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AIBU?

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My GF wants to keep seeing friend she dated and kissed

85 replies

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:06

We have been dating for a year and it's been rocky from the start. She cheated on me earlier in the year with a guy she met at the bar where she liked to go and play pool, insisting for months that I had nothing to worry about when I expressed my concerns. After I found out, she continued to secretly see this guy for another month before she finally stopped. There's a lot more messed up behavior about this period that I'll leave out.

Fast forward to a months ago, we didn't officially get back together but we've basically been acting like a couple for the last six months. I met a girl, hit it off, and we dated for a week (two dates) but found we had ideological differences that were't compatible and she found out she was moving far away and that was pretty much the end of that. I barely really got to know her and we didn't do anything physical. It really upset my ex, but I told her I had to at least try and move on. She messaged me constantly during that week telling me she loves only me and doesn't want to be with anyone else.

The week after things ended with my date, my ex tells me she's dating a guy. They met 6 days in a row and they made out (that's as much as she'll tell me). I thought "Wow, what happened to 'you want only me'".

She stopped seeing after he turned her down because a vision he had told him she wasn't the one, and we got back together the next week.

That's the context. My issue is that we both want to keep in touch with the people we dated. She sees this dude every weekend at the markets and they have coffee. At first I thought it this was unplanned,but I found out later she had been messaging him to organize it. They also go to church together every Sunday. I haven't seen my date in over a month, and we message irregularly.

I don't want her to keep seeing her dude because they obviously had a much more intense dating experience and she kissed him multiple times, and the only reason she didn't keep dating him was because he had some BS dream that could change any minute. And they're still seeing each other every week! Compared to my situation, we went on two dates, held hands once, and were both adult enough to know a relationship wouldn't work with our opposing views. We're just friends. She swears there's nothing going on, "they have boundaries" (what a relief), and she wants to be able to have friends. I'm also being controlling and need to see a therapist for my jealousy. Her female friend agrees with her.

We talked about it and how it's a boundary for me, and she can choose friends with this guy or a relationship with me. She apparently understood that our situations are different and I should be able to keep in contact with my female friend. She agreed to stop meeting with the guy outside of Church and that was that. Queue last week, she messages me at 9pm saying she wants to have coffee with the guy in the morning, she's already messaged him about it, and I can't stop her having friends.

Am I being a hypocrite by putting my foot down and saying she can't go out of her way to keep seeing this guy while I keep in contact with my friend? Happy to give more detail if needed.

tl:dr Gf and I broke up briefly and dated other people. She kissed him and had 6 dates, he broke it off after having a "vision". I held hands and went on two, and we stopped because of differing beliefs. She organizes to see her date regularly and has constant contact, I haven't seen mine but we message sometimes. We both want to keep being friends with our dates, and I don't want her to keep seeing hers. She agreed to stop seeing him, and then broke that agreement. Am I a hypocrite? Any advice or thoughts please.

OP posts:
Gonk123 · 07/09/2024 08:31

You dont belong together. It’s that simple. You have barely been together, you have been seen other people in the midst of whatever it is going on between you, fall outs, separations…wow…in a year! Move on… and yes you are a hypocrite!

Justsayit123 · 07/09/2024 08:06

This is a doomed relationship. Break up..

AgnesX · 07/09/2024 08:01

Relationships are meant to be fun, this one isn't. It sounds like hard work, not least because you're not suited which is evident by your interest in other people ( both of you).

Cut your losses and move on.

Luio · 07/09/2024 07:58

You need to move on and be with someone who likes you as much as you like them. She cheated on you with the bar guy but you are still hanging around trying to negotiate relationship boundaries.

Elektra1 · 07/09/2024 07:47

Neither of you sounds at all committed to your relationship, which seems to be something of a "plan B" for both of you when other things with other people don't work out. That's where the suspicion/lack of trust comes from.

I'd leave it with this girl/woman and just date other people or be single until you find someone you really like, who is equally into you, and with whom you can build trust.

DinosaurMunch · 07/09/2024 07:46

You're a teenage boy and people on here are advising you from the perspective of 40 or 50 year old women - I don't think it's relevant advice really.

At an early stage of a new relationship you should just be enjoying your time together - it isn't a matter of who's right and wrong or making rules for each other about who you can see and why. If it isn't working then call it a day.

I don't think most people would be happy with their partner continuing to regularly see someone they had a thing with in the circumstances you describe. It's not about trust - as someone who would do that can't be trusted and doesn't value your relationship. ( I also don't see why you're so keen to keep seeing someone you barely know). However you can't stop your girlfriend doing it so the right response is to split up, not to try to control her behaviour.

BananaGrapeMelon · 07/09/2024 07:33

As others have said, you don't get to dictate your partner's behaviour- that's up to her. You do get to communicate your own boundaries and decide when to end the relationship.

BreatheAndFocus · 07/09/2024 07:31

Why are you together? Neither of you sounds invested in the relationship - her less than you. You seem like a fallback for when her other relationship attempts fail. Have some self-respect and find someone else.

Dery · 07/09/2024 07:27

Yes, it’s hypocritical of you to say you can see the woman you dated because all you did was hold hands but she can’t see the guy she dated because she kissed him.

But frankly as PP have said, why are you and your GF even seeing each other? There’s so much chaos and drama; it sounds totally dysfunctional. You’re clearly wrong for each other.

