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Regret

30 replies

Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 02:41

Hi, please bear with me as I am new here and do not know how this forum works. I have debated posting this for many years now, as this is going to take forever and I am not sure if anyone would be interested in reading it. I just want to write it out anyway. I am doing it for myself to let it off my chest. I know I will be called names, but that is okay. My tolerance for these things are far high by now. So firstly if you’re reading this, I would like to tell you a bit about myself. I am a softie and a hopeless romantic at heart. I can’t help myself not being kind and making people happy.

So here is the forever story of my life. My hands are shaking as I type. I met the love of my life at 17yrs of age. He was the most gentle, caring, sentimental person ever. He was my best friend and we could talk about everything and anything under the sun. He was always forgiving and loved me more than I loved myself. It was unbelievable how romantic he was. He would bring out the best in me, and I always wanted to better myself with him. I was the kind of girl who was very charming and popular in high school. Boys used to kiss the ground I walked on ( no exaggeration). I wasn’t the popular mean girl type but the kind hearted person. We both made a beautiful looking couple in and out. We did have arguments but we would sit and talk it out heart to heart. It was the perfect relationship anyone could ask for. You know when two people love each other so much that sometimes it gets telepathic. I would sense him sometimes around me while I would be out with family and he would appear out of nowhere. One day our telephone lines were fixed after a long time and he was unaware of it. I was thinking and wanting to talk to him so bad and guess what I get a call from him the same day. It was the most intense, emotional and empathetic bond I ever had.
Fast forward to uni, we went to different colleges. We started having arguments and he would ghost me for weeks ( he wasn’t cheating for a fact, as my friends were in the same class as him ) It would take a toll on my mental health. I would cry for weeks and then he would call out of the blue and ask for forgiveness. I loved him too much for not forgiving him. This went on, till I started to get fed up of this behaviour. While he was ghosting me an other guy ( tall, pretty face and handsome looking, very girl wanted) proposed to me in a way I couldn’t say no. Given I was in trenches and a depressed mess. Also, I wanted to give my highschool bf a taste of his own medicine.

I changed my number a started chatting with the new guy, while I was still ghosted. One day I got a call as it was my highschool bf on the ph. One of my friend had given him my new number. He begged for me to come back but I broke up with him. He was in pieces, punched a glass window and cried like a baby.
I moved on with my life, but still there were times I used to miss him while I was with this new guy. I thought that it is normal to miss someone and that it will fade away with time. Fast forward it did not work out with the new guy as I realised I was still in love with my highschool sweetheart and the new guy was a coward who convince his family for love.
In the meantime my highschool bf sends his mobile number to my sister telling that he would still be there for me had I needed anything.
Fast forward few years, I call this number to apologise for what I did to him. By a stranger’s perception it would be called as cheating. Doesn’t matter why I did it. He was shell shocked to hear my voice after all these years. His voice choked while he talked to me. I still had feelings for him all this time. We decided to meet up. There he told me that he waited for me for 3 yrs. His whole college knew his story and wanted to have him as their bf but he rejected them all. But, then he said that he was with one of his girlfriends since 2 yrs. I knew her from school days and knew that she always had a crush on him. He said that she knew all about me and how much he loved me. After learning this, I did not want to be the other girl breaking what they had.Even if it hurt me like a stab wound. My highschool bf told me that he told his current gf if I would come back to him. He would choose me over her. I had already suffered heartbreak in the past. I did not want a new person being freshly hurt and me being the reason for it. So I just told him with a heavy heart that I did not want to be with him. That I had moved on ( a big fat lie ! )
He said he would never be able to love his wife as much as he loved me and that even if I get married have a kid and come back to him he would accept me 😢

Fast forward to this day, I am married to a new man. We have 2 beautiful kids together. It was an arranged marriage. The only reason I said yes was because he was a self made, hardworking person. He is below average looking, a big difference from my past bf’s. He is a very practical person and I am hopeless romantic. He does not know anything about romance. His family is very orthodox and a girl isn’t expected to have any past relationships in their family. My first year of marriage felt like hell. I felt like this was the worst relationship I was into. My husband would always criticise and compare me. One one hand I was made to feel like the most beautiful person and here I was suffering his insults. I could not dare to think of separation as it is still a taboo in our culture, and looked down upon. I would not want to bring that on my Mum. I lost my father at a young age and my mum has raised us single handedly. My MIL was always trying to calm us down and say things like it will get better down the years. I thought maybe if we have kids things will get better. Things definitely got better. My hubby knows what makes me tick off. We argue very little as we don’t have much of a real conversation. Our life is at autopilot with the kids and busy. It feels like we avoid few conversations just to avoid arguments. He hardly compliments. He is just honest and blunt.

