Marriage Proposals - When Are They Appropriate?

Marriage Proposals Evaluation Question 1:  Does he or she make you happy?

We're not talking about "this is a great dinner" happy or even "this is the happiest moment of my life" sort of happy. Understand that even if you have the perfect mate or your soul mate, so to speak, you will not be happy every minute of every day. Frankly, there will be some nasty days. Overall, however, does your significant other make you feel happy?  Do you enjoy your life more when you are with him or her than when you are separated?  If the answer is "no," then you need to re-evaluate the relationship.  It might be time to move on.

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Marriage Proposals Evaluation Question 2:  Are you still tempted?

If you're out at a club or at a dinner party, do you find yourself checking out the other guys or gals in the room? If you do, that's fine. It's a fact of life that everyone looks around once in awhile. If you're ready to settle down, you'll still want to go home with your significant other every night instead of sneaking around to get to know those guys or gals at the bar.  If you're tempted to cheat, or are in fact cheating, you're not ready for marriage.

Marriage Proposals Evaluation Question 3:  Can you get old with this person?

Can you see yourself going on vacations with your significant other in forty years? How about having children?  or grandchildren?  If you decide to get married, you'll be in the relationship for the long haul. If the prospect of getting old and gray with this person freaks you out, you're not ready for marriage. As to children, this is something that you and your partner should discuss before marriage.  If you have incompatible views (i.e., he wants kids right away and she wants to wait five or six years), you need to work these issues out before marriage or do not marry the person you are dating at all. 

Marriage Proposals Evaluation Question 4:  Can you stand to be around this person all the time?

If you were locked in the same room with your girlfriend or boyfriend, how long can you stand it?  At the end of a week, would you be arguing about politics, each others' appearances, religion or other topics so much that you'd like to throw your partner out the window?   If you can imagine yourselves spending blissful days together for years on end, then marriage may be just over the horizon.

"Marriage Proposals - When Are They Appropriate?" contributed by Nancy Slovak