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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU or did new guy overstep boundaries

184 replies

OverThinker1981 · 04/01/2020 07:29

I have a tendency to overthink situations, so I'm not sure, about this one. I'm a single mum with two young primary age children, and I've recently decided to start dating again. I have been seeing a new man for around 4 weeks. We decided from the start to take things slow. Thursday is not my usual work day but a friend of mine swapped shifts with me so I could be with my son for his birthday. So I was doing this Thursday for her. New guy wanted to meet on Thursday but I explained I was covering a shift for a friend. Thursday comes around and I'm so ill but I think I can hold it together for the 5 hour cover I needed to do. Plus if I didn't show an important aspect of the job couldn't be completed. Thursday starts off a disaster, I drop the kids to the babysitter late, I'm ill, sneezing, coughing and generally feeling a hot mess. So I take my unruly curly hair and throw on a hideous hat, a comfy but not flattering track suit. No make up. My face is pale, my nose peeling from where I've blown it so much. Not looking my best at all but I just want to make it through the shift.

Now I work somewhere that's not too close to me, so I had no thoughts of bumping into anyone and the new guy who I was dating lived quite a distant from where I worked. So imagine how surprised I was when he popped up at my work. I was literally fuming. Its a specialist store but I would imagine he would have had to pass two other specialist stores to reach the one I was working, usually I'm in the back but I was covering a quick 30 minute break for someone. So he's shocked when he sees me looking so different and I'm shocked when I see him. I'm a bit cold and don't say much, I get him what he needs and say goodbye. I'm so upset. I text him later and say I was ill not feeling well, so didn't much bother with myself as I just wanted to get home and back in bed. He texted back, 'no worries.' He's usually seen me with straight hair, a bit of makeup and a nice outfit. So anyway when I go home I tell everyone what's happened on the family chat and they think its my fault for not dressing myself up for work. So my AIBU is did he overstep boundaries or should I have fixed myself up for work and take the blame. We haven't spoken since Thursday afternoon text, he usually texts me nightly when he finishes work, but he didn't text me Thursday or Friday night. I don't know if it's because I was cold to him, or my being ill and a hot mess put him right off. I just feel like crap. But he was always the one chirping about taking it slow, so why show up at my work after 4 weeks of knowing each other. That isn't slow in my book. I mean in the 4 weeks we've seen each other around 8 times. But showing up at someones work is kinda a big deal in my book.

OP posts:
ElsieMc · 04/01/2020 15:26

I would say he has been put off by your coldness toward him. My now dh called into my workplace when we had been seeing each other a few months, supposedly returning my umbrella. My colleagues all rushed to reception to give him the once over and my closest older friend said he was a keeper because of his kindness, pleasantness etc. I didnt feel embarassed but I was in my work get up and felt fine.

If it is anything to do with your appearance, get rid immediately op. When I was very young I went out with a guy who was obsessed with appearance, told me my bum was fat and my clothes were square. I have never forgotten his look of distaste when I went to the door for a night out. He also gave me a critique of what my friends said about my appearance. He was unkind and cruel but quite a lot of girls went for him. He wasn't even that great looking really, but had expensive clothes, haircuts, worked out etc. I should have realised there was a reason why his previous perfectly nice girlfriends were exes. He was indiscreet about them and just a horrible person.

I wouldn't pursue this further op. It has resurrected your lack of confidence in your appearance and you have resorted to coldness because you were embarassed. A kind man would have checked how you were rather than simply saying "no worries".

feelinglost02 · 04/01/2020 17:29

There's so much bad advice on this thread. The mind boggles. If anything she's shown too much interest and has over invested in a fledgling relationship. He's not interested given the fact he's not set up a date for this week. Texting him and chasing him won't change that. He may sleep with her a few more times and that'll be about it. Op sounds vulnerable to me and needs to sort out her boundaries when dating

Adarajames · 04/01/2020 19:06

You’ve only known him a few weeks and you’re already having him stay over?! Hope
You don’t have kids at home at the same time then! You need to take your time and not rush everything or obsess so much about your appearance! You’d be better off getting some therapy for low self esteem, and then consider going back to dating when you aren’t so thrown by someone seeing you when you’re not ‘perfect’!

OverThinker1981 · 04/01/2020 21:26

Hi everyone, I thought I'd give everyone an update. Also the kids have never met him, they've been with their father when he's stayed over. I don't intend for them to meet anyone till around 6 months, when I consider it serious, I know people will say 1 year but I think 6 months is okay.

I did send a text, I didn't mention anything about Thursday. I just sent a light breezy text asking how his day was going. He replied saying it was going well and ended the text with a 'x'. I'm not sure as its still early days but he seems to still be interested I think. Obviously I'll know more as the week progresses. Also I didn't put an x after my message asking how he was, if that makes any difference.

I know I have low self esteem. But to be fair I can't afford to go to counselling, I can however, read a few books and try to make a few changes.

I have quite a lot of issues, and I understand to a lot of you, its not a big deal, and I hope I get there, when it isn't a big issue for me also.

OP posts:
Nanna50 · 04/01/2020 22:00

Did you acknowledge and apologise for being rude? Nothing heavy just that you were feeling ill. On the off chance that he is control freak one apology won’t matter, but if he’s not it could make a difference.

Do you know when you will see him again?

huuskymam · 04/01/2020 22:06

You've had a lucky escape, it's a huge red flag for him to show up at your work. Sounds to me like hes checking up on you cause you couldn't meet him.

PollyPelargonium52 · 05/01/2020 08:54

I think you are wrong if you continue to see him after this happened.

DecemberSnow · 05/01/2020 22:07

He went to your work, to make sure you was working...

You was ill... You should never "do" yourself up for others, only yourself and if he cant take you at your worst, he definitely does not deserve you at your best.

Run. Run now

Bluerussian · 06/01/2020 22:25

DecS :-).

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