Hi Everyone.

Just wondering what you ladies would do or if anyone has any ideas/thoughts as to why a man would take off his engagement ring?

I've been in a relationship with my partner for over 5yrs. We got engaged over 4yrs ago and as we knew it was going to be a very long engagement, we both decided to wear rings as a sign of our comitment to the relationship and to each other. For all sense and purposes we live as a married couple....we just haven't signed the paper.

For most part our relationship is a good one and I consider him to be a very good man. He does have faults....as we all do.....but I made a deciscion to stay with him despite the faults I knew of as I didn't consider them to be anything that could rock the foundation of our relationship. I trusted him implicitly and never doubted for one second that he may of or have evenwanted to play away from home. Though I've always know he does like to have and make new female friends.

Anyway,....I was happy and content in our relationship....and finally reaching that place where I feel comfortable to take the next step with him. So last week a colleague of his gave him a photo of him that was taken at work over 15mths ago. I looked at the photo and didn't notice at first....but later realised that the ring was on the other hand. When I asked him why this was..he didn't have an answer. I was absolutely gobsmacked. I felt like this was happening to someone else.....this couldn't possibly be happening to me?! As it turns out the photo was using image reversal...so the ring was on the right hand....BUT.....he continued to tell me that it was no excuse because yes sometimes he DID take his ring off or wear it on the other hand.........When IT Was HURTING HIM??!!! Well, why oh why if he takes it off because its hurting him....why is it he ALAWAYS puts it back on before he gets in the house? Why is it that it doesn't hurt him at home that he has to take it off?!

OF course....I know the answer,....because he's not telling me the whole truth. My mum says he can only give that reason to a fool.....and I'm no fool.

I feel so sick in my stomach to know that over the years I have spoken to female friends about their man taking off their ring...and it always told out that the guy was looking for someone else or was already playing away from home. I cannot believe I am in this situation. I just do not understand why he would do this. I consider myself a very good woman. I'm very attractive, take care of myself, my body is tight, I workout allot, I cook proper food nearly every day, I keep our home spotless, I make sure my hair nails and skin are always looking good, I initiate sex....often, I give BJ's....I take care of our child, I hold down a great job, I don't mind him watching football or playing for hours on his PSP...........what the F*u*K else could he want?

And he swears blind he loves me and is not looking for anyone else. An up until now his actions have shown as much. He NEVER goes out....not anywhere! He goes to work, comes home and thats it. He's always with me and our child....even weekends. For 5yrs!! He' very affectionate....kisses cuddles etc.....compliments me...buys me very expensive presents. So it just doesn't make any sense.

Is there any other reason a man would take off his ring other than to appear single?

I know when I met him he told me he had no kids. After I got emotionally involved it turned out not only diod he have a child....he was also married!! Albeit seperated. But he realed me in and it wasn't until he had me hook line and sinker that he actually filed for divorce. I wonder if he's not doing the same to me....he wants to meet someone but until he does he's keeping our situation sweet. One of his ex's once told me that he was the kind of man who never leaves a woman until he has another to go to!

Or am I just reading too much into this? I really want to believe I am.....as at the moment my heart has shutdown to him. I can't bear to even look at him. And I hate the thought of living in a loveless relationship as I would never leave him...for our childs sake.