Reddit Stories - PARTNER ASSURED my father he would propose before the month CONCLUDED, but when

Episode Date: November 21, 2025

#redditstories #askreddit #aita #relationships #proposal #partnerassured #familydrama #commitmentissuesSummary: PARTNER ASSURED my father he would propose before the month CONCLUDED, but when the deadline arrived, he had not made any plans, causing tension and uncertainty in the family.Tags: redditstories, askreddit, reddit, aita, tifu, relationships, proposal, partnerassured, familydrama, commitmentissues, marriage, promiseskept, communication, trustissues, relationshipadvice, unresolvedconflict, emotionalstress, deadlinepressure, familyexpectations, loveandcommitmentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reddit-stories--6237355/support.

I hope you enjoy this story. Partner assured my father he would propose before the month concluded, but when our anniversary arrived, he mentioned the possibility of waiting another two to three weeks. As a result, I decided to end the relationship, and now he has left. Silent which proves he never actually wanted to marry me. Hi everyone. I'm just looking for honest advice, especially from women who've been in long-term relationships and reached this point of what now?

My boyfriend and I have been together for almost six years, our anniversary is tomorrow, and I'm starting to feel incredibly anxious. I'm 31, turning 32 this year, and he's about to turn 29. We've had some big life shifts over the years, not necessarily ups and downs, but changes that have impacted where we are now. Last year on our five-year anniversary, he did acknowledge the day, he brought home some flowers and a card, but it was toward the evening. It didn't feel personal or intentional.

When I asked him why he didn't really plan anything, he said that he felt it would be embarrassing to celebrate being a five-year girlfriend. His words, not mine. He said he only wanted to celebrate with a proposal, that he didn't want to go all out for an anniversary if it wasn't going to include that. But shortly after, I found out he had just been laid off from his job around that same time. A few weeks later, we moved out of the apartment we'd been living in together for three years and moved back in with our parents, separately, with a plan to save money and move our life

forward. That was a year ago. We've now both been at home for a year, and we've talked a lot about our future, marriage, kids, home ownership. All of it. And here's the part that's bothering me now. A few months ago in July, my dad happened to see him as he was arriving at my house. They spoke briefly, and my dad asked him, in a respectful, non-pressuring way, you been around a long time. When are you planning to propose to my daughter? My boyfriend told him confidently, before the end of next month. Meaning before the end of August. My dad is usually chill and doesn't get into stuff like this, but he just decided to ask him. We're now at the end of August. Our anniversary is tomorrow, Friday. And August ends this Sunday. And I haven't seen or heard

anything that suggests he's actually planning to follow through. He hasn't mentioned a dinner reservation. No hints, no dress nice, no don't make plans. Just regular daily interaction. And I'd been intentionally avoiding dropping hints because I want the proposal to feel real and special, not like something I poked or pressured him into. This morning, I tested the waters and sent him a link to an art walk event happening this weekend in Destin, about two hours away from us. I framed it as something I was interested in doing, didn't mention proposals or anything like that. He replied enthusiastically and even said he could get us an Airbnb from Saturday through Monday so we can make a weekend of it. And while that might sound like initiative, it's making

me feel uneasy. Because to me, that confirms he didn't have any actual plans already in place. If he did, he would have had to decline or rework the weekend, not just say yeah, let's go. and suggest a spontaneous trip. This has happened before. On Valentine's Day earlier this year, he said he had something special planned, and when I found out what it was, it was tickets to Universal Studios and Disney World.

A big gesture, sure. But what I really wanted was progress. The proposal. Not just another trip or experience to distract from what really matters to me. To be clear, he's told me recently that his savings are looking really good. That's stuck with me. If finances are in order, and the relationship is steady, what's the hold-up? I've already made up my mind that I won't accept a proposal that comes after September 1st, not because I'm trying to give an ultimatum, but because it simply

won't feel special anymore. It would feel late. Like I had to wait him into it, and I can't accept that. I'm at a point in life where I want to build something, a home, a family, a future. and I can't keep dragging my heart through these kinds of almost moments just to keep the peace. So I'm asking, am I being unreasonable? Would you wait past the deadline he set for himself? Or would you take his inaction as the answer? Update 1, hey, I know some of y'all were asking for an update for my previous post, but it was locked by the mods. I'm getting ready for dinner as I type this, but honestly,

a part of me feels like I'm not going to be proposed to tonight. And that's a hard pill to swallow. In the last post, I mentioned that he told me, verbatim, that I would not be his girlfriend by our next anniversary. He said he would a thousand percent be proposing by then. And he told my dad the same thing. So this wasn't something I imagined or hinted about. It came directly from him.

