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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My GF wants to keep seeing friend she dated and kissed

85 replies

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:06

We have been dating for a year and it's been rocky from the start. She cheated on me earlier in the year with a guy she met at the bar where she liked to go and play pool, insisting for months that I had nothing to worry about when I expressed my concerns. After I found out, she continued to secretly see this guy for another month before she finally stopped. There's a lot more messed up behavior about this period that I'll leave out.

Fast forward to a months ago, we didn't officially get back together but we've basically been acting like a couple for the last six months. I met a girl, hit it off, and we dated for a week (two dates) but found we had ideological differences that were't compatible and she found out she was moving far away and that was pretty much the end of that. I barely really got to know her and we didn't do anything physical. It really upset my ex, but I told her I had to at least try and move on. She messaged me constantly during that week telling me she loves only me and doesn't want to be with anyone else.

The week after things ended with my date, my ex tells me she's dating a guy. They met 6 days in a row and they made out (that's as much as she'll tell me). I thought "Wow, what happened to 'you want only me'".

She stopped seeing after he turned her down because a vision he had told him she wasn't the one, and we got back together the next week.

That's the context. My issue is that we both want to keep in touch with the people we dated. She sees this dude every weekend at the markets and they have coffee. At first I thought it this was unplanned,but I found out later she had been messaging him to organize it. They also go to church together every Sunday. I haven't seen my date in over a month, and we message irregularly.

I don't want her to keep seeing her dude because they obviously had a much more intense dating experience and she kissed him multiple times, and the only reason she didn't keep dating him was because he had some BS dream that could change any minute. And they're still seeing each other every week! Compared to my situation, we went on two dates, held hands once, and were both adult enough to know a relationship wouldn't work with our opposing views. We're just friends. She swears there's nothing going on, "they have boundaries" (what a relief), and she wants to be able to have friends. I'm also being controlling and need to see a therapist for my jealousy. Her female friend agrees with