I'm in my 30's and I Don't Want to Waste Time With the Wrong Men. How Soon Should I Find Out If He's Serious About Marriage and Kids?

Hi Evan,My friends and I are all in the range of early to mid-to somewhat late 30's and this is a very difficult time to find "the one". When I was in my 20's, I never worried about having to find out if my date / bf wanted kids or where he wanted to live or if we have the same ideas about money and spending. We would spend 2 + years together (not worrying about future or marriage) and then break up if we got sick of each other or fell out of love.But now, let's be realistic, how long do we really have to waste? I am almost 33. If I spent 2 years with someone and it didn't work out, I would then be 35, and I want kids!So, at this age, how soon is it okay to have a talk about what we want in life ... 1st, 2nd, 3rd date? What if a guy that is amazing says he is unsure he wants kids and I know I want them? I drop him, right? If a guy in his mid 30's thinks it is ok to date for 2 years and see if it is right, then my instinct is to let him go. By the same token, I feel that it is appropriate to KNOW by 6 months if this person is the one or not. Is this correct? Let me remind you that I'm not talking about people in their 20's who enter into 5-year relationships. My friends and I want to be smart. I just ended a relationship with a guy after 6 months who told me he had serious doubts that I was the one.How long until you should know (at this age) and how long until you should be planning to get engaged / married? I know people that get engaged after 6-8 months because they just know. I do NOT want to waste time. I am still considered young, but one long-term relationship that goes nowhere and I am 1-2 years older! If a guy tells me he wants to date for 2 years, then if we are right, he wants to get married, but then travel for a year before thinking about having kids, shouldn't I run? I hope all of this makes sense. All of my close single girlfriends are in the same boat. We are all in the same age range and try to live by the "rules" of not bringing up marriage and kids and future goals or when we want those things. But shouldn't we talk about that early on, in order to know we are on the same page? I want to date someone that is also looking for "the one" and knows that he wants it soon, just as I do.Thanks so much, SKDear SK,I couldn't be more sympathetic to you. Now that I'm almost 37, most of my friends are in this 35-40 range, and there's no doubt of the psychological toll that being single takes on them. The window to have kids is a narrow one, and, for that reason, it makes everything feel urgent.

    The window to have kids is a narrow one, and, for that reason, it makes everything feel urgent.I'm confident that just about anyone in your position would feel the exact same as you do. But, like an employee who has to grin and bear it when he's got to work overtime, you have to figure out a way to smile, breathe deeply, and not get overwhelmed by your feelings. First, let's try an exercise. Pretend you're a guy for a second.Now reread your letter. I'll wait.