Anonymous wrote:I did online dating. I said upfront that I was interested in relationships where marriage was a possibility. If people wanted to stay casual only, no chance of something serious, I wasn't interested.
Been married 13 years now.
+1. Phrasing it like this is a good idea. Do not say "I want marriage and kids within 5 years," or you will definitely sound crazy. No one likes to be put on a deadline, especially by someone they just met. It's also an indication to them that you might not be flexible---that you're going to be the type of partner who isn't willing to consider their desires.
Also, wouldn't you want to bend a little if it was for the right person? If your soulmate needed more time, and you, say, could have marriage and kids within 7 years or 10 years, wouldn't that be better than rushing to get married, having a kid and divorcing in five years?