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 14/02/2022 03:10

OK, I read all that. What is your regret?

Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 03:19

My post somehow got cut short. Anyways, every time we have an argument he will just go quiet and small talk. I have many times tried to sit and and have a conversation with him but he just walks away and says he does not want to talk about it. It makes me think that had I been married to my bf this would’ve been so different. I know there is no guarantee it would but I would definitely be happier. I love our children to boys and they are the reason I live and function. I cannot think of separation as I am socially and financially dependent on my hubby. And I would not leave him because I still love him. Just not in love with him. Just the nagging and bickering has made me have my guard up and heart hard. I do not feel attracted to him. And I cannot even my mistake tell him about my internal battle. I am certain he won’t accept it. He has been brought up in a totally different environment than me. I have devoted 10 yrs of my youth and life to him and his family as has he. But I cannot stop ki kicking myself and have this guilt and regret that consumes my day. I dream about my bf frequently and cry on the realisation that it was dream. In some parallel universe we are married to each other. I know I have to enjoy and be happy in the present. But the heart does not follow what the mind tells it. The heart wants what it wants. I try distracting myself by working out and stuff and I feel like no one could ever come this far as me having so much pain in their heart. Every song, every movie reminds me if him. So much so that I have stopped watching romantic movies altogether. I cannot handle it. The funny part is he would never know that I will die in love with him. He is now married to the same girl he was dating and has a kid.
My pain got worse when I asked to try for a third child together and he said a blunt no. As I mentioned he is not the discussing things type of person. I was heart broken. I cried last night as I swallowed the pill. I have desperately tried getting off the pill but it would not be fair to him. I feel I could not have the love of my life but I deserve the children I long for. I am afraid that I would resent my hubby even more. Had he only known how much pain I carry in me. My hubby does not know how to have fun, he is always thinking about securing the future which I love about him, and he is very hands on with the kids. Just that sometimes his words hurt. He does not have the intention but that is how he is. He says things as it is. It took me a while to develop a thick skin. But it hurts me when he belittles the kids few time. He loves them to bits. He says action speaks louder than words. And in his case it does. But his words are hurtful sometimes. It miss my best friend whom I could blurt anything and he wouldn’t judge me. We could goof around and talking about anything. I have to think before I speak to my hubby, have this awkward guard up.
I desperately want one more child, so I can have some closure and move forward in my career. I find myself noodling around this longing for a third. I don’t know how to carry this heartbreak on top of other heartbreak. It is like grieving for an person who is still alive and for the child I’ll never have 💔

OP posts:
Skeam · 14/02/2022 05:01

Bluntly, OP, you’re unhappy in a marriage that isn’t working but which you feel you can’t leave, and because of it you’re glamourising a teenage/school relationship with a boy who treated you badly and with whom you rightly broke up. This is not Romeo and Juliet, OP, it’s a juvenile teenage infatuation which didn’t last long, and which died off completely on encountering real-life stuff like absence and other people to date. Your ‘love of your life’ argued with you, and went silent on you for weeks at a time, regardless of all his later protestations about how he’d waited and would choose you over his current girlfriend. He wasn’t that nice to you.

You need to stop tormenting yourself by fantasising about his high-drama teenage telepathy stuff, take responsibility for the choices you made, and focus on your life now. Do you want to try to salvage your marriage, or to end it?

Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 05:30

@Skeam Thanks for replying. I definitely do not want to end my marriage. I just somehow want these thoughts to stop overwhelming me. I have been trying, since past 10 years. How do I find a way to stay happy in this marriage with a husband with a dry mundane behaviour. My children have been my driving force. Moreover, how do I come to terms with not having 3 children I have always wanted and still lead a happy life. I am tired of pretending. I do not want to spend the rest of my life blaming myself. I know my choices have lead me here. How do I feel happiness again. Before you say it I am more than grateful for my kids every day, each day.

