Ten signs he's ready to pop the question
Contrary to popular belief, most blokes want to get married... eventually. It may take them longer to recognise the symptoms of marriageitis, but it's there nonetheless. Sharing their lives with one woman, having steady sex for life and the possibility of kids crosses their minds. Of course, this could all result from their woman's constant hinting at marriage. Hey, it's like Chris Rock says, 'Women get married; men surrender.' Have a look at the top ten things that should alert him to the fact that he might want to 'make an honest woman' out of his current belle
1. He knows she's the one
While all the subsequent examples are good indicators of readiness for marriage, nothing is as important as this one. In essence, this reason is really the assemblage of all the other indicators; the reason that all signs point to her. After all, he's with her now for a reason. She is the culmination of all the dating experiences that came before. He's learned who he is; he remembers the girls he's thrown back while waiting for that special catch. And now he knows that the 'one' is in his life. All her good traits and the way she makes him feel about himself impresses upon him the absolute need to keep this one. There was never anyone like her in his life before and he knows there won't be again. So he should stop dillydallying and get on with it.
2. He makes long-term plans together
The realisation that he's ready for marriage may actually be obvious. If he's initiated or willingly participated in discussions with his girlfriend about eventually buying a house, having children, saving for retirement or any such future plans, then it's a logical assumption for him (and a fait accompli for her) that he should propose. Similarly, if he's found himself paying special attention to reports about the suburbs (hikes in taxes, school zones, housing markets, etc.), then he shouldn't fight it any longer; he's ready.
3. He wants her as the mother of his children
This one's big. It may not have been that long ago, when the mere thought of being a 'daddy' sent him running for the nearest bottle of tequila. However, if being with his latest lady has him actually thinking of children's names and even grinning at the thought that she might be the mother to his brood, then he's certainly got nuptials on the brain. But before he actually starts trying to have those bambinos, he needs to make sure she's on the same page.
4. He starts sacrificing financially
Another clue that he's really ready to pop the question is when he's begun calculating the fees necessary to take a wife. He realises that they'll need to give up some luxuries in order to finance this event. A true man steps up and shows his woman that he's ready and able to field the cost. If, for example, he trades in his Audi TT for a fuel-efficient Ford Escape to save for the wedding (and he can smile while doing so), then he's ready. If he's recognised this need and, more importantly, is eager to make it happen, then he's in line to get hitched.
5. He thinks about the wedding
It's all becoming an exciting prospect to him, this idea of marriage. The fact that it doesn't scare him is remarkable. But more amazingly, he realises that he can spin a lot of positives out of it. The wedding party will be a blast. Friends he hasn't seen in a while will all be celebrating, drinking and dancing with him again at his reception. Plus, this time he gets to be the recipient of a bachelor party and not merely a participant.
6. He already knows what ring to buy her
So he's started looking at diamonds and rings? Surely this must mean that he's been paying some attention to his lady's hints. Even more amazing to him, this is a process that feels less like a 'chore' and more like a labour of love. He wants the ring to really reflect his taste and his commitment to her. If this doesn't tell him he's ready to propose, then umm... what exactly is he doing it for?
7. He considers her family his own
He's met her parents and she's met his. He's attended holidays, birthdays, barbecues and even the occasional tragedy together with her family. As he has embraced them as important in his girlfriend's life, so too has he come to care for them more than any other group of people (with the exception of his own kin, of course). When he gets this intertwined with her, there's only one place left to go.
8. He love her quirks
In past relationships, he's always ended up being irreconcilably annoyed by his girlfriends' little habits. Whether it was a constant need for shopping sprees or leaving her hair all over his bathroom, there was always something he could not get over; but not with this one.In fact, he finds himself laughing along with her more often than not. This is a clear indication of how much he's come to appreciate her character.
9. He wants to experience life with her
Now that they've been together for a while, he begins to realise that she's someone very special. Whenever he goes out of town on business, he frequently wishes she could be there with him. Conversely, when she's away, it hits him that he can't wait for her to get back. He wants to go on holiday with her and visit new places together. In other words, he's reached a point where he can't picture her ever leaving his life and he see himself growing old with her. He needs to face the facts that he's headed toward marriage alley and he actually likes the idea.
10. He wants to settle down
Feeling like the pace of single life is too hectic? Does he look at his single friends as if they're all just running around pointlessly from party to party with no greater ambition than finding their next 'lay'? More importantly, has he caught himself contemplating whether there's something more? There is, and his gut tells him the answer lies with his girlfriend. This is a telltale indicator that he's well on his way to accepting the inevitable... marriage. What once was a taboo subject has become a most reasonable idea. The only real dilemma now is how he breaks this revelation to his friends. Yeah, he'll take some good-natured ribbing from his buds, but in the end, he'd trade in that pool cue for his honey any day of the week.
Time for him to go and make her his
If his head and his heart have been giving off any or all of the above signals, he's probably ready to ask his lady to marry him. And she's noticed his change in demeanour. Women are intuitive - any 'out of the ordinary' behaviour would have been duly noted on her boyfriend radar. But rest assured, she's probably happily awaiting his 'surprise.' his journey down life's shared road is only four words away.