Waiting for that Ring

My most recent Murphy's Love column considers the frustration when one person in a relationship expects that the other will initiate a move to the next level. Or in laymen's terms, Girlfriend assumed that moving in together was a precursor to getting engaged. Boyfriend apparently doesn't see it that way, making girlfriend frustrated and embarrassed, further distancing them from one another.

We have all watched this scene play out in our own relationships - I don't want to ask you for what I need, I want you to read my mind. While the idea that he would "just know" what she was hoping for might sound romantic on one hand, it furthers the belief that we should never ask for what we need. That if we "deserve it," then it will come naturally. But wouldn't it be more satisfying if the two people made the decision together? Isn't that what marriage is about, long term? Connecting with another person, becoming a unit, and facing the world in partnership? Read the whole story here.