My (27F) boyfriend (29M) proposed and it was a disaster.

My boyfriend and I have been together for 4 years. He proposed to me in a beautiful but public place.

We wanted to take a picture and he told me to ask a girl nearby to take it for us.

She seemed very annoyed that I asked but begrudgingly stood back to take our photo, and this is when he got down on one knee and proposed.

I was mortified that this stranger was taking photos of this moment, especially one who wasn’t very happy to be doing so.

This distracted me and I just felt so embarrassed in that moment, and then she just handed me back the phone without saying anything or congratulating us.

I did say yes, but later cried when we were in the car because of the situation and how embarrassed I felt at the time.

He asked if he could re-do it, which we did in a more private way, and then I said yes again.

I thought everything turned out okay, but it turns out he was very hurt by my reaction the first time. He even cried about it, and I have rarely seen him cry about anything.

I told him that I was so sorry for my reaction and that it had nothing to do with him, that I was just embarrassed that a stranger who didn’t want to be there was watching our moment and made me feel so anxious.

I just don’t know how to fix it. We love each other so much, but I don’t want this to be our proposal memory forever. What should I do?

Is there something wrong with me for being happy alone? Am I selfish?

Is there something wrong with me? I’m happy but I can’t help but wonder if I’m wasting my life? Or if I am a bad son?

I’m 36 years old, only child from an upper middle class family, went to ACS, and after NS, studied computer sciences in the US eventually getting a graduate degree in machine learning and working for several years in Silicon Valley.

Then my grandfather died several years ago and left me a condo on Orchard Road and I moved back to Singapore.

Since then, I’ve lived like a hermit. I work from home (even before COVID) about 25 hours per week for an MNC. I don’t need to go to the office, I check in briefly with my boss once every two weeks online, I rarely have Zoom meetings.

I have essentially zero friends having lost touch with my everyone when I went to the States. In any case they’re now mostly married and/or on a career ladder with little time for much else.

My life consists of working when I want, eating and sleeping when I want (I have weird sleep habits), watching TV and movies, playing online games.

I enjoy cooking and eating so I set up an awesome kitchen and I teach myself recipes from around the world. If I don’t cook, I walk to a food court or even a nice restaurant nearby.

I’m sedentary but in great shape because I exercise daily in the gym and pool. I collect wine and recently even joined a private wine club on Orchard Road where I go occasionally … by myself… or sometimes with an escort.

I’m not interested in having a girlfriend or wife so yah, I hire escorts for that part of my life. Usually different ones, although I have a few regulars. I like the lack of complication.

My salary easily covers my expenses and the rest I put into ETFs for when I’m old and alone (as opposed to young and alone).

I have a car that I should probably get rid of it. I only use it to drive to my parent’s house for dinner once per week.

They’re in their sixties, still healthy and we get along well. I’m pretty sure they would like me to get married and give them grandchildren, but they don’t nag me although and we don’t talk about it.

I’m content (I think) but I can’t help but wonder if this selfishness is wrong. Should I do more with my life? Should I try to make friends and settle down with someone? Or can I keep doing this till I die?

I’m (22M) studying in local uni, brother in NS, sis in Secondary School. Parents’ relationship has always been fluctuating, due to differences in education level, lifestyles, perspectives on: life, family, finances etc.

Past two years, Mom abruptly went cold towards Dad (breadwinner), started to abandon her role has homemaker (cooking, cleaning etc.) and started to work full time herself. She also started sleeping on a mattress outside, with the reason of escaping my Dad’s snoring.

Past six months, her hostility towards my Dad and general disregard for the family grew to become more obvious, she still obviously loves her children but she’s mostly not present at home (either out working or with her friends), and my Dad has to pick up on the homemaking roles (buying food for us, cleaning the house).

Us children chip in to help whenever we can, I’ve recognised a need for myself to step up for the family more and have done so to a reasonable extent (although I admit, not as much as I should’ve).

During this six months, we’ve (children) have noticed some pretty suspicious behaviour from my mother, she would be on a messaging app and then quickly swipe away or lock her phone whenever we walk by, pretend to lie asleep while phone is still in her hand whenever we go to the kitchen at night. But we gave her the benefit of the doubt and just ignored these instances.

On New Year’s Eve, my brother and I decided that we should just address this issue that’s been bothering the family for a year or so. We sat down and had a very emotionally intense conversation with our parents which led to all of us getting very emotional. My Mom admits she no longer has any feelings for our Dad and sees no way of reconnecting with him. They’ve both decided to try and work things out themselves. Mom went back to her room to sleep with Dad and they’re finally having conversations (albeit short, but it’s an upgrade).

I was hopeful that things might take a turn for the better in 2023 but Dad came home today and went off on a slight rant about how Mom still doesn’t care for the family and how he’s “tired”. I don’t blame him, he’s reaching his retirement years and he’s still working his ass off and has no one to alleviate a bulk of his burden.

My sister showed me a picture she took two weeks ago, a shot of my mom’s phone with conversation with various men, with messages like “miss you”, “safe journey home”, and “good morning”.

My worst fears have been grounded in reality.

I guess I don’t really know what to do now, my brother is having field camp now so i cant talk to him and I don’t have anyone else to ask for opinions for or experiences with this situation.

Would appreciate all and any perspectives, help, discussions

Thanks guys