<human>: I'm so sorry if this is an inappropriate subreddit for this issue. You all just seem so equipped to give advice in this area. 

My boyfriend and I are committed to having a life together for the rest of our lives. We have talked about marriage and the future in a responsible way and are ready (we are both 25) to take the next logical steps. I have recently found out (accidentally) that he is intending to give me a family ring when he proposes. 

I do not want to seem ungrateful at all and it's not like I'm expecting some huge rock, I actually prefer smaller, more simple rings in general. I'm just not crazy about the idea of a hand me down. I want something that just encapsulates our love, without the history of another couple attached to it. Honestly I don't even need an engagement ring at all. I consider myself fairly progressive in the ideas of marriage and weddings to where the traditional does not appeal very much. Something just inherently is bothering me about the prospect of wearing another woman's ring. Also his mother and father recently had a messy split, and I'm hoping his mothers ring isn't the one he's talking about, or that would just be really odd...

He is not super close with his family so I think his whole reasoning is just of convenience and time, I feel like he thinks time is running out and he needs to pop the question soon or else I'll bail. I've been particularly stressed and oftentimes unhappy the past 6 months due to work, I'm sure that is influencing his urgency. 

But how do I express these concerns without revealing I know what he's intending? Is there a clever way I can get around this? Can I tell a mutual female friend to casually mention that I really love so and so style of ring or necklace or whatever? The ring is not the most important part of an engagement, but I'm trusting my gut in that I feel strangely about his plan. Anyway I'm just looking for input or if anyone has gone through anything similar. Again, so sorry if this is an irrelevant post!

Can you provide a brief overview of the text?
<bot>: Guy really wants to propose. Wants to use family ring for convenience. I feel weird about it. What do.