Lupita Julianaa month agoI’m in a bit of a tough spot regarding a Christmas gift from my boyfriend, Chris, and I could really use some advice. We’ve been dating for about four months, and overall, he’s a great guy. We have our disagreements, but nothing too serious. Lately, he’s been talking about marrying me before I head off to college, which makes me a bit anxious. I’ve expressed that I want to take things slow, and he’s always said he understands, but he keeps dropping hints, like mentioning how nice a $2,000 ring would look on me or how excited he is to marry me and have kids. For Christmas, I went to visit my family in the city, and while I was there, I ordered some gifts for him. I got him a nice insulated beanie for hunting, a camo blanket, and a hat and hoodie from his favorite rapper’s official site. Altogether, it cost me around $90, which felt pretty typical for a Christmas gift haul. When I got back, Chris insisted on giving me his gift right away, even though I wanted him to wait until Christmas. He handed me a small heart-shaped box containing a ring with our names engraved on it—a promise ring. While I appreciated the gesture, I was a bit taken aback. When Christmas arrived, I noticed he didn’t have anything else to give me. I felt a little sad watching him open his presents, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I showed my parents the ring, and while they thought it was cute, I expressed my feelings about it. I mentioned that I wasn’t thrilled about receiving a ring, especially since I’m not ready for that kind of commitment. My dad reminded me that it’s the thought that counts, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the ring was more about what Chris wanted than what I would have liked. To make matters more complicated, Chris claimed he spent $200 on the ring at Walmart and had it engraved by someone he knows. However, a quick search on Amazon shows similar rings for about $20. I’m hesitant to confront him about it because I don’t want to hurt his feelings, especially since I know he put thought into it. How should I approach this situation? I want to express my feelings without making him upset.145
Lupita JulianaLupita Juliana