Hi, guys —

I hope you can help me and give me some wise advice.

My name is Monika and I have been married for two years now. I have been with my husband seven years in total. I am a Roman Catholic however my husband is a non-believer. We got married in a Catholic Church.

For the past three years I have been feeling a need for a baby and been speaking to my husband about it. Initially, his argument was that we weren't married nor did we own a house. I found his arguments reasonable so I was waiting until we got married and got the house. Unfortunately, nothing has changed since then and I have kept hearing other excuses why it's not a right time to have a baby.

I have respected his opinion and needs for years now but recently something has changed and I realized that he will never be ready for a baby. It is very difficult to have an open and honest conversation with him in order to find out why he is so scared of having a baby. The only arguments I picked up from him were:

1. it's too early for a baby and
2. that we cannot afford it (I proved to him that we would be able to cope) and that he is worried he wouldn't be a good father as he feels he is still a child himself.
   (I am 30 and he is 28.)

A month ago I told him that I cannot see a future with him if he doesn't want children and that we should go separate ways. He was shocked but then agreed to try for a baby. We tried once then I noticed he became very cold, snappy, and distant from me. Whenever I was trying to get closer to him, he was pushing me away and I didn't know the reason for this.

Yesterday he finally admitted that he changed his mind and no longer wanted to try for a baby!

My response to this was that I am going to file for a divorce, as I cannot see myself waiting for something that may never come. He agreed saying that we are incompatible then went to sleep. It broke my heart hearing this from his mouth, I couldn't sleep all night. When I woke up in the morning, he had gone to work but left me a note apologizing and begging not to leave him (This is what he does every time we argue).

I have really thought about our situation over and over again and although it breaks my heart, as I really love him, I feel the best thing I can do is to apply for annulment of our marriage on the grounds of him not wanting kids. I want to find someone who has the same desire to have a Catholic family as me.

I hope you can give me your thoughts on what I have said. I want to find a solution that is right with me and God.

Monika