OP posts:
EishetChayil · 14/02/2022 07:10

I know this is missing the point (although I'm not quite sure what the point is...) but:

Boys used to kiss the ground I walked on ( no exaggeration).

Really?? As in, got down and kissed the ground, like the Pope??

TottersBlankly · 14/02/2022 08:02

Truthfully, OP you might find it helpful to have a browse around MN, maybe focussing on Relationships. That may give you some insight into your own situation.

But most people are not going to read such enormously long posts as you have written here. (I didn’t get far.)

FlibbertyGiblets · 14/02/2022 08:18

I am so sorry, you sound so unhappy. Your teenage romance didn't work out, and you are now unhappily married, looking back at the beautiful couple you were one half of all those years ago. Yet the ex was horrible to you, ghosting you, pulling you back, being violent smashing windows; I think you had a lucky escape from him.

Skeam · 14/02/2022 18:23

[quote Happyontheoutside]@Skeam Thanks for replying. I definitely do not want to end my marriage. I just somehow want these thoughts to stop overwhelming me. I have been trying, since past 10 years. How do I find a way to stay happy in this marriage with a husband with a dry mundane behaviour. My children have been my driving force. Moreover, how do I come to terms with not having 3 children I have always wanted and still lead a happy life. I am tired of pretending. I do not want to spend the rest of my life blaming myself. I know my choices have lead me here. How do I feel happiness again. Before you say it I am more than grateful for my kids every day, each day.[/quote]
I think you need individual counselling to explore why you’re glorifying a teen romance that objectively sounds deeply unideal, with a very young man who sounds immature and melodramatic — it sounds as though it’s partly nostalgia for lost youth, opportunities, your perception of your own desirability and popularity in your schooldays etc. It’s a pure fantasy. Bear in mind this past bf never stayed in a relationship with you for long enough to need to deal with the mundanity of daily life and small children and irritating ILs. He couldn’t even hack a few weeks apart at different universities and his silences had a bad effect on your MH. And I don’t buy the “I’ve carried a torch for you all these years even though everyone at my university wanted go out with me, and I would ditch my longterm gf in a second if you’d take me back’ stuff for a moment. It’s just talk. If you’d wanted to be in a relationship with one another badly enough, you would have.honestly, OP — we all have near misses, or sappy teenage boyfriends who serenaded us on guitars etc. Often they’re now tubby, balding middle managers.

You should also consider couples counselling if you really want to remain in your marriage.

Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 23:06

@Skeam Thanks a lot. You have made many valid points. Maybe it’s my youth, the thrill and attention I miss. May be being an adult sucks for me. Especially, having a hubby with a big ego while he is definitely punching above his weight. I do not feel seen or valued. I used to think below average looking man would be more down to earth and value me. That is one reason I chose my hubby. But I think pretty face is a pretty heart too. Now I regret not having an attractive looking partner who I am actually attracted to. And yes I agree with your point that my bf wasn’t with me to do the mundane life with me. Thank you I just wanted to get all these bottled up feeling off my chest. My hubby will never agree to couples therapy. From his perception he thinks everything is going fine. He comes from a very basic lifestyle family. Who do not go on holidays, road trips or eat out. I come from the opposite. So it Is always my responsibility to make fun plans for kids. But one in a while I would like him to surprise me too. Covid isn’t helping either. Sorry for writing too much. Thank you for showing me a different perspective. It helps !

OP posts:
Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 23:07

Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. @FlibbertyGiblets

OP posts:
Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 23:10

@TottersBlankly Thank you. I am new here. Still getting used to it.

OP posts:
Happyontheoutside · 14/02/2022 23:13

@EishetChayil I said ( no exaggeration) not
( literally)

OP posts:
TheatreKilledTheMovieStar · 14/02/2022 23:17

Especially, having a hubby with a big ego while he is definitely punching above his weight. I do not feel seen or valued. I used to think below average looking man would be more down to earth and value me. That is one reason I chose my hubby.

🤦‍♀️ 🤦‍♀️

Happyontheoutside · 15/02/2022 01:43

@TheatreKilledTheMovieStar Yes I am angry, frustrated and resentful suppressing all these feelings for years. You cannot help how you feel !

OP posts:
VodselForDinner · 15/02/2022 01:52

You sound like a pretty difficult person, to be honest. You have a ridiculously high opinion of yourself.