Now fast forward to today, he sent me a sweet good morning text, booked me a massage for 5 p.m., and made dinner reservations at one of our favorite restaurants. for 8.30 p.m. But the restaurant closes at 9 p.m. That already raised an eyebrow for me. I asked him if he meant 7.30 instead, and he just said, nah, but I can move it up earlier if you want. That response, and the fact that he only called the restaurant earlier today, made things feel more casual than I expected. I guess I'm just sitting here asking myself, would it be unreasonable for me to leave him if he doesn't propose tonight? Yes, there are a few days left in August. But if you tell someone you're going to do something by a certain date, and they plan their

heart around that timeline, are they wrong for walking away when it doesn't happen? I'm trying not to spiral. I know there's still a dinner to go to. But deep down, I'm preparing myself to be let down and trying to figure out what comes next if I am. Update 2, a few of you asked for an update, so here it is. Our anniversary was yesterday. He planned a dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and earlier in the day, he told me he had booked a massage for me and that we had 8.30 reservations. When he got to my house, he had a big bouquet of flowers and the David Yerman bracelet I'd been wanting. But the way he gave it to me felt strange. It was off. He didn't look me in the eye, he just passed the bag to me quickly before heading to the bathroom to change.

I said, thank you, but a part of me knew in that moment when he gave me that expensive bracelet like that, that I wouldn't be getting a proposal that night. He kept telling me I looked beautiful and amazing, and that he liked the color I was wearing. I'd put effort into looking good for our anniversary, and I know I looked good. But when I looked at him, there was a sadness or disappointment in his eyes. Something felt off. I think he was picking up on how quiet I had gotten after he gave me the bracelet. When we got to the restaurant, he tried making small talk, but I wasn't really going. I was just mirroring his energy because something in me could tell he wasn't fully present. Eventually, I asked him why he was so quiet, and I brought up

the bracelet. He immediately defended himself, saying he was just on his way to change clothes and didn't mean anything by how he gave it to me. I told him it just didn't feel special. Then I asked him directly, are you proposing tonight? He looked disappointed and said, no. That's when I told him to cancel the food order because I was ready to leave, and I got up and walked out. When we got in the car, I told him I felt like this was over. I said if I stayed, I'd just be wasting more time. I asked when he planned to propose, and he started fumbling over his words and said something

like maybe in the next two to three weeks. I told him he had until today, and that was it for me. The car ride home was quiet. When we got close to the house, I didn't say much. I got out and went inside. A few minutes later, I noticed he had turned his location off. I texted him shortly after and told him to come get the dog in his things. He came back, picked everything up, and we ended up having one final conversation before he left.

I told him flat out I'm getting older, I'm in my early 30s, and I've been clear that I'm ready to move forward with my life. He gave me his word, and he even gave my father his word that he would propose by the end of this month. Now all of a sudden, when I asked directly, he tells me probably in the next two to three weeks. I asked him what difference a few weeks would even make. He said I was wrong to assume he doesn't want to marry me or that he doesn't love me. He said that he loves me more than he loves himself. He said he hates that it looks like he doesn't want to marry me because that's not the case. And then he brought up something that caught me off guard. He said years ago, I mentioned that one of my cousins got proposed to with

a $10,000 ring, and ever since then, he thought that was what I expected and felt like that's honestly what I deserve after waiting so long. I had only mentioned the price of the ring to say how over the top it was, not to encourage him. I've always told him I don't need a ring that expensive, and he knows that. I'm not materialistic like that. I told him I'm not falling for that excuse. I never asked for a $10,000 ring, and he knows that. What I was really thinking is, yes, we hit some financial struggles last year. He lost his job for a month, we moved back in with our parents, and we've been living there ever since. Our plan was to move out of this year. I've been patient, but none of that changes the fact that he's had time to plan,

time to save since we live at home with our parents and he hasn't. Before he left, I'll admit I was really upset. I called him a liar. And when I did, he said something like, if that's what you think of me, then let's just both be done because there's nothing I can say at this point. And then I told him to leave. Since then, he hasn't reached out. It's been 12 hours and I haven't heard a word from him. I'm pretty sure he's already deleted all of my pictures. I turned my location off too. So now I'm just here, sitting with it.

