A woman’s Reddit post about a long-awaited engagement has sparked widespread discussion after she revealed that the ring she designed for herself has been sitting untouched in her dining room for months.
Posting on r/relationship_advice, the 37-year-old explained that she and her boyfriend of seven years already share a home and two children. But despite years of conversations about marriage—and now even having the ring ready—he still hasn’t proposed.
The situation has left her wondering whether she’s being strung along.
Seven Years Together, Two Kids, and Still Waiting
According to the woman, she and her 39-year-old boyfriend have built a life together over the past seven years.
They own a home together and are raising two children. But despite the long relationship and shared responsibilities, marriage has remained an unresolved issue.
She says she has brought up the idea of getting married multiple times over the years.
At first, the delay was blamed on the pandemic.
Later, her boyfriend said he wanted their daughter to be old enough to walk and participate in the ceremony. But that explanation eventually stopped making sense—because their daughter is now four years old and has been walking since she was one.
He also told her he didn’t know what kind of ring she wanted.
To remove that obstacle, she sent him screenshots and links to rings she liked. She even asked a mutual friend to help guide him if he needed advice.
Still, nothing happened.
Designing the Ring Herself
Eventually, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Last fall, she contacted a ring designer and began working on creating the engagement ring she had always imagined.
Her boyfriend agreed with the plan and told her she could take money from their shared household account, which they both contribute to equally.
The ring was completed and delivered in January.
But instead of leading to a proposal, it ended up sitting untouched in a bag on their dining room table.
A Ring That Still Isn’t on Her Finger
Months later, the ring remains exactly where it was delivered.
The woman says she finally asked her boyfriend if she could simply start wearing it.
His response surprised her.
He told her “not yet,” explaining that he would give it to her when the “time comes.”
For her, that answer only added to the frustration.
After seven years, two kids, and now even the ring already sitting in their home, she says the whole situation is starting to feel bitter rather than exciting.
She turned to Reddit asking whether she’s being misled and how to bring up the issue without letting resentment build.
Why the Story Got People Talking
The post quickly drew attention because many readers found the situation unusually complicated.
Engagement delays are common, but commenters were especially struck by the fact that the ring had already been designed, purchased, and delivered—yet still wasn’t being used.
To some readers, that detail made the situation feel less like anticipation and more like avoidance.
The fact that she helped design the ring and partially paid for it also became a major talking point in the comments.
Reddit Reactions Were Blunt
Many commenters believed the boyfriend’s actions were sending a clear message.
User Plumbus-Grab-816 wrote:
“He doesn’t want to get married.”
Another commenter, starry_nite99, said the situation looked like a classic case of someone moving the goalposts:
“He’s been stringing you along.”
Others focused on the unusual process of the engagement itself.
User Organic-Safety-2281 pointed out the irony:
“You paid half for your ring… Should you do half the proposal too?”
Meanwhile, ObetrolAndCocktails compared it to their own experience:
“My husband proposed the day he got the ring because he couldn’t wait.”
A Decision She May Eventually Have to Make
For now, the woman says she mainly wants to avoid becoming resentful about something that was supposed to be joyful.
But the situation highlights a difficult reality many couples eventually face: sometimes the biggest question isn’t when someone will propose.
It’s whether they actually want to at all.
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