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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be unsure about dating a 37 y.o. virgin man

268 replies

Puzzledbyart · 29/09/2019 20:56

I just started seeing someone with serious intentions for the first time in 5 years (single mother, no support, so no major opportunity to develop romantic relationships). Feeling a little bit out of my depth and awkward. It is an ex-colleague, we met at someone's leaving drinks and just hit it off.
We had a couple of dates so far, and had a very nice quick lunch today too (while my children were attending their sunday classes). I really like the guy, he seems genuine, funny and sweet, only painfully shy. Today he told me that he is also a virgin - and he is 37 (I am a few years younger).
AIBU to be a bit alarmed by this? I cannot put my finger on what exactly is bothering me, but the more I think about it, the more unsure I feel. Or am I overthinking this?

OP posts:
Puzzledbyart · 29/09/2019 23:37

How "far" have you actually got with him? What's he like when kissing? Does he kiss passionately or is it more chaste?
Errr… "second base". Kisses are very passionate and everything seems to be working as expected - at least from what I could tell.

OP posts:
Puzzledbyart · 29/09/2019 23:39

Cycling
I wish - I already complained of not being fit Grin

OP posts:
BackHomeAgain · 29/09/2019 23:41

Has he had other experience? Just not actual intercourse??

What’s making him think now/you is the right time to lose his virginity?

Puzzledbyart · 29/09/2019 23:43

You are already a parent to two small children and in your position I would only be interested in a relationship with someone who could support and match me on a similar emotional level

Relationship experience as much as sexual. And you have kids, I’d want someone who had some experience of life in the domestic lane.

Yes, this is probably exactly what makes me nervous (that virginity is only the tip of the inexperience iceberg here).

AS others have said, I’m not sure I’d want to be ‘the one’, by the time you get to 37, you’ve blown that up into a pretty massive big deal I imagine.
This is also very true.

OP posts:
Zeusthemoose · 29/09/2019 23:44

If your kissing is all going well I honestly can't see a problem. The chemistry is obviously there.
I dated a guy that had only slept with one person once before me. He was 30. His family was very religious and he decided not to wait untill marriage when he moved to the U.K. We had a fantastic 6 months Grin He was bloody gorgeous aswell.....sigh

Puzzledbyart · 29/09/2019 23:46

What’s making him think now/you is the right time to lose his virginity?
I have no idea. I actually had no idea that he is a virgin until today, and I obviously did not question it further (I think I said something stupid and non-distinct like "uh-huh, it is okay" or something like this).

OP posts:
AgeLikeWine · 29/09/2019 23:50

I’m sure you have absolutely nothing to worry about in terms of his expectations of your appearance. He will be so delighted to be in the same room as a real woman who may actually be willing to have sex with him that he certainly won’t be examining any slight stretch marks....

He sounds nice, so give the guy a chance but don’t expect him to be a mind reader in the bedroom. Many women find it difficult to take the lead, but you will have to. Show or gently tell him what you enjoy, and treat him how you would like to be treated if you were the inexperienced partner.

Good luck! Wink

rubyroot · 29/09/2019 23:51

Just give it a whirl, surely? See how it goes.

Dixiechickonhols · 29/09/2019 23:53

Why not explain what you’ve said here that it’s been years since you had sex. That you like the direction things are going in but are happy to take things slowly. Maybe agree to just spend time together at conference without any expectation of sex. He obviously feels comfortable with you to confide such a big thing.

BitchyArriver · 30/09/2019 00:02

Fuck his brains out, and if you like him he’ll probably love you forever.

I don’t get ‘I need a man with experience in bed’. In bed I would rather have someone that will be told what I want and what to do Blush and do it. As a woman I know exactly what I want. Don’t need someone who knows what they’re doing necessarily?

On the other hand for a relationship it’s a big red flag if they’ve never had a partner before.

Anyway don’t ask me. I work with, ‘if it feels good, do it’ and worry about the consequences later!

Queenest · 30/09/2019 00:03

I think I’d want someone more experienced at that age tbh

Winterlife · 30/09/2019 00:03

I would have no issues with the lack of sexual experience.

IME, shy people open up over time. Get to know him.

Sotoes · 30/09/2019 00:03

He might really like it, then your only problem is him wanting to make up for the last 20 years.

Aridane · 30/09/2019 00:06

Yes, it would be a problem for me

Catsandchardonnay · 30/09/2019 00:10

Give him a chance OP. A few shags in and you’ll have forgotten he never did it before.

lborgia · 30/09/2019 00:11

Not sure if I missed it but presumably you are snogging a lot etc, and that feels good? Do you know him well enough to ask him whether he’s done anything sexual with anyone ever?

I wonder if you should look past the weekend, and see what that feels like to you.

