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AIBU?

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Help me convince my collegue that, at best, this is ill thought out? (long)

37 replies

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 08:38

Because she isn't listening to a word I say! oh dear this is long ....

Colleague (41) has boyfriend she met in an online gaming forum, he's 42. He's never been in a relationship before, never had sex before meeting her, still lives at home with him mum and dad (mum still cleans his bedroom and takes no 'keep' from him either). He works 10 hours a week (2 hours per morning) in the local sorting office. This is enough to pay his petrol and car running costs. He doesnt actually seem to like full time work.

He lives up country and comes to visit every Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

As you can imagine, their sex life is dire, he's very enthusiastic, but its very lights off under the duvet. He's embarassed about nudity, foreplay, the whole caboodle and definitely wont DTD if her children (19 and 15) are in the house. Nor would he when they stayed at his parents for a few nights over Christmas.

I have suggested talking about needs and desires, books, mirrors, mutual masterbation, tinned fruit Grin (ok that was a joke on my part), leaping on top and giving him the ride of his life. Any mention of sex causes him acute embarassment. He apparently doesnt ever have the need to masterbate on his own either, let alone have mags - because his mother cleans his room and generally tidies up after him he can't have any private things.

He lives up country and comes to visit every Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

She's had this brilliant idea to sort out their sex life and issued him with an ultimatum. >rolls eyes< He has 6 weeks to hand in his notice and move in with her, 3 months after that to get a job or she is packing him back to his mothers. He can't come any sooner because his car tax is due.

I have pointed out the following - at 42, with 25 years 'work' behind him, living at home with no board to pay, he should be loaded, or at very least be able to pay his car tax without saving. He cant because he spends all his money on fishing equipment.

I have also pointed out that by resigning, he won't qualify for any benefits, and with the 3 month time frame she has given him, she will effectively be keeping him as he has no other source of income nor savings to use and will probably have to pay for a tank of petrol to send him back to his mothers.

I fail to see how their sex life is going to sort its self out if (a) he cant talk about it (b) wont try anything (c) her children will be in the house all week

His good points? He is 'nice' and 'sweet'. Which he is, I've met him, and wet 'nice' describes him perfectly. He's very passive, likes housework.

She on the other hand is very outgoing, loud, giggly, works like trojan at 2 jobs to keep food on the table and also does some volunteer work.

I asked flat out 'so what are you getting from this relationship?' - "he's nice and I look forward to seeing him"

Have I missed anything out that would convince her that this is A. Bad. Idea ?

OP posts:
Seabright · 18/02/2013 08:46

No, I think you have covered it all. Does he cook too? At least if he does come she'd have a sort of housekeeper.

ditavonteesed · 18/02/2013 08:52

I cant see a sinlge good point, tbh your friend has done well to get this far I think he would have driven me to distraction within one date.
How is he going to get a job, he has only ever worked 2 hours a day noone is going to employ him. and how on earth is their sex life going to improve if he cant talk about it, sounds like an all round bad idea, I feel bad for the guy but he is going to have to sort himself out it isnt her job to do that.

My ultimatum would be get a full time job then you can move in.

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 08:53

I don't think so. I rather gather his mother does everything for him. I dare say he could rustle up a sandwich to take fishing.

OP posts:
TeamEdward · 18/02/2013 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 08:59

He's applying for jobs - jobs he has no hope of getting! She's phoning round the other schools in the academy chain asking for jobs for him (which he isn't qualified or experienced to hold down)

It's all a bit pie-in-the-sky really.

I know it's not my life, but I just couldnt settle for someone who wants to be mothered.

OP posts:
Sugarice · 18/02/2013 08:59

I cannot see that he will even consider leaving home or his Mother.

Has he agreed that he's willing to move out of his home to be with your friend?

LeaveTheBastid · 18/02/2013 09:01

What the hell can a successful hard working woman want from this man child? Does she feel she is rescuing him? Turning him into a 'real man'? Like being the more powerful/worldly one in the relationship?

It's all a bit strange. Leave her to it. I'm assuming she's all there mentally, so sooner or later she'll figure it out.

HecateWhoopass · 18/02/2013 09:03

I am shocked at the level of intimate conversation you have with a work colleague! Grin

My conversations went no deeper than speculating where the stapler got to! Grin

She seems awfully keen to get this manchild into her life.

he's shit in bed, someone failed to cut the umbilical cord, he's not seen any need to prepare for independent life...

