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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What is a reasonable time frame in which to move on? (Relationship)

9 replies

Ageingisaprivilegedeniedtomany · 09/12/2023 16:08

If you've ended a relationship (I ended one a fortnight ago because he didn't want to get married, together several years, no kids).
There's somebody I like, haven't been looking but met him unexpectedly. Haven't heard a word from my ex really but he understood why I ended it.
I'm still hurting obviously, but in the past it could take me many months if not years to get over someone, the only way I ever truly got over people was by developing feelings for someone else.
On the other hand I don't like the thought of jumping straight from one thing to another, as the other person may think they're just a rebound thing and it also feels disrespectful to an ex (even if they didn't want to commit etc.)
Just wondered what a 'reasonable' time frame is to move on? I've no idea when I'll be fully over my ex tbh. I'm also of an age where I can't leave it too many years if I want children.

OP posts:
Ageingisaprivilegedeniedtomany · 09/12/2023 16:09

My last LTR ended around 8 years ago after 3 years because he cheated, I started looking on dating sites pretty much immediately because I was hurting, but didn't end up dating anyone until 6 months afterwards.

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Mercurial123 · 09/12/2023 16:10

3 to 6 months. You need to find happiness within yourself rather than being happy by being in a relationship, if that makes sense?

Ageingisaprivilegedeniedtomany · 09/12/2023 16:11

Yes you're right. Then part of me wonders what if this other bloke isn't around in 3-6 months and I left it too late? I guess it's tough luck..

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StarlightLady · 09/12/2023 19:30

One week? The best way to get over someone is to get under someone.

Snowpatrolling · 09/12/2023 19:33

Whenever you feel ready, what works for you won’t necessarily work for someone else. If that’s 1 week 1 month 1 year, what’s it to anyone else?

Ageingisaprivilegedeniedtomany · 09/12/2023 19:56

To tell the truth when I was 21 I broke up with my boyfriend of 3 years because I felt too young to be tied down, he hadn't done anything wrong. For some reason I thought it'd be a good idea to go on a date with someone 3 days after that, which looking back was obviously a rebound. Ended up being intimate with this bloke on our date.
Confided in some friends and word got round, the ex found out. Honestly I was treated like the devil incarnated, some of my own friends were really angry at me, his Mum blanked me when she saw me in the street, and understandably the ex was destroyed.
The other guy wasn't the reason I left, it was someone I'd literally only just met, but I was young and stupid.
Honestly I got to the point of feeling suicidal over it and I felt that I'd have to move to a new town because I was terrified of seeing him or people who knew us.
Looking back I did overreact, I could completely understand why he was so hurt of course but other people were treating me like the scum of the earth. Even today I still feel guilt over it, 11 years later.

OP posts:
Olika · 09/12/2023 20:10

Whenever you feel ready. I broke up with my ex boyfriend in a mid February and continued online dating from same evening. Met my now DH 6 weeks later.

Curlywurlycaz2 · 09/12/2023 20:14

It all depends on how and why you broke up TBH. I get the whole finding someone else to get them off your mind thing. But in all honesty, I have seen my ex move on IMO quickly after our 20+ relationship ended and it really fucking hurt me more than the relationship ending TBH. I feel like I didn't mean anything to him at all if he can go and move on with someone else within a few months.

Ageingisaprivilegedeniedtomany · 09/12/2023 20:18

I left him because he wouldn't commit to me, not sure if that changes anything?

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