I've been dating a great girl for the past 9 months. We are both 33 and are looking to get married soon and start a family. We are very compatible and have never really had a big fight.

We moved to a different town where she could advance her career and receive a huge increase in her salary. I sacrificed my career to move with her so we could plan on starting our new life together. I am an entrepreneur and have a new business that will take a while to get off the ground, but the way we looked at, her salary would compensate for this.

I have purchased an engagement ring and went to ask for her parents blessing; they said I wasn't financially stable enough to support their daughter and said, "Not yet." This was shocking and when I told her of this, she freaked out. She wants to marry me, but doesn't want to go against her family's wishes.

We have talked about it numerous times and she is very indecisive. One day she says she won't go against them and the next says she is 100% committed to me and we'll figure it out. I figured we were going to make it work and that was that. I definitely want a woman who is going to be 100% committed to me in our relationship.

Well, she dropped the "I need some space" line to me the other day saying she was concerned that her family may never accept me and that she wanted to take some time to find out if I am the one for her. This devastated me, but I told her I would give her what she wanted. We pretty much live together, so I packed my stuff and left town. It has been a few days and I haven't heard from her at all.

How much time do I give her to decide this? I don't want to call/text her until she makes the first contact. Is a week enough time to decide if you are 100% invested in a relationship that has had no real issues except this one? Family is important, but she is marrying me, not her parents. What if I don't hear from her in two weeks? Do I then contact her and ask what's going on? It's not fair to me to be left in limbo for all this time... any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You don't sound American, and since family means so much to her, then you better make good, or forget it.

I say you contact her in at least a week or so. Remember choosing a partner is important

We are both American; her parents are VERY Catholic and trying to control her decision making. Every other person she talks to about this outside her family say to follow her heart and forget what her parents think. She wants her family to be at her wedding and I think the thought that they might not be scares her.

For sure they ain't going to like you living together then. What a mess.

Talk to her, but a word to the wise fella, it's a very bad sign when a female dumps you, because of her parents.

Why do I feel there is more to this story?

No... that's really the only issue we are having... everything else between us is fine. I do maintain a separate residence, so we are not technically living together... but I do spend the majority of my time at her place.

It's about the money... my business is not as lucrative as they want, but with our move to the new city, she got an increase of well more that I was going to make in the next couple years. It was our decision so we could move forward and not have to wait to get married. We want to start a family soon... we are 33 and her clock is ticking. She had no doubts until this bomb dropped.

Just me, I would live my life, and let her make up her mind without my influence whatsoever.

She asks for space, give her all she needs.

That doesn't mean hold your breathe waiting though. You have a right to life also.

Im not sure how long it will take her... it is a big decision and life will be difficult together if they absolutely do not like you for whatever reason. I think you and your girlfriend should go to her parents and talk. Tell them that their daughter is very independent and makes more then enough to take care of herself... that she does not need someone to "take care of her"... but that being said you still plan to provide her with the best life you can. And that doesn't have to include material things. Love endures all things! Trust me... my husband was in Iraq for over a year and we hadn't even been married for a year before he left... but thankfully he is home now and things are great. And I am only 21! So love definitely gets you through. I would say you can call her after a week and just ask what she is thinking and if you guys can maybe meet and have coffee or something. Talk to her about approaching her family. You might even suggest that you talk to the family about how you left your career to move with her because you love her and if you hadn't done that you might be better off financially but money is not what matters. I hope that things work out. And she needs to realize that she loves you and that it doesn't really matter what her parents think at this point and at her age. She is an adult and can make her own decisions as to if her life would be good for her if she married you. I hope she comes back with that type of outlook. My husbands mom does not really "like" me and it has been very difficult at times when she has interfered but we love each other and therefore it doesn't really matter what she thinks. Let us know what happens!