“My Fiancé Gave Me A $4,000 Engagement Ring But It Seems Like He’s Holding Out On Marriage. Should I Leave?”
BY: DR. SHERRY
You’ve seen celebrity clinical psychologist Dr. Sherry Blake, author of The Single Married Woman:
True Stories of Why Women Feel Alone in Their Marriages keep the Braxton sisters calm on
the hit show, Braxton Family Values. Now it’s your turn to sit in her chair…
Dr. Sherry,
I’ve been with this guy that I really love for 7 years now. I moved in with him in
2016 and we have a 12-month-old daughter. Shortly after I moved in, he bought
the wedding set for both of us and gave me the engagement ring that April.
Since then, he’s staunchly been against the idea of discussing getting married.
Every time I bring it up with him he changes the subject, side steps or turns it into
an argument accusing me of things by saying that I try to make everything about
me or tells me that I act like nothing is ever enough, not even a $4,000 ring.
Now, he does give me nice gifts and he is really good with our daughter but I’m
very unhappy with his lack of commitment to me.
Each time I try to discuss marriage he often distances himself from me. He wants
me to enter into agreements such as spending money to repair his house (it’s his
house as he was in it when I met him). When I tell him I’m not comfortable
investing my money into his house without any commitment from him he gets all
upset and tells me how unreasonable I am. I feel like he’s given me a “shut up
ring” and was never truly committed to marrying me.
When I tell him the ring has no meaning if he refuses to use it for the purpose it’s
supposed to be intended or ask whether he expects me to wear the ring
indefinitely with no promise of marriage, he tells me nothing is ever enough. I
have a $4,000 diamond ring but nothing is ever enough. I ask how can he expects
me to feel secure that it’s enough when he’s made it clear he will not marry me.
And how he can expect me to walk around with an engagement ring on my finger
without feeling like a fool when he’s refused to discuss whether he’s willing to
marry me in the near future if at all.
I was at my wit’s end so I gave him his ring back, put down on an apartment with
plans to leave by months end but now I find myself feeling depressed. I cry at the
thought of ripping my daughter away because she adores him and is so attached
to him. I’m so unhappy and so torn. I just need someone to talk to and advise me
whether they feel I’m making the right decision to leave him.
Help!
Hey Sis,
You are absolutely doing the right thing by moving on! After 7 years, your boyfriend has
put you and the relationship on an indefinite layaway with a $4,000 ring as
downpayment and uses your child to secure it. He has not made a commitment to marry
you and does not appear to be planning on it. This man has had a 7 years to marry you.
The fact that he brings up what and how much money he has spent on you is a clear
red flag of possible abuse to come. He is already saying you should shut up and be
happy with whatever he decides to give you. You mentioned that he treats your
daughter well. He should because she is his daughter also. He will continue to be her
father and your leaving does not change that or his relationship. Whatever role he has
in her life is up to him. I recommend that you seek individual therapy to process your
feelings regarding the relationship. If you want more in a relationship, do not settle for
less. –Dr. Sherry