first. I agree with him, but I’m not sure what else we need to work on since I believed we were emotionally balanced. Today, he surprised me by saying he wants to address certain things before we consider marriage. I asked him directly if he still wanted our relationship and the future we had discussed. He admitted that if our relationship stayed the same indefinitely, he wouldn’t want that. However, he believes we can make progress. This was a total shock for me, as he hadn't previously mentioned any dissatisfaction, and I thought we communicated well and understood each other. We had already discussed specific plans regarding marriage and our future, so I felt blindsided. Logically, I know the solution is to continue improving our communication and understanding of one another, but I can’t shake the fear of not being married a year from now. I fear being stuck in a stagnant relationship. Marriage is important to both of us because we both want children. I have so many questions, and I’m feeling lost about what I thought was a solid foundation. I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you!