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A practice wife is the woman a man dates right before he settles down. You live together, you’re loving, but for some reason he’s not eager to go down the aisle. If this sounds like your relationship, read on for a few telltale signs. If you find that most of them are true, chances are he’s ready to walk down the aisle — just not with you.
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You’re Living Together
And there’s no end in sight. You’re going through the motions like a married couple, but he never talks about making it official.
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He says He Doesn’t Believe In Marriage
He may really believe in being a bachelor forever. But you wouldn’t be the first woman to buy that line only to watch her ex walk down the aisle with the very next woman he dates.
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You’ve Had A Lot of Problems
He used to come home late, not clean up behind himself and spend too much time with his boys. Now he’s the perfect man — and you’re a nag for getting him there. He may just quit his arguing ex and move on to marry the next chick who never complains — because you taught him how living with a woman works.
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He’s Still Young
Sometimes being ready to get married has a lot to do with age. In his early 20s, he’ll still be satisfied with playing house. When you’re finally tired of his lack of commitment, he’ll be older, wiser and ready to settle down.
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You’ve Adopted A Pet
Sometimes a practice wife comes with a practice kid. He may be trying out family responsibility with you to prepare to father a real family later on.
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His Friends Are All Married
It’s another sign that he’s the marrying kind. You’re just not the wife he had in mind. If your relationship is on the rocks, he’ll be ready to join his friends in matrimony the next time he settles down.
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He Treats You Like His Wife
You share bills, share responsibilities and share a house. It just doesn’t seem like you’re working toward anything.
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He Doesn’t Talk About the Future
You two talk about vacation plans — but not for too far in the future. And you never discuss growing old together.
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His Friend Don’t Take You Seriously
You’ve been together for two years and living together for one. But not one of his friends cracks the usual “when are you two going to get married” jokes. That’s because, in private, he’s already let them know that he doesn’t see a wedding in your future.
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He’s Focused on His Paper
He’s not in a financial position to get married right now. So a practice wife makes sense. Now he’s heading straight to the top of his game while your relationship is falling apart. When it’s all said and done, he’ll be ready for a real wife to go with his real career.
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You’ve Got More Baggage Than He Does
It’s a hard truth, but lots of men are only willing to get married when they feel like they’re upgrading. If you’ve got kids and lots of debt and he has neither, he may be waiting to put a ring on a woman with less on her plate.
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His Mother Doesn’t Like You
He may think you’re marriage material, but if his family doesn’t agree he’s unlikely to put a ring on it. You’ll just keep spinning your wheels until you give him an ultimatum and he has to show you the door. Now that he’s learned his lesson, he’ll make sure his mother likes his next girl so he feels comfortable walking down the aisle.
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You’ve Been Waiting On a Ring for More Than Two Years
Studies show that two years is the average amount of time it takes for a couple to find out if they’re marriage material. If you’re going on three years and he’s still dodging marriage talk, it might be time to move on. Otherwise you’ll just keep playing house until the right woman stumbles across his path.
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The Good News
There’s no reason why he can’t just be your practice husband. Follow his lead and work out the kinks in this relationship and move on. Or, if you’re ready to get married (or for a relationship without an expiration date) you’ve got all the signs you need to make you feel OK about moving on.
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The Not-So Good News
Like it or not, men and women don’t age at the same rate in society. When he’s in the prime of his bachelorhood, your mother will be begging to set you up and all of your friends will be getting hitched.
