Sounds like a keeper - good luck with the public assistance and social services. SMH

Are his kids twins? If not, I think that's another red flag because if he was unhappy with her why did he have another kid? Why didn't he take any responsibility for protection after the first time he got her pregnant? If he were happy with her and wanted to have another child, why didn't he marry her?

I also think since you don't have kids, you should seek a man who doesn't have kids. Like another commenter said, if the roles were reversed he would not be with you.

EDIT: I think you should think long and hard about how strict you are in that timeline of 26. Does it have to be 26 or are you willing to wait a couple of years? Also, has he mentioned a timeline on when he wants kids with you? You also have to consider that even if you were to break up with him and find a new partner that 26 for a kid may still not happen. My no means am I saying " you might as well stay with him". I'm just saying that 26 is in 2 years and you may want to be more flexible in your timeline. If you gave yourself till 27-28 to have kids, would this still be the guy for you?

If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, let an older man make you his wife. From my personal point of view, get a 32+ year old to marry you.

Maybe he still needs time to heal? Bringing a child in this world is a big deal and maybe he’s not ready for another one

The right guy will be begging you to have his babies and absolutely thrilled by the idea. Don’t settle.

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The last line was very telling. He may not even want more children and is anxious when given a timeline to make more happen. Are you sure he wants more?

Race to get pregnant before married. The story of the modern women. Are you financially equipped to handle children? A lot of times I’ve noticed women just want the experience but are not thinking of the reality. Its not a fun little thing to do. Its a big commitment.

Your not putting a time limit on him but rather one for yourself, he’s either on board or not. If this is really important to you, I would recommend finding a different man unless you feel waiting could be worth it. When I was 16 and looking for a husband, most guys weren’t certain, I moved on to a guy (my husband) that wanted to do things in the same timeframe. Don’t waste your youth, use it wisely.

So is your goal to be a single mother? You didn’t mention getting married. Just a baby. Did you declare your goals before becoming boyfriend and girlfriend or you’re just now telling him?

He’s already dealing with the mistake of having a child younger than he should with the wrong woman. He doesn’t want to do it again.

How long have you been together? Forget the baby stuff for now. If you've been together at least two years, you should be having a serious talk about engagement and marriage before you even think about kids. If he won't even do that, or says it's 'just a ring and paper', then he's future faking. I wouldn't give him an ultimatum at that point, but I would move out and continue dating (dating each other, NOT other people), and tell him it's not an ultimatum, but that you want to get engaged, married and have kids with your life, and not wait for years for a maybe until you're maybe too old. And that you want to stay with him and keep seeing him for now, but give both of you time to think about what you really want, because right now, what you want is to be married with kids sooner rather than later.

Then walk away. Enjoy the time you do have with him and don't keep bringing it up. But if he doesn't change his mind, decide how important those things really are to you.

Also, having a baby at 27 or 28 might be slightly more realistic, and even 29 if you need to find someone else. You don't want to have kids with the wrong man and then split up.

He doesn’t want more kids. Can’t blame him for having a traumatic intro to fatherhood. Also where does he stand on marriage? Cause you really shouldn’t be pressuring him into your timeline for kids when you aren’t even married. I think a cut off of 26 when you’re already 24 is too soon. He could propose today, and engagement would be about a year and then you wouldn’t even be married for a year before getting pregnant. Assuming you can get pregnant on schedule, cause that doesn’t always happen! Also doesn’t sound like he would propose any time soon since he said it’s not fair for you to give a time limit

When he tells you about his highschool girlfriend and the mother of his kids, remember you are ONLY hearing his side. How often does he see his kids? Do they spend the night with him? Is his family involved with his kids? Is he paying child support? Basically, what kind of father is he and do you want that kind of father involved in your kids lives.

Well how long have you been dating? People usually get married before kids but it’s good to establish a timeline. It’s quite a red flag that he has 2 other children to someone he isn’t married to… While you may be pressuring and rushing him it could just be you guys aren’t very compatible. Can he afford another child right now? That may be a huge concern of his. Having 3 children by 27 to two different women is not something a lot of men want to do. Or can afford to do. His timeline for more kids may be different than yours. If that’s not ok you can’t force him into it but you can find someone who wants the same things as you. He’s not in as much of a rush bc he already has kids and can still have kids in his late 30s without issues. Maybe he will give you some at 26 maybe not. If you stay with him it’s because you can’t imagine being with anyone else and he’s the one you choose to be your husband. But you have to accept that may mean having kids at 28-32 instead of 26.

Whenever I bring this up, he says he feels rushed and it’s not fair for him to put a time limit.

"Do you expect to live forever?"

"Do you want to be raising a toddler when you're 40, and seeing them graduate high school/college when you're 60?"

It sounds like he doesn't have much clue about time...

to make matters worse, he has 2 kids with another woman. he already got the young parent experience and it just breaks my heart sometimes.

or about much else. No offense, but why are you with this guy, exactly?

I don’t know what to do in this situation…it makes me wonder if I can trust him to give me that when Im 26 or if he will always just put it off.

RPW gives you the tools to secure commitment, if it's to be had. If he's resistant, maybe look at why. Maybe he doesn't want more kids? Why isn't he with them/their mother now? Your short post is lacking details, but it comes across as sketchy. I get the feeling he's not as HVM as you think he is.

Has he made any steps toward proposing? If you want a child by 26 then he should be planning to propose in the next year, in which case I would assume you’ve discussed it by now. If not, I think it’s fairly telling. I have a friend in a similar situation where her bf has a child with another woman who refused him any visitation or custody so now he’s extremely hesitant to have another child despite her wanting them. They’ve been together for over 5 years so if you’re serious about your timeline it may be best to move on.

This is just a guess so take this as you will. Since he has experienced child bearing in the negative, hence being a father before he was ready let alone without his ok, he may view it subconsciously as something negative and doesn't want to do it again. Just because she said it was ok to cum inside don't mean she took a precaution to avoid pregnancy. This is something he learned the hard way. Not only that, she cheated on him after 6 years. Honestly, I think he's just not ready. It's not to be a knock against you but it's him that has the problem. Can you fix that? No, unfortunately. Only he can. Have you two decided on marriage?

If he said let’s wait until you’re 29 to start trying to get pregnant would you leave him?

He's rushed because maybe he realizes that he rushed into a loveless relationship and had kids young and didn't realize the tole it would take on his mental health especially at a young age that's alot ro deal with and now that he's with you it may not be because he doesn't want kids with you but he most likely wants to wait because he finally feels he's in a healthy relationship your very young and 26 is still young I honestly think you should keep communicating but don't pressure him and just appreciate the relationship trust me it's better ro have kids when your both ready and If he's not you'd pressure him by pushing this topic when he's already said how he feels