What's his mother like? Spent the last 20 years praying to all the gods in the sky that he gets the hell out or is he mummy's likkle soldier and no woman will ever luve you like I do...? She wants to invite into her life the mother in law from hell?

And your chronically oversharing work colleague Wink wants to make him come to her?

I'd be going 90 down the motorway in the opposite direction.

On foot!

mmmuffins · 18/02/2013 09:07

This is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. But sometimes people just can't be told (I wouldn't stop telling her it's a really bad idea every time she brings it up though!)

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 09:08

He has agreed to 'give it a go'

My colleague, for want of a better description, has the personality of an exuberant puppy IYSWIM, everything is everso bouncy and exciting in her life, it's all just a mad impulsive dash with her.

I can't see it working either. Weekends she does some gardening as a side line to her 9-5 job, he goes with her and sits in the kitchen chattering away to the householders (who to be fair are manily elderly and enjoy the company)

For me that would be The Red Flag - if he was just watching me lugging round things in this weather.

He's just so passive. Thats the only word I can use to describe him. Hasn't got any get-up-and-go about him at all.

OP posts:
Sugarice · 18/02/2013 09:10

Does your friend think he of him as a 'project', someone she can mold into her ideal man?

The bad sex would be enough for me and what do her children think?

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 09:12

hectate She calls me in to run these ideas by me - I have no idea why I am the chosen one as I can be harsh - but she thinks I'm tongue in cheek - which I do come across as, but I'm also quite brutal!

I have no idea what the mother is like. I only have a mental image of someone still cleaning their 42yo sons room and poking through his smalls drawer!

OP posts:
HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 09:13

Kids like him, because he's 'nice' Hmm

OP posts:
HecateWhoopass · 18/02/2013 09:13

can you imagine the mother in law hell?

She much be off her bloody rocker to be trying to force that hassle into her life.

HecateWhoopass · 18/02/2013 09:14

must.

See, the horror of it all has seriously affected my typing.

quoteunquote · 18/02/2013 09:16

A friend of ours met a similar sounding chap, he lived with grandmother and mother, in his early forties, she is his first girlfriend,

It's been brilliant for both of them, he is so lovely, and after two decades of nasty gits, she is really enjoying having someone who has no horrible bullying tactics,

he has even tamed her vile elderly neighbour, his life time of living with a grandmother has given him senior citizen skills,

He has ben learning fast, now makes a mean fish pie, he sweet , kind and really looks after our friend, who has a major career, he has formed a friendship with her 16 year old, and best of all she is pregnant and delighted, he is going to be the stay at home dad after the first three months, he so happy.

as for sex life, isn't that part of the fun, exploring together, building up trust.

we were all very surprised when we eventually met him, he was so different to her normal type, as she pointed out , that had hardly been working out for her, anyway who cares, as long as they are happy

AThingInYourLife · 18/02/2013 09:16

So she's browbeating a man, who sounds quite vulnerable, into quitting his job and making himself entirely dependent on her?

He might be wet and weak and a bit pathetic.

But he has a life he likes and people who love him.

She has no right to take that away from him so she can be amused by him for a while.

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 09:17

I havent done the mothering angle with her, and I like the project angle too.

Anymore ideas?

OP posts:
Whocansay · 18/02/2013 09:22

You're collegue is an utter fool if she thinks that this is going to end well. I would suggest that she gets some sort of therapy, as her self esteem must be on the floor if she's willing to accept this as a relationship.

tinselahohoho · 18/02/2013 09:22

It's absolutely none of your business and that is a huge amount of intimate detail from a work colleague. Hmm

She's telling you that he's nice and she looks foward to seeing him, you're telling her that someone who sounds vulnerable is a weirdo because he doesn't use porn.

We could just make this all a bit quicker by telling you that you're fantastic, right, and are doing her a huge favour, couldn't we?

HollyBerryBush · 18/02/2013 09:22

Thats a nice story quote, athing she wants a forever man, not a passing fancy.

OP posts:
tinselahohoho · 18/02/2013 09:23

And yes AThingInYourLife . . .

Maryz · 18/02/2013 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Callthemidlife · 18/02/2013 09:24

What's the worst that could happen? He moves in, it doesn't work, he moves back home... Or he moves in, acts like a 1950's housewife, it works in rather unconventional way.

Not my idea of fun but don't see the harm of seeing how far the relationship can go if they like each others company.

Maryz · 18/02/2013 09:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.