The Commitment Time Clock
Perhaps the only person who really knows if your partner is ready for marriage or not is your partner. However, there are some signs which may signal that he or she is positively heading in the direction that you seek.
One thing that you should know, as you contemplate whether or not your partner is at the stage where they could happily marry you, is that you can't ever push them into being ready. We all reach this point in our own good time, and sometimes this doesn't always match our partners own marital time clock perfectly.
As a marriage is a partnership both parties involved need to show willing, and be able, to work well together. If your partner already takes on responsibilities, is reliable and caring, without having to be asked then this is a good sign that they may be ready for full on commitment.
They should also be faithful to you without you having to ever consider that they have a roving eye. If your partner doesn't seem entirely loyal to your now then marriage will not make them any more committed.
Generally speaking, people who are ready for marriage are not over fearful of being so. It is normal to be a little nervous of getting married, as well as being excited, but if your partner often says derogatory things about marriage or makes jokes about commitment then they are not ready.
Another point to consider is whether your partner clings to bachelor ways. This goes for female partners as well as male ones. It is healthy for both people in the relationship to want and get some 'me' time. However, if the me time stretches into relationship time and you end up always towing the line then your partner still has some bachelor time to go through before they are ready for you.
If your partner lets you completely into their life and is honest with you then this is an excellent sign if you want to get married. If they shut you out from important issues that affect them then your communication will be unlikely to withstand the test of time.
They don't have to tell you absolutely everything about their past, unless you both see this as necessary, but you should know about anything which may effect your relationship together. They should also fill you in on any practical issues from their past which are relevant to your future lives together.
To sum things up, if your partner communicates freely with you, acts in a caring manner, behaves responsibly and honestly, remaining completely faithful and loyal, then it may be time to go shopping for rings.
