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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that inexperience can ruin relationships?

6 replies

annsumners · 16/10/2019 21:57

I have been dating my DP for eight months. He is wonderful. I love him very much. I have never felt more comfortable or alive with anyone before him. I have had a serious of shit-arse boyfriends in the past who have been abusive wankers. DP is super clever, attractive and modest. He is funny and caring. He makes me feel at home. I have never experienced anything close to this.

He has never had a girlfriend before me. He is in his 30s, and has had few sexual encounters. When he first told me about his lack of relationship history and his (3) sexual partners, I was quite nervous. I was really weary about the sex side of things to be honest, because we waited a very long time to have sex and I thought his inexperience would make it awful. But it wasn't, and it never has been an issue. The sex is amazing.

However, I do think the lack of previous relationships for him is putting a lot of strain on us.

He seems to have a very idealized view of relationships and how "things should be". Any time we seem to have a disagreement or I have a concern about something, he seems to fall apart. In terms of thinking we should split up, we aren't right for each other, and will usually get very subdue and moody. He seems to think that any interaction that is not overly positive or loving is a sign of incompatibility (e.g. me for example saying I would prefer to speak after work rather than lunch time). He's never nasty - quite the opposite, almost really really sad. Twice now he has "ended" the relationship because he thought it wasn't how a relationship should be and that he was confused. These were over issues I know other men wouldn't think twice about.

Secondly, he is not very accommodating with plans. For example, I was recently very ill (after a discharge from hospital) and he was "looking after me", but did not even consider not doing his hobby that evening. I understand this to some extent, he has been on his own and not had to consider the needs of someone else before.

Everyone I mention this to seems to tell me DP is abusive or selfish, but I don't think that is the case. My first relationship was when I was 17, and it's like he has my mindset that I had then! That relationships are all lovey dovey interactions and always smooth sailing - kind of like the mantra that you don't need to "make it" work with "the one".

How can we get over this? I know he loves me too, as he actually got into the relationship in the first place! (he is very socially shy and in his own words weary of people and relationships). But, I am honestly worried his inexperience could make our future difficuilt

OP posts:
MissPepper8 · 16/10/2019 22:21

I don't think he's inexperienced, I actually think he's just stuck in his ways or seems (from what you have said) that he doesn't deal well with things if it isn't going a certain way.

Do you think he has something like autism? I say this as it sounds very similar to a family member and their partner. Struggled socially with friendships and relationships, together I'd say they are quite mild on the autism scale, but do everything very structurally, dont like change to things (if they have plans, they won't accommodate any other and have often cancelled and not spoken to us) and end relationships quite abruptly.

I think this is one of those things where you love them for them, accept this is just their personality or end the relationship if you need that much more from them (and from what it sounds, it doesn't sound like he is ever going to change).

TitianaTitsling · 16/10/2019 22:25

I can possibly see selfish in what you've said re not 'looking after you' how you expected, but abusive? How ill were you and how long would you have been left unsupported for?

TitianaTitsling · 16/10/2019 22:27

And I don't see how the number of sexual partners really matters! What's wrong with only 3?

which1 · 16/10/2019 22:27

Hmm, reminds me of a man I was with for a while who thought that there was a way that things 'should be'.

It wasn't good...

ClemDanFango · 16/10/2019 22:31

He sounds extremely immature and borderline controlling (if things do exactly how he thinks they should he ends it) it’s like he’s trying to mould you in the woman he wants and when you don’t fall in line he manipulates you with ‘sadness’ or ends it, probably to make you behave in a certain way to prevent him dumping you again.

ClemDanFango · 16/10/2019 22:31

if things don’t go exactly... sorry fat fingers

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