Netizens are divided on the appropriate timing for marriage proposals after a man proposed to his girlfriend immediately after she gave birth to their son in the US.
In a video shared by Advocate Health Care on Instagram, Denzel proposed to Challis just moments after she welcomed their son, Ace, into the world.
The proposal was uniquely presented on a onesie that read, “Mommy, will you marry Daddy?”
The couple first met over a decade ago while attending Mother McAuley and Marist high schools, but they lost touch when Denzel’s family moved away.
Three years ago, mutual friends reconnected them, and they fell in love, eventually preparing for the arrival of their son, Ace.
With assistance from the nurses, baby Ace was dressed in his first outfit shortly after birth.
Challis recalled the moment, saying, “I looked over and he was on one knee. I was shocked.”
The couple expressed their gratitude to the team at Christ Medical Centre, not only for their excellent labour and delivery care but also for facilitating the surprise engagement.
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While the gesture is undeniably sweet, netizens have shared mixed reactions regarding the timing of the proposal.
User @amanda.j.aesthetics commented, “I actually don’t like this. I think he should have let her have her first moments with her newborn … but instead, he made it about him. Idk, just not sitting well with me.”
User @leticia.fogle added, “She is still in labourland trying to understand what’s going on in the real world 😂! Congrats to this beautiful family 💜💜💜.”
Another user, @momof2mandq, stated, “For me, I enjoyed having two separate special moments. These are two very different milestones.”
User @destiny.n.h expressed concern, saying, “I don’t know their relationship; maybe they’ve talked about it, but personally, I think that’d be a nightmare.
“The body just went through a big trauma, meds are likely in effect, and hormones are most certainly out of whack. And it’s the newborn’s first moments. I don’t think I’d want that to be the time to be about a proposal.”
Relationship expert and mindset development coach Jabu Zwane weighed in on the matter, emphasising the significance of proposal timing in romantic relationships.
He stated, “When it happens, how it happens, and where it happens is symbolic. Proposing immediately after childbirth can be interpreted in two ways: as a beautiful symbol of commitment during a life-changing moment, or, to some, as emotionally overwhelming when a partner is still vulnerable and recovering.”
Zwane noted that, in certain contexts, such a proposal could also be perceived as manipulative or insensitive.
“It’s not necessarily because of bad intent, but because of emotional timing. Childbirth is an incredibly delicate moment for the woman, physically, hormonally, and emotionally. A new mother’s focus is on recovery, bonding with her baby, and processing the experience,” he explained.
“If a man uses that emotionally heightened moment to propose, it might unintentionally create pressure for her to respond positively, not out of free will, but to match the emotional expectation of the moment,” Zwane added.
The relationship expert also pointed out that manipulation isn’t always conscious; sometimes it stems from a lack of awareness of one’s partner’s emotional capacity.
“The key question to ask is: ‘Is this moment about us, or about me wanting a reaction?’ True love considers context. The most meaningful proposals happen when both partners are emotionally present, grounded, and able to fully process the depth of that decision together.
“It’s best to ensure that you’re both fully present physically and psychologically when you propose. Could this moment have been ideal for a proposal? Perhaps, but questions about the man’s motivation and sensitivity are certainly valid.”
