Just got off a phone conversation with a friend who just arrived home from a 50th mensiversary celebration in Pearl Farm. She was happy and frustrated at the same time because she thought the guy was finally going to propose marriage to her. In fact, she practiced her yes-I-will-marry-you piece in front of the mirror so many times and envisioned a 1 carat solitaire engagement ring before they went to Davao. Sadly, the guy didn’t pop the question so she gave him a cold treatment the entire trip back home. It can be really frustrating, I know, but in the Philippines women just have to wait. It sounds a bit strange that proposals are given to men, but in the US and Europe it does happen. Generally, if a man is not ready – emotionally and mentally – he’s not going to propose. Not unless her sharp-shooting dad summons the guy.
What does it take for a man to propose marriage? My male friends say these things:
- A relationship that is built on trust
- Financial stability
- Emotional and mental maturity
- A pretty good relationship with her family and vice versa
- When absence makes the heart grow fonder
- When he’s 100% sure that his girlfriend will say YES (who wants to be ditched, anyway?)
Waiting for a marriage proposal can be frustrating and stressful. Just because you are ready for the relationship to move to the next level, doesn’t mean your boyfriend is. Men and women think differently and sometimes it’s hard for women to accept that. To cope with the situation, keep praying and do things for yourself — exercise, go shopping, have a good massage, and hang out with your good friends. You don’t have to be proposed marriage to in order to be happy and content (but if you’re in your 30s and been dating him for more than 5 years, that’s another story altogether). Try to enjoy yourself and the positive attitude might just drive your boyfriend to make the proposal you’ve long been waiting for.
