A woman recently garnered praise on social media after rejecting her partner’s marriage proposal during a family vacation, which she feared might have “ruined” their getaway.
In a post to the Reddit community on August 7, user u/Extension-Past-2334 shared her tumultuous emotional state after declining the proposal. “I didn’t know whether to cry or scream,” she confessed, explaining that she walked away and returned to their hotel room.
At 42, the mother shared her repeated stance on marriage—she wasn’t interested in doing it again after a prior divorce. “I never want to be bound to anyone in that way; breaking up is simply easier than divorcing,” she asserted.
Despite multiple conversations about their future, her 43-year-old partner pushed for marriage, nearly leading to a breakup. Although she opted to stay in the relationship, the topic seemed settled after her numerous refusals.
However, while on vacation in Greece, he proposed publicly in front of their children, prompting her to reaffirm her boundaries. “If she had given in, he would think that pressuring her into submission was acceptable,” noted relationship coach Morris. “That’s not a sign of a healthy relationship.”
Though her daughter was upset by her decision and the abrupt end to their trip, the woman felt that not marrying him was vital for her self-respect. She perceived his proposal as an attempt to manipulate her into compliance by leveraging their children’s emotions.
Morris suggested that the daughter might be struggling with her feelings as well, possibly viewing her mother’s refusal as a threat to their family unit. He highlighted the need for a discussion on boundaries, potentially framing it around a simpler analogy for her daughter.
Reddit users were quick to support the mother, many emphasizing that her partner had ignored her clear communication about her intentions regarding marriage. One commenter remarked, “He chose to ignore everything you told him.” Another added that proposing in front of children to guilt her was a particularly low tactic.
Many suggested she explain her decision to her daughter, emphasizing the importance of healthy relationships built on mutual respect and understanding. “Apologize for cutting the trip short, but it was necessary,” advised one user, reinforcing the lesson about boundaries.