I lost my mom to cancer last year. My dad is getting older. And no, I'm not trying to live for my parents. But it hurts deeply knowing my mom will never get to see me get married or have kids. I spent six years with this man. Six years of my life. And now it's just done. I booked an appointment with my old therapist.

I haven't seen her in almost a year, but I need help working through this. Right now, I just feel numb. Please be nice to me because I am shattered. Comment where OP has replied, comment if nothing, nothing else was an indicator. The fact that he gave up and walked away so easily tells you that he definitely didn't want to get married and he probably planned it this way. So you'd end it liar and a coward. And you are well shot of him. Boop.

I feel this way too. It's been two days and I haven't talked to him. I did tell him I was done after he told me maybe two to three weeks, but the fact that he hasn't reached out since that night shows me that he never planned to propose two to three weeks later either. Next story. Baby Daddy's new wife, who used to be my best friend demanded I get rid of my daughter's cats because of her allergies. then tried to get a restraining order against me and take my daughter away when I refused. I, 24F, have recently got new cats.

My daughter, 6, has always wanted cats and she has an obsession with them and frequently says all I want in this world are cats. However, Baby Daddy's 25 new wife, 25, is deathly allergic to cats and has been to the hospital once for it. I have multiple friends with cats and my daughter is frequently around them and plays with them then goes over to baby daddy and wife's house and there has never been a complaint of allergies. I was told by wife that she would start taking allergy shots

and would be good to go in around a month's time. I found the perfect cat's sibling pair from an adoption agency in my area. Adopt don't shop less than three. And with the info on it being about a month I had a friend agreed to watch them in the transition period and would take caution in giving baths, changing clothes, etc. if my daughter did see the cats.

Well, yesterday I let them know that she had come in contact with the cats briefly, but she was bathed and put in freshly washed clothes that had not been in the same house as them. I was told to still take her over to her grandparents' house for another rinse off and change of clothes just in case. After dropping her off, I received a call from baby daddy where he told me his wife could no longer get the shots since they just found out she's pregnant so he would like the cats rehomed or returned to the adoption agency. My biggest concern is for my daughter and I genuinely believe if the cats were taken from her

permanently it would be traumatic for how long and how badly she's wanted them. Not to mention the resent in her it would cause towards the wife and new baby and that's just a horrible thing to do after giving a pet a new home after being rescues. Also I would be effectively blacklisted from all rescues and agencies if I were to do that and rightly so. I ended up getting another call the day after saying they were in the ER for hours and spent a bunch of money for the visit and the cats need to be rehomed. But like I said before, my daughter has been around cats many times and gone over there and there's never been

an issue and I find it hard to believe after two baths and close changes that it truly caused such a bad reaction that the hospital is necessary. It's also important to note that the three of us have not always gotten along especially since the wife was my best friend for a while before I found out she got with him so we were on very bad terms for a very long time so I find it hard to give up something me and my daughter have been so excited and I've worked so hard to get to a place where we can get them only to be told we can't because of their decision to have a new baby. So they're still asking the cats be given back or rehomed and making me feel like I'm the bad guy. Am I the asshole? Comments where Op has replied. Comment one. My first thought

was either both or new wife are trying to push this kid out now that new baby is in the way. boop so it's actually the opposite he's now trying to get me to give up my time with her until they figure out what to do so they don't want her to come over here at all until then so that she isn't re-exposed and sent back to the hospital after another switch-off week i told them this is not going to happen as my time with my daughter is the most valuable to me and they're mad that i won't give her up i've told them i'm willing to take her as long as needed until they figure it out but obviously that was not taken well comment too Wait a damn minute, so your baby daddy's wife was your ex-best friend?

Were they having an affair when you were still with him? Boop. So we were never married we dated a long time and there is some speculation they might have been together when we were however they deny it, but regardless the same day we broke up they were at her place together that night and she lied about it and they've been together ever since so shady as a friend no matter whether during or not. Comment 3. You are much better person than me or just a soft touch. They have no right to dictate what goes in your home, just like you can't dictate what goes on in their home.

