NEWS'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood & Gary Shirley Exchange Promise Rings
Oct. 11 2010, Published 5:36 a.m. ET
Teen Mom's Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley have exchanged promise rings in an attempt to help fix their reportedly abusive relationship.
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"They just bought each other new rings as a sign of their commitment," Gary's mother Carol Zizak told Radar Online. "They're promise rings where they're promising to themselves that they're going to work on their relationship, not date anyone else and have a future for their daughter Leah."
Amber and Gary have reportedly been in couples therapy for a couple months, but the rings are another step they are taking to save their relationship.
And the proud mother and grandmother gushed about their new symbols of love for each other.
"Amber told me, 'Come look at what Gary bought me!'" Carol said of the ring, which they reportedly bought last month.
"Gary's looks like big bling jewelry!" Carol explained. Amber's ring is "very pretty, dainty, and delicate — just like her."
Police are reportedly investigating Amber after she was seen hitting Gary during an argument on Teen Mom, but Carol believes they will works things out.
"I know Amber and I know she can get angry, but I also know she loves Gary and Gary loves her," Carol said. "They both love each other very much."
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"Amber is a very sweet girl and she's had a tough childhood. But she is genuine," she explained of 20-year-old Amber. "I always tell her nothing you do will stop me from loving you. Too many parents do that and say you have to earn their love and go through hoops."
And Carols says a lot of the "good" in their relationship hasn't been shown on Teen Mom.
"You love each other through the good and bad and that's what I taught Gary. I tell Gary if you love her, work it out through the good and bad," Carol explained. "A lot of people only see the bad side of her Amber, but I see another side that people don't get to see. When we're playing games, making dinner and things are going smooth. There's been a lot of good."
But that's not to say that Carol doesn't think Amber has some things she needs to work on.
"She just needs mentorship and mothering, which is what I'm trying to give her," she said.
And the rings are also a way of saying they won't date other people. Amber was seen in last week's episode on a date with another man.
"It's a sign of their commitment," Carol said of Amber and Gary's new rings. "It's also a point they're making where they're saying, 'I'm committed to being with you and I'm not going to be with anyone else.'"
