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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I asking too much in early stages of relationship?

88 replies

Matissevangogh · 18/04/2024 23:31

Dating a new guy - it’s only been a couple of months. He has been single for a while and has built himself a very rich and full life of hobbies and friends to occupy himself otherwise, I suppose. He’s very extroverted and really throws himself into whatever he gives his time and attention to - he has multiple sporting hobbies, he dedicates a lot of time and attention to his job, and has a huge network of friends and acquaintances that he regularly meets for coffees, dinners, drinks etc. He’s currently learning a language and is also on a training course to volunteer for a charity. If a colleague at work is upset or needs help, he’ll take hours out of his day to assist or support. He also has issues sleeping, so needs more sleep than I do. He also usually goes to bed fairly early (but also wakes up much earlier than I do - I’m a night owl whilst he’s a lark).

Here’s my issue - his life is so rich and full that I don’t really feel like my needs regarding attention, texts/calls and time spent together are not being met. From the minute he wakes up, he’s go go go. He doesn’t check his phone at work very much, and if he does it will only be for a couple of minutes, so his texts during the day are fleeting and short. I am fairly understanding about this. However, after work (he leaves at 6/7pm), he’ll usually be off doing some activity or meeting some friend and again, I don’t really get any satisfactory responses to my texts (in fact I feel like he doesn’t read them properly and just skims through them half the time). When we speak on the phone, it’s usually as he’s walking to/from one destination to another (eg from work to an activity; from a hobby to home); or if he is at home, I can tell I’m on speakerphone whilst he cooks/brushes his teeth/showers. I just never feel like he has time for me to give me the kind of depth of attention and time that I want to feel secure in the relationship. I continuously question how interested he is in me as a result.

When we see each other in person, he does dedicate his full time and attention to me, and I don’t question whether he’s interested in me. I feel like his main priority. However, our opportunities for seeing each other in person are also limited. He asked very early on that we avoid meeting on weeknights because our sleeping habits are so misaligned that I would deprive him of sleep and he’d be exhausted for the rest of the week. This is not untrue, but I can cope with the lack of sleep - he can’t. So I feel like I have been relegated to just seeing him on weekends, but this feels unsustainable, as if either one of us has to miss a weekend due to other plans, we go weeks without seeing each other.

Is this a compatibility issue, or am I being unreasonable in my requests for time and attention, in the sense of expecting somebody to give up or deprioritise other activities and things to make a significant amount of time for me?

OP posts:
stoneyfaces · 19/04/2024 09:43

I willingly give up my own pre-arranged plans to make the time to accompany him

yeah never do this. Don’t be that person who drops friends or plans for a guy.

He sounds very sorted in life to be honest and like he wants a partner, but doesn’t need one. You sound more like you need someone else to make your life complete. You don’t sound compatible.

hobocock · 19/04/2024 12:21

I just never feel like he has time for me to give me the kind of depth of attention and time that I want to feel secure in the relationship

Then it's a non-starter and time to move on.

It's not about who is reasonable and who is unreasonable. There's a mismatch between your wants and needs. You want/need more attention and time from him. He wants/needs a lot of time for his friends and his hobbies and a girlfriend he sees from time to time.

Obviously, it's very early days so you couldn't expect him to give up things to spend more time with you but there's no guarantee that if it went on longer that he would find time.
I'm afraid men like this often stay like this.

To be honest, it doesn't sound like he has time for a relationship and that isn't bothered. Maybe he wants something a bit more casual/less time intensive.

I think you should let this one go

kalokagathos · 19/04/2024 12:38

There's nothing wrong with him at all and nothing wrong with you. You are not compatible and will resent each other if you compromise. Best to walk away early

LeafLead · 19/04/2024 12:41

Did he suggest you label it a relationship?

Like pps say it sounds more like casual dating

If he's insisting he's occupied during the week (especially as it sounds like random optional stuff he's sought out that is hardly essential to his career or life progress!) then he can hardly complain if you treat it like friends/casual dates and look to meet others!

Beware the future-faker...I've found often guys can lobby for labelling something a relationship early on, or getting the Feelz involved, as that means they get the woman making more effort/being on standby.

If he wants casual, he can find a woman who wants something similar or someone with similar scheduling. And yes this might be someone older or busy with children!

Many men like the ego boost of having a younger childfree woman chase them or being "available" or begging to spend time with them when they're unavailable.

It's all power and ego games.

AE9766 · 19/04/2024 12:45

OP - have you been to his home?

Many of the things you point out in your initial post set my "possibly married" alarm bells ringing.

HedgehogHighway · 19/04/2024 12:52

You shouldn’t give up your pre arranged plans for him because in a way yours are more precious because they are less frequent. He’s doing stuff all the time so should more easily be able to drop that to make time for you. I think you should date other people. Keep your options open.

FinallyHere · 19/04/2024 15:23

my needs regarding attention, texts/calls and time spent together are not being met.

It's not unreasonable to notice this and decide what you are going to do in the situation in which you find yourself.

It is v v unreasonable to stick around hoping that he will suddenly decide to change.

If he invites me to spend time with him, I willingly give up my own pre-arranged plans to make the time to accompany him - and I don’t feel like he does the same in return, which I guess is why I’m left questioning his interest.

Don't do this. Just don't. Sorry.

RomeoRivers · 19/04/2024 15:43

You’re not compatible. Just walk away.

queenofcruises · 19/04/2024 15:59

he's clearly been single a while for a reason. he's made a little life for himself, which is all about him and anyone wanting to be a part of that life has to fit around what he wants and the last thing he wants or needs is a needy girlfriend.

you clearly need more from a relatiionship than he does, he wants someone to fit in with his life, without causing an unheval.

there is nothing wrong with how he lives his life, and there is nothing wrong with you needing more... but i don't think its worth progressing the relationship.

its only been a couple of months, so i'd be removing myself now before feelings get involved and you end up getting hurt

Ohwellithappens · 19/04/2024 19:37

Basically having a relationship after many years single requires some adjustment. OP you're not asking too much or being needy. I'm fact as it's the early stages of your relationship it's the time to show interest and commitment to developing the relationship and getting to know each other.
There's a different to life as a single person to one in a relationship, there's only so many hours in a day. He sounds like a single person who wants a relationship to squish into the time when he doesn't have any activity planned and this sounds very much on his terms. It sounds to me like you're invested in the relationship and he is take it or leave it.
A lot of men I know say they don't want a casual relationship but then don't want to change any aspects of their life to nurture a relationship.

QuackaRoo · 19/04/2024 19:43

It sounds to me like you're both quite mature and aware of your own wants and needs.
He sounds great, but maybe you're not really compatible enough to make a long term thing out of this without one of you making big sacrifices.

Do you honestly see a future with him, without him having to give up his joys and current lifestyle?

MissHarrietBede · 19/04/2024 21:59

He sounds great
He really really does not.

meganorks · 19/04/2024 22:19

My first question was going to be how old are you and where are you hoping this would go. But I see from your updates that he is saying he wants marriage and children. But if he isn't willing to make time for you now, how exactly do you think this would go if you got married and had kids?! There are enough threads on here to tell you he would continue like this if you were married and tell you ' you knew xyz before we had kids' etc. He isn't looking for a partner he is looking for someone he likes enough to have kids with who will take care of all that for him and let him continue to live his life. Or that's a blag and he is just after a shag as and when it suits him. Either way, not very appealing!

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