The fact is, your old boyfriend didn’t want you. You can dress it up in all the Take A Break drama that you like, but he ended the relationship and moved on.

CharlotteRose90 · 15/02/2022 02:32

@VodselForDinner

You sound like a pretty difficult person, to be honest. You have a ridiculously high opinion of yourself.

The fact is, your old boyfriend didn’t want you. You can dress it up in all the Take A Break drama that you like, but he ended the relationship and moved on.

This 100%. You need to forget your past and what could have been and move on.

You can’t have a 3rd child and you are lucky to have had 2 . Focus on the family you have and stop trying to get your ex back it won’t work.

JollyHolly30 · 15/02/2022 04:27

You seem thoroughly unlikeable and incredibly egotistical the way you go on about boys kissing the ground you walked on, and how kind and 'beautiful you were as a person inside and out.'
The rest of it is immature (self) obsessed nonsense and you are absolutely glamorising a bad relationship as though it is the love story of our generation. He ghosted you for weeks?! Multiple times?! That's a terrible relationship and for someone who clearly thinks so much of themselves, I'm surprised you don't think you're worth more than being treated like that.

Happyontheoutside · 15/02/2022 05:02

Well it is hard to put every single detail in for proof. But, that is okay. You guys haven’t walked in my shoes. And you opinion is none of my business. I ain’t here to please you.

OP posts:
Undercity · 15/02/2022 06:51

Neither of you come across particularly well OP.

It is not a great relationship in which a person plays rubber band - pulling back for weeks then suddenly jumping back into your life. That's a head fuck, not anything to strive for.

It is also not something to be envied that he has the heart to tell a girl she's with that she will always be second best. Tbh I feel sorry for his gf and your partner in this more than anything else. More her, because (even though I skim read the last few huge chunks) I don't think you have made it as explicit to your partner as he has to her. Someone who tells a person they are second best to someone else is not a good person. They are admitting to using that person until better (i.e. that past "ideal") comes along.

So do NOT have another child. Children are not teddy bears to be used for comfort while you grieve for someone you don't even know anymore. Leave your partner and get counselling.

AlDanvers · 15/02/2022 07:10

Op, that's all just rubbish.

You think your youth was a teen movie. Your high school boyfriend was a shit. The relationship was drama.

People didn't kiss the ground you walked on. You have a very high opinion of yourself. Just like you think your dh is punching now.

I can promise, anyone who thinks they are too good for someone else, is not.

You donr live in the real world. Your story is 'I am unhappy in my marriage and think I am too good for my husband. So I have romantised my teen years and convinced myself that a shit of a boy, is my true love as an escape mechanism. However, I am not going to do anything about it and pretend I have to agency in my own life and spend my years regretting something I made up'

I am not actually saying it to be harsh. But to hope to wake you up. You aren't a romantic. You are a fantasist.

grapewine · 15/02/2022 07:24

I mean why post, then? You sound so up yourself. And that's from reading the updates. I'm not about to read that tome of an OP.

JoyDivisionOvenGlovesx · 15/02/2022 07:37

Blimey.

SparklingLime · 15/02/2022 07:53

I am a softie and a hopeless romantic at heart. I can’t help myself not being kind and making people happy.

I think it would help to get a more realistic image of yourself. You sound self-indulgent rather than romantic, and self-aggrandising rather than kind. Who do you make happy?

TheatreKilledTheMovieStar · 15/02/2022 08:46

Urgh. I forgot, it’s half term break.

Peppermint81 · 15/02/2022 09:13

@AlDanvers

Op, that's all just rubbish.

You think your youth was a teen movie. Your high school boyfriend was a shit. The relationship was drama.

People didn't kiss the ground you walked on. You have a very high opinion of yourself. Just like you think your dh is punching now.

I can promise, anyone who thinks they are too good for someone else, is not.

You donr live in the real world. Your story is 'I am unhappy in my marriage and think I am too good for my husband. So I have romantised my teen years and convinced myself that a shit of a boy, is my true love as an escape mechanism. However, I am not going to do anything about it and pretend I have to agency in my own life and spend my years regretting something I made up'

I am not actually saying it to be harsh. But to hope to wake you up. You aren't a romantic. You are a fantasist.

This!!! Shallow
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