I would put this under the category, not my problem. I've been trying really hard to be nice about it to not rock the boat since I don't want to deal with the coparenting when they're mad at me or whatever, but my patience really is wearing thin with how much it seems I'm supposed to just smile and not especially when I've been super forgiving and accommodating about the past I feel it's not fair to villainize me over this. Edit 1 They were both aware for a long time the end plan was to get cats ASAP That's why she was going to start the shots They were not blindsided by this plan And I told the wife when I got them and it was fine

Before they found out about the pregnancy Edit 2 Since for some reason I have to preface this This was not in retaliation or out of spite or anything in that way towards wife We just moved to a place that can have cats We couldn't at previous place and I have been wanting cats since before I even knew the dad in high school. I do not think about them when I'm not directly speaking to them,

so adopting cats was purely for the joy of me and my daughter not to cause problems. And again they knew this was happening and there were no issues and cats were adopted and they were informed they were before finding out she was pregnant and the plan was fine then, so it was not me trying to make life harder for wife. Update 1. Thank you all so much for your feedback and suggestions. I'm not going to be giving many details as it's now going to call. court. I ended up offering to feed the special food a bunch of y'all suggested for allergies.

Thanks again, use sprays, quarantine clothes, etc., and they told me they are not willing to even try those. The only option is to get rid of them. The wife has now tried, and failed, they couldn't find a judge to sign at Lowell, to put a restraining order on me that states if I don't get rid of my cats then I'm banned from seeing and having all contact with my daughter until I do. Obviously this is wildly excessive and I have an abundance of evidence and disprove the severity and her claims I'm trying to harm her on purpose. My daughter let it slip the wife's parents have cats that my daughter pets when they go to visit. Oops.

But even more so when I talked to my psychiatrist about this at our last appointment she felt that my cats were necessary to my anxiety disorder. We have talked about me getting ESAs for a while now so she wrote me a note and they are now officially my legal support animals. This should take care of the restraining order, however, I was also served with papers as many of you guests trying to take my daughter from me. Apparently the wife has been keeping a calendar of all the days I've had my daughter versus her. She started this calendar before they were even engaged. Wild, to try and show they should get my daughter since they had her more on paper.

However, this is due to the fact I was needing to save up some money in order to put down the first and last month's rent, etc., at my new apartment, so she offered to help as much as I need and encouraged me to pick up extra shifts. so that I would have my finances in order. She now is using those times she helped against me and saying I can't care for my daughter on my own with the job I have. I'm honestly sick to my stomach that I've tried so hard to be the bigger person, constantly put up with their shenanigans and crossing boundaries with a smile on my face for the sake of my daughter all to be once again stabbed in the back

by the both of them. They don't really have a case and I have a lot more on them than they have on me so I'm not worried, just disappointed that people are truly this evil even after you try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Comment where Op has replied, why not get a restraining order? I don't know I have to ask my lawyer but honestly I'm scared of her for how psychotic she is. She's been trying to build a case to take my daughter away from me for a year and I've tried to be super nice and let her be involved in planning my daughter's birthday party. That I had to have a talk with her afterwards about crossing boundaries that a girlfriend at the time shouldn't, have offered to take our dogs, my parents' dog and hers, to the dog park together, invited her to zoo days, etc.,

all to try and help our relationship, or at least I'd pretend some normalcy for my daughter's sake. The fact that during all of this she's had a smile on her face and here I am like an idiot thinking, okay, this is doable I can manage this, only to be hit out of left field that they've been plotting against me the whole time. Truly it's giving psychotic that she could just do that and not show any guilt. Comment one, custody is between you and baby daddy, not you and new wife. If he wants to be a good husband, then he should be able to do that. Comment 2. She's not part of the custody agreement and her allergies don't dictate what you can and can't have in your house. Update 2. Thank you again everyone who has commented advice and support. This is going to be quick. We had court and the judge denied their case and had extremely harsh words for both of them.

She told them it's not my responsibility to deal with her allergies at my house they need to come up with a solution on their end or relinquish his rights to me if it's truly that bad of an issue. She also told stepmom she's not a parent, should never be listed as such and need to back off. There was a whole lot more, but I'll just leave it with it was thrown out and I've been validated that I've been more than accommodating when it's not even my problem to deal with and my daughter can keep her cats. Thank you all again.