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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I respond to ex or not?

101 replies

omghesbackagain · 06/03/2024 00:00

Regular poster but NC. Back in 2019, I was in a relationship I thought was the one. Madly in love with him. Only together 1 year but we were early 30s, making plans to move in together, talk about marriage in the future, all his friends and family said it was the happiest they'd seen him. Only complication was I was separated (2 ys at that point), and going through a divorce (that he was aware of). It was amicable and had been my decision, my ex had moved on, there was no drama except randomly towards the end it got a bit heated over a property we owned. And I was stressed about it which seemed to upset this bf.

The divorce came through and it was the day I had to move some last bits from the house I sold to my exH. This guy insisted on helping me, hired a van, and I checked multiple times he was ok with it - said he was. On the day itself, no show. No message, completely uncontactable, and I had to show up at my ex's alone who ended up having to help me move (with his new partner's help) as the f*r hadn't even given me enough notice to hire a van. Heard from him 6 hours later saying he had been too hungover, but actually he wasn't sure he could deal with my 'demands' aka me messaging asking where he was, and broke up with me.

I was devastated and confused. Covid hit a month later. He got back in contact to 'check on me' and we started talking every day. I asked him point blank if we were getting back together and he told me he wasn't ready to commit until I had therapy to deal with my feelings over the divorce - he couldn't let go of it (!!!). Had an argument, he hung up on me. And then blocked me. This was Apr 2020. Hurt like hell at the time, not so much the break up but this horrible way he did it both times.

After almost FOUR YEARS of zero contact from him, I've now had a message asking how i am and whether i was interested in meeting for closure, but he'd understand if not....!!!

The kicker is I get married next month to my wonderful DP and we are in the process of buying a house together - happiest I've ever been. In the early days of the break up, I'd fantasise about him reaching out and what I'd say to him/how I'd feel. Turns out I feel nothing but mild irritation that he's arrogant enough to think I'm still holding out for closure...

So AIBU for not wanting to respond and ghost him like he did me all those years go? OR should I send a brief thanks but no thanks? What would you do? Meeting him is definitely not an option as it just feels weird and don't want to open a can of worms.

OP posts:
Lemonade84 · 06/03/2024 00:02

I don't know why you're even considering a response. Block and ignore and enjoy your new life 🙂

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

omghesbackagain · 06/03/2024 00:05

Also to say DP knows and thinks a thanks but no thanks is better than ignoring - as he might keep reaching out. But I also don't want him to have the satisfaction of even being acknowledged.

OP posts:
SisterA · 06/03/2024 00:05

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

This is perfection

Maddy70 · 06/03/2024 00:06

Just block....

GrumpyPanda · 06/03/2024 00:06

Option C, tell him to fuck off.

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:06

I would send a brief message saying that you are getting married soon and so therefore don't need any closure and then wish him well.
What he did was scummy and it is great that you have met someone better for you. x

newyearnewknees · 06/03/2024 00:07

The sheer arrogance of him is STAGGERING! He really thinks he is that special that you are at home crying daily and looking at old photos of him.

Merryoldgoat · 06/03/2024 00:07

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

FFS.

You stole my answer.

I would definitely do this.

Enko · 06/03/2024 00:09

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:06

I would send a brief message saying that you are getting married soon and so therefore don't need any closure and then wish him well.
What he did was scummy and it is great that you have met someone better for you. x

I love this. The best revenge is living well.

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:09

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

Love it.x

ThisHonestQuail · 06/03/2024 00:13

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:06

I would send a brief message saying that you are getting married soon and so therefore don't need any closure and then wish him well.
What he did was scummy and it is great that you have met someone better for you. x

This is great, or just delete the message.

Babla · 06/03/2024 00:13

Fgs it's obvious.. block and ignore

VimFuego101 · 06/03/2024 00:15

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

Please do this.

omghesbackagain · 06/03/2024 00:16

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

This is amazing!! I'm so tempted to do this.

OP posts:
RogueFemale · 06/03/2024 00:18

Do not reply. Block.

Densol57 · 06/03/2024 00:18

itscommonsensetime · 06/03/2024 00:04

Agree to meet him, ideally a decent distance from his house. Don’t turn up. When he gets in touch to find out where you are, tell him you’re hungover and you can’t deal with his demands. And then block.

I was going to say just respond to him by blocking him. He has his answer

But then ........... I kinda like the above response much better ! 🤣

RogueFemale · 06/03/2024 00:18

omghesbackagain · 06/03/2024 00:16

This is amazing!! I'm so tempted to do this.

Don't.

Notsuredontknow · 06/03/2024 00:20

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:06

I would send a brief message saying that you are getting married soon and so therefore don't need any closure and then wish him well.
What he did was scummy and it is great that you have met someone better for you. x

I was going to say ignore him but actually I like this.

I have a “significant ex” (were on and off but together a long time, thought we were eachother’s One) and when things finally ended it was his decision and took me a long time to get over. Annoyingly years later he randomly became friends with a couple I know and charmingly informed them he had cheated on me with his now wife. I never knew this. By this point I was engaged to DP but of course it still hurt to hear. Anyway, every now and again he tries to add me on social media and I have NEVER responded. Can’t bring myself to give him the satisfaction that he thinks I’m at all interested in his life anymore. So I do understand your point of view vs your DP’s (who sounds lovely by the way!).

Babla · 06/03/2024 00:22

This is amazing!! I'm so tempted to do this.

If you are happy and about to get married I don't really get why you care

Merryoldgoat · 06/03/2024 00:40

I love this. The best revenge is living well.

Quite. That’s why it features in so
many opera plots.

Ofcourseshecan · 06/03/2024 00:42

Whatever you decide to do, OP, I’m cheering because you’re happy and he’s probably not. He wouldn’t be sending out feelers to you if his life was just fine. If karma has caught up with him — good!

Stringagal · 06/03/2024 00:50

“Who is this?”

or

”No. I closured long ago”

FirstBaba · 06/03/2024 00:56

Tlittle · 06/03/2024 00:06

I would send a brief message saying that you are getting married soon and so therefore don't need any closure and then wish him well.
What he did was scummy and it is great that you have met someone better for you. x

I like this personally. "Hi, I'm getting married soon therefore don't need closure. Hope you're good, best wishes."

If you can see he's read it, preferably block him before he replies. Closure.

Namechangedforthis25 · 06/03/2024 01:00

FirstBaba · 06/03/2024 00:56

I like this personally. "Hi, I'm getting married soon therefore don't need closure. Hope you're good, best wishes."

If you can see he's read it, preferably block him before he replies. Closure.

Edited

This. Then block and get married