When I was in high school (graduated '92), a promise ring meant the boy "promised" to ask you to marry him in the future. Usually a gesture to get a girl to "cave in" so to speak...

What does it mean now? Princess's boyfriend, Stepping Stone, gave her one last night. Supposedly it was for her birthday, and they ordered it and it just arrived. It looks like a fancy class ring, with both their birth stones, and their names on each side of the band.

Frankly, I think it's ironic it arrived 4 days before she is supposed to leave for her senior trip for a week. He's been nagging at her about what clothes she plans to wear, and he's asked her not to go swimming because he doesn't want anyone to see her in a swimsuit. (He's not going because he graduated last year.) It's like he wanted a visual cue to the world that she is "taken." (And yes, he does sound slightly possessive and obsessive, but he's really not. He's just VERY insecure. She doesn't put up with his BS when he does that, and we've already bought her a new swimsuit for the trip. LOL)

So after all that happened today, I wonder if anyone will see this, but I was just curious about promise rings and experiences step and bio-daughters have had...

BTW, she showed it to me, and I just smiled and said it was pretty. No comment. Although inside I was cringing, and hoping to goodness she wouldn't use the phrase "promise ring" around her grandparents or my parents... My nickname says it all- he is just a "stepping stone" for her until she gets out into the real world. I don't want her to feel obligated to stay with him because of some piece of jewelry... But I didn't say anything... I just smiled.