Underlig · 07/09/2024 07:20

This all sounds too dramatic, controlling and immature.

I see my ex every week. We go for a walk and have coffee. We go to each other’s houses. We were boyfriend/girlfriend at university and broke up then too. We are now in our late 50s. There was a period where we didn’t see much of each other at all, but we were always in contact.

Noseybookworm · 07/09/2024 07:03

This relationship sounds a bit ridiculous to be honest. Way too much drama 🙄 she's obviously not prepared to stop seeing this other guy so you have a choice - put up with it or break up.

Hateam · 07/09/2024 07:02

I think both of you need to break up and grow up

If this is how the two of you manage adult relationships then neither of of you are likely to build a successful partnership even if all you want is a boyfriend/girlfriend for a few laughs.

angellinaballerina7 · 07/09/2024 07:02

So much drama. Just break up, this isn’t a great relationship. It really doesn’t matter who’s a hypocrite or not, it’s hardly very “adult” of either of you to be attempting to continue this.

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/09/2024 06:57

she can choose friends with this guy or a relationship with me

This is what she means by controlling. You’re dictating her behaviour. If your boundary is that you won’t date her whilst she keeps in contact with this guy, it’s for you to modify your behaviour and end things with her.

curlywurlymum · 07/09/2024 06:44

You’re in a polyamorous relationship, just go with the flow.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 07/09/2024 06:29

When I was in my 20s I had a years relationship with a lovely guy. Fancied him like anything and we had a great sexual relationship
We wanted different things in life so split amicably but he became my best friend.
We saw each other regularly still and he is part of my life
I married and he is godfather to our eldest.
My husband knows our background and knows I see him every couple of weeks for coffee/dinner/cinema as a friend
Do I still think he is gorgeous - yes
Would I sleep with him or kiss him sexually - no
Do I hug him hello and goodbye and kiss him on the cheek - yes
My husband is fine with this because he trusts me and that’s what it comes down to.
You can’t force someone to be with you and you don’t own them
If you don’t trust her to be with this man then there is an issue with either you or your relationship
If the issue is your relationship then is over. If it’s you then that’s fine, it’s who you are, but let her go and let her be who she is. Find someone that shares your beliefs about no regular contact with ex lovers.

GRex · 07/09/2024 06:19

It isn't appropriate for you to try to control your girlfriend's behaviour nor friends. It may be that she's keeping him on ice for when you two next split or argue, or just enjoying the friendship. It does sound reasonable from your story's perspective not to trust that she will manage to keep things platonic and to break up. In fact, you can break up for any reason at all, you don't even need to give an explanation. Find someone without all the on and off drama, life'll be much easier if you're with someone who knows they actually want you.

GuestFeatu · 07/09/2024 06:05

YABU for being in a relationship that has been rocky from the start. It's not meant to be so hard.

Illpickthatup · 07/09/2024 06:04

It should be this hard only one year in. Too much drama. Cut ties and move on.

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 06:04

GreyCarpet · 07/09/2024 06:00

You can, of course, have a different opinion to anyone on here in terms of what is acceptable to you in a relationship.

Personally, I chose not to date men who had very close friendships with exes and that is just as fine and reasonable as *GiddyRobin *and her partner and his ex all being friends.

Because people have different boundaries.

But I'm going to highlight the important part of the above...

I chose not to date men...

You can choose not to date someone for any reason you choose, but trying to control the choices of someone you are dating so that you feel more comfortable is abuse.

Perfectly put. Boundaries in relationships are absolutely reasonable (and important!) things to have.

OP is choosing another road entirely; one of control. That's what's unhealthy here.

GreyCarpet · 07/09/2024 06:00

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

You can, of course, have a different opinion to anyone on here in terms of what is acceptable to you in a relationship.

Personally, I chose not to date men who had very close friendships with exes and that is just as fine and reasonable as *GiddyRobin *and her partner and his ex all being friends.

Because people have different boundaries.

But I'm going to highlight the important part of the above...

I chose not to date men...

You can choose not to date someone for any reason you choose, but trying to control the choices of someone you are dating so that you feel more comfortable is abuse.

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:52

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

Clearly. Because you're an insecure little man with control issues. Why don't you try Reddit? Plenty of incels over there who'll give you the answers you want.

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:44

I can see that, but that's your problem to deal with, not hers.

Do you have an issue with reading comprehension? I've literally just told you that my husband and his ex are friends. Of course I don't have a problem with them spending time together alone. They can do it as frequently as they like; they're grown adults and I trust my husband. I'm also not insecure.

You're really desperate to get someone to say they'd have a problem if they were you. Big hint; grown ups don't give a fuck about a few dates. Grow up.

Edited

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

OP posts:
MovingTooFast121 · 07/09/2024 05:45

Are you 15?

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:44

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:40

It's a difference to me because of the connection they have.

Would you still be ok if your husband kept seeing his ex every week, just the two of them?

I can see that, but that's your problem to deal with, not hers.

Do you have an issue with reading comprehension? I've literally just told you that my husband and his ex are friends. Of course I don't have a problem with them spending time together alone. They can do it as frequently as they like; they're grown adults and I trust my husband. I'm also not insecure.

You're really desperate to get someone to say they'd have a problem if they were you. Big hint; grown ups don't give a fuck about a few dates. Grow up.

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