When does one quit wearing their wedding rings after the death of a spouse?

I couldn’t remember when I stopped.

I felt it was early, but looking back in pictures it was closer to 6 months after Adam died.

I do recall the feelings associated with my rings.

Some days I had to wear them.

Many days I did not.

But the decision to no longer put my wedding set on my left ring finger, to move it over to my right hand permanently, came because it had to. It was a painful recognition of my new status in life.

I found as I completed endless piles of paperwork to take care of Adam’s things that I had to check new boxes.

Single.

Widowed.

Shocking the first few times I put pen to paper and marked that status as my own.

I moved my rings because I was no longer married.

I took off my wedding band and moved only my beautiful engagement ring to my right hand.

I was telling myself this is your new reality. You are not married any more.

It hurt. But it was the truth I needed to face.

Single. Widowed. Alone.

Adam’s wedding ring has a permanent place on my left pointer finger.

He had dainty hands and I didn’t have to size it. It slipped right on and hasn’t left.

I appreciate wearing this understated piece every day rather than my whole wedding set.

It’s a fluid thing. What pieces to wear on which fingers, when. You do what feels right at the time.

Don’t judge a widow or widower for wearing their rings as long or as short as they want. Their feelings on the matter may change over time.

So, when does one quit wearing their wedding rings after the death of a spouse? Perhaps early. Perhaps never. 

There is no wrong answer.