Has this date quietly fizzled out before we have even met?

What??

Please don’t do this!

Just see how today goes; you’re overthinking.

If you met on apps, sadly I’d say it’s quite normal. It’s happened to me many times. Nothing wrong with having looked forward to the date but unfortunately it happens.

I’d message yes about lunchtime, he could be sat there thinking you aren’t interested?

however you normally chat just say so are we meeting later? Shall we make those plans to meet etc.

Assuming you want to meet him, and your got on well by the sounds of it. Why assume he’s not planning on seeing you.

Why is it all on him? Just message 'just checking we're still on for later'. No need to make it complicated or weird 🤷

This is perfect.

amd going forward op, you will only hurt yourself getting so invested so early. Many people enjoy the initial chat but then actually cba when it comes to it. You don’t know him at all, so all your excitement is is your own fantasy, and that’s dangerous.

message him that, then put your phone in another room and do something else.

in addition to this not exactly being fun for him, your neediness is also a red flag for him.

You need to talk to other people. Put him to the back of your mind. He's taking up the same level of space in your head as a long term boyfriend, when he could in fact not even be anything he says, sounds, or looks like he is!

I'd find some more people to try and meet with. Then once you're confident you've got a few more options just message this guy saying 'fancy meeting at x day/time for a drink?' then if he dithers or says no you just don't speak to him again.

Just message him and ask if still on for later and suggest a place to meet.
i get you were the last person to message but at least you’ll have your answer, otherwise you’ll be waiting all day and it will drive you mad. If he doesn’t reply then at least you’ll know and can stop thinking about him

Some people don’t like to talk at all really after booking in a date, they want to leave the chatting until the date. I always found that really weird but it seems quite common. I never scheduled dates within the first week of chatting because I found most conversations fizzled out. Or there was something I found out on the date that would’ve made me not meet up, had I known.

If he’s spoken about the date every day I think that’s a good sign that it’s on. But I think message at lunchtime and expect an answer by about 3 or 4pm. If he knows you have kids then being unclear about plans will be a dealbreaker anyway

With what?

Did you arrange a place?

You’re over invested in a man you don’t even know. Put your phone down and forget about him. If he does get in touch tell him it’s too late to organise a babysitter now.

He’s enjoyed playing with you this week. But you’ve built this all up to something it isn’t. You’re already anxious and on the back foot if you do meet!

You need to grow a much thicker skin if you’re jumping into OLD. You’re very young and you’ve got plenty of time to meet someone. Just take a break and decide what YOU want and where YOUR boundaries are. I’d suggest that being kept waiting for the time and place for a date should be one of your boundaries. He’s clearly crossed it. Step away!

People often message lots right at the start. It doesn't mean that he's not wanting to meet because there's been little chat for a few days. This is a stranger and would understand if you'd been dating for weeks and he'd gone quiet for a few days.

Lots of other reasons why someone goes quiet, they realise the distance is too great, they're interested in someone else, they realise they don't really want a relationship, but they like the thrill at the start of chatting, they're not actually single etc etc.

The idea being that OP is starting to feel at his mercy, and needs to tell the babysitter one way or the otther, so it's easier for her to just cancel and see if he gets back to her.

Oh good! You can buy some drinks, or insist on paying half the bill. You have as much right as him to decide how the date is arranged! Many women prefer to go halves on an early date.

Just turn up for the bloody date, op
You sound really hard work.

I'm sorry sister that this happened; you see: You have been drawn into something that doesn't exist- ROMANCE is a form of BRAINWASHING. REAL Romance ( from a FEMALE) point of view , is much more complicated. Romance from a female point of view is about ' Letting Go' you have to wait for some forward movement - then retreat. If you move forward instead, and start questioning their behaviour ; then you will just go insane. ITS TIME TO RETREAT SISTER!!!!

You’re sorry that a man didn’t text a woman for a whole day because he was working and then going out and that he wants to pay to take her out for dinner? Blimey. Or BLIMEY.

You cant have butterflies if youve not met

Course you can 😂

Op, in the nicest way, you are very very needy. You've never met this guy, why do you need several messages a day!? If I were him I'd be thinking you were a bit keen and also he is going to have a busy life, work, friends, people he actually knows and owes communication to. I'd say message a bit to see if it's worth a date, once a date is booked in then just a quick message to confirm the day before is fine! I'd never expect messaging each day, if he's gone cold he is either overwhelmed by the level of messages and slowing it down, or genuinely just busy. Leave him be a bit and hopefully you'll have a lovely date and actually find out if he is worth all this time and energy. Likewise, you're blocking people who don't message back in 48 hours! This is nutty, they don't owe you an immediate response - you're actually better off with busy people who live full lives.
Take a chill pill, leave him be and stop putting so much pressure on early stage messages - it all means nothing until you actually meet a few times in person.

So, how was your date OP?

My goodness, so much angst!

You might need this pic at home to remind you.

Don’t be unkind