Hi. I am very interested in your thoughts on how I'm handling this situation. I really respect this community and feel I could learn a lot from the wonderful women here! I guess I'm just a little baffled by this man.

Background: I'm in the "early stages" of a relationship with this a man 11 years older than me. We have been dating for about three months. I wouldn't say this is a serious relationship, compared to relationships I've had in the past. It's still very much in the early stages. But I do feel it is progressing into something, especially over this last month.

The situation: Over the last month, he has been really discussing his goals with me, explaining why he does what he does, bouncing ideas off me, that kinda thing. Today, over text I should add, he brought up how he wants to start traveling because he doesn't have children or a wife. I responded that he could still travel with a wife I'm sure, unless he wanted to just go alone. He said that he would travel with a wife one day for sure.

I changed the subject from marriage because I felt unsure of what to say. It felt like every possible response would lead into territory that could be interpreted incorrectly through text. I decided to ask more details about travel plans and compliment him on the goals he has set for himself. After about fifteen minutes, he then brought up marriage again. He said that kids and marriage were never something he thought about as goals because of how expensive they are.

I didn't know what to do with this conversation now, so I just agreed with the kids point (bc I honestly do) and added, "So you don't think you'll get married?" He said, "I'm not sure. Most girls want children. If I can find a girl that doesn't, I would probably be down." Then he said he was about to fall asleep, so I just said "goodnight :)" . I did not receive any goodnight response, which is very bizarre, but I'm trying not to read into that.

My Mindset: I've always been of the mindset that men say what they want. They don't hide the ball. They say where they stand and don't think much about how what they will say will be interpreted by the other party. Every time he brings up things like marriage/kids, I just assume he's saying his honest stance on it. I usually acknowledge his stance and change the subject. I know where I stand. I have never wanted kids for myself. I do like the idea of marriage. He has never asked how I feel about marriage or kids. I brought up that I didn't want kids very early on in our dating, but I don't know if he remembers that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... what does this all mean? Am I right that men just say what they want when they want? Is he just bouncing this stuff off of me because he sees me more like his therapist or buddy than a possible partner? Or is he trying to open up a conversation about marriage? I have told myself it is not to open a conversation on marriage because guys just don't do that. They hear marriage and run far away in the other direction, or so I thought.

I just want any advice, insight, guidance, anything to help me figure out how to handle this the next time this happens. This is the third time a situation like this has been brought up, and every time I just feel awkward and weird about it. I don't want to jump in with my views on marriage/kids and freak him out, like I'm expecting to marry him or something. I also feel like changing the subject doesn't seem to be working. How do I approach this better the next time he brings it up? I just feel like I am not doing the right thing. Especially after tonight, when he didn't even say goodnight... (I know I'm such a baby about that, but it just felt so weird.)