DEAR NATALIE: I went out on a date with a woman I met online. I haven't been on a first date in a while. She and I are both in our early 30s. Before dessert had even arrived she started talking about how she wants to have children and if I don't want children there really wasn't any reason to continue the date. I was so taken aback that I told her, "No, actually I don't want kids," (which isn't exactly true, but she caught me off guard and I was weirded out by it), and she basically ended the date. The sad part is, she was really funny and cute - or so I thought. I guess my question is, are all women over 30 baby crazy? Should I be prepared for an interrogation every time I go out? -- BABY ON THE BRAIN

DEAR BABY ON THE BRAIN: I can assure you that not all women over the age of 30 are baby crazy. In fact, I know plenty of women who have very little interest in having children. But, the only way you will find out which woman is right for you is to keep dating. I know it can seem overwhelming, but relationships take time to grow and build. In fact, this woman did you a favor by being so upfront about her feelings. She wants a partner who wants kids, and you hesitated, so she bolted. While it made for an awkward conversation with the waiter when he or she came by and saw you sitting there alone, dazed and confused, it works out in the long run because she didn't waste your time. Moving forward, I doubt you will experience that kind of directness (for better or worse) with women, but don't get discouraged. As I read on the inside of a bottle cap once, "There is a lid for every pot."

Natalie's Networking Tip of the Week: Arianna Huffington said it best: "Collaboration is the new competition." No one is an island in the new business landscape, and if you want to increase your visibility, collaborate with like-minded people in complementary industries to help rally the audiences you have together to expand your reach (and potential sales). 

Please send your relationship and lifestyle questions to nbencivenga@post-gazette.com or tweet them to @NBSeen. You can also send postal letters to Natalie Bencivenga, 358 North Shore Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

(This column was originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)

DEAR NATALIE: My dear friend and her boyfriend have been together for years. Everyone assumes they will get married, and she talks about it a lot. All of us are very close, and he and I often hang out when she can't. She is completely aware of that and gave him the "OK" a long time ago. Plus, I would never betray her trust. However, last weekend he got really drunk and told me that he wants to be with me. Things aren't working out with her, apparently, and he wants me.

I was totally shocked and didn't know what to do. Now I have no idea how to act around him because the whole thing has me feeling so uncomfortable. I'm worried he is going to say something to her or that he expects something from me. Plus she is my friend, and I am really sad for her that he is acting like this. Any advice? -- CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

DEAR CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE: This is what we call an awkward situation on steroids. Give him the opportunity to be straight with his girlfriend first. Call him and say, "If you meant what you said the other night, you need to be honest with (let's call her Carla). If you don't want to be with her, tell her. It's not fair to either of you. But, regardless, she is my friend and that means we can't be together. If you don't tell her what happened, I will."

If he balks at this and acts as though he never said anything to you, you may have to decide whether you should carry out the threat of telling her. If I were in her shoes, I would want to know. I wouldn't want to be with someone who didn't want to be with me. But, if he agrees, let him have the opportunity to come clean. Carla may not be happy with either of you (even though you didn't do anything wrong), so you have to brace yourself for the possibility that you may lose your friend for a while. In time, she may be able to move forward and even be grateful that she let him go. But, remember this: She may learn this information and STILL not leave him and drop you instead. You have to decide whether this is a risk worth taking, and only you know your relationship well enough to know what to do. Good luck.

Please send your relationship and lifestyle questions to nbencivenga@post-gazette.com or tweet them to @NBSeen. You can also send postal letters to Natalie Bencivenga, 358 North Shore Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

(This column was originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)

DEAR NATALIE: The new guy I am dating is great except for one thing. He was addicted to heroin for a while but has been sober and clean for about a year now. We started dating about six weeks ago, and things are going really well. He wants to move in with me, but I worry sometimes that his issue with drugs could resurface. I told him I would give him an answer as to whether he could move in this week. 

Here's the other issue: I have a great job in an advertising company, and he recently quit his job. He wants to go back to school and get his MBA. While I fully support him, this seems impulsive and a lot to take on. I don't know if I'm ready for this next step. What are your thoughts? -- SECOND CHANCES

DEAR SECOND CHANCES: If you were my sister, I would tell you, "Hell, no. He is not moving in." Why so blunt? One year clean is a great achievement, but in the big scheme of things, his sobriety is still relatively new. It also sounds as though he may be taking some of his impulsive behaviors and transferring them into the relationship -- hence wanting to move in so quickly after meeting you. 

I'm not saying that you shouldn't date him, but take it slow. I see a picture emerging of him on your couch, debating on whether to get an MBA, and you being too uncomfortable to tell him to move out or get a job. Ugh. Not a great peek into the future. Instead, watch his actions, not his words, and see if he actually can stay clean, start school and keep it together. If he seems like the path he is on is firm under his feet in another year or so, then take steps to be together more seriously. And for your sake, look into a local Al-Anon chapter to help you deal with being in a relationship with someone living with addiction. It'll help you stay compassionate, grounded, self-aware and able to make decisions best for you both.

Natalie's Networking Tip of the Week: Arianna Huffington said it best: "Collaboration is the new competition." No one is an island in the new business landscape, and if you want to increase your visibility, collaborate with like-minded people in complementary industries to help rally the audiences you have together to expand your reach (and potential sales). 

Please send your relationship and lifestyle questions to nbencivenga@post-gazette.com or tweet them to @NBSeen. You can also send postal letters to Natalie Bencivenga, 358 North Shore Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

(This column was originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)