If it’s a disaster, do you feel that you’re close enough to discuss it? Because if you don’t , you maybe shouldn’t be having sex yet. I wouldn’t say that if you were in your 20’s in the dating pond, and just enjoying yourself. But given that you have so much more going on now, you owe it to yourself not to get into something you can’t discuss like an adult.

If he had some odd ideas, do you feel open enough to ask if his main source of ideas is from porn, because life just isn’t like that?!

I agree about the potentially being autistic. (Oh, and ftr, the community I am involved in, we all describe it as being autistic, because it’s just different, not abnormal, like being British, or brunette, so I hope no one freaks about about my using the term).

I have now been married to someone for 20 years who it has finally occurred to me (and him) is autistic. As is often the case, children were diagnosed first. I’m not entirely sure that I don’t have traits myself, but we’re getting the kids settled, and then looking at our own lives/marriage.

He had slept with one person I as far as I know, and they were younger than him (as in, 20 to his 25) so not a virgin, but also pretty inexperienced.

When we first met, he was very keen to work on whatever needed doing to get it together, and it had it’s odd moments, but generally we got ourselves sorted pretty fast Smile . In hindsight, I think some of his ideas (concerns about performance, not climaxing at the same time, being keen on the idea of me being shaved etc etc ) came from porn, but, I think I didn’t even take any of it personally, and told him we weren’t in a movie, and to bugger off with the shaving thing. I can imagine taking it all far more personally these days...

Unfortunately some issues have since arisen which I’m not going to put on here for general reading, but definitely based on his later start in sex, and I suspect the autism. But I really hope I’ll be brave enough to talk to him about it, because it has impacted everything.

Happy to PM if you want, but otherwise I guess I don’t see it as any different to you getting back out there after 5 years with your new mum body, and not a ton of recent experience yourself.

Everyone is a potential disaster, and the issues you have with him are less likely, I guess, to be mind games, or crap of that kind.

I think my one suggestion would be that if I was starting again now, at this age, with kids etc (and lord knows, that may still be in my future), I’d make sure that I had what I wanted right from the start. If you can’t ask for it now, when can you?

I hope it’s fantastic Grin

PS. I’ve spent so long writing this, you’ve probably come back with some really important bit of info that renders this pointless, but your post really leapt out at me, so I hope this helped Hmm

lborgia · 30/09/2019 00:12

Or go with BitchyArriver’s advice, which is great, and true Grin

WhenPushComesToShove · 30/09/2019 00:13

Haven't read the whole thread but the devil in me wants to write, maybe he's got a micro penis and all his other birds have scarpered in horror 😈

VenusTiger · 30/09/2019 00:26

Has he ever had a gf/relationship?
Do you think, he was getting to the stage where he thought, he can’t meet someone and admit to being a virgin, so has put it off for years in fear of being rejected, but now, he doesn’t want to lose you and trusts you.

Savingforarainyday · 30/09/2019 00:34

I think it would be a problem for me because I'd be wondering why he hasn't formed any sort of commitment to anyone.
Normally by 37 people have allowed themselves to get close to people

SimonJT · 30/09/2019 06:05

It wouldn’t bother me, I was 27 the first time I had sex (choice, not a lack of opportunity) as I didn’t want to have sex with a random one night stand. My boyfriend had been a friend for a few years, so he knew, it didn’t bother him at all.

larrygrylls · 30/09/2019 06:23

Luckily you are not about to enter an arranged marriage with him. You can suck it and see (!).

He may have loads of issues, he may just be shy and that will make him very enthusiastic. Judging by the replies here, you would think you need a degree to be ‘good’ at sex, with various placements to give you experience. And the bonus is he will think that whatever you like is how sex is.

Like any relationship, just let it develop naturally and see what happens. If it works, brilliant, if it doesn’t (for whatever reason), next please....

He is a person, he is just a male person complete with a penis. There are far more important aspects of a long term relationship than what he has previously done with the aforementioned penis!

category12 · 30/09/2019 06:48

What would worry me is not the penis, but the fact he's never managed to have a relationship.

Damntheman · 30/09/2019 07:00

He's honest with you OP about something very polarising too. I'd consider that a very good sign and trait. He could have lied, a lot of people would.

I had an ex who was a virgin (admittedly in his 20s not 30s) and if he is willing to listen and learn, and you are willing to be vocal about what you like you could end up with an amazing sexual relationship. Just think, he'll have zero bad habits from previous women, you can teach him to do it exactly the way you like.

He may not even watch porn, my ex didn't.

Bloomburger · 30/09/2019 07:09

I'd go for the suck it and see approach, just not literally. If the weekend goes well and you feel a connection and want to get physical then do so, if not don't. He may be the ONE and you could miss out on a lot of happiness because you judged him on how many sexual partners he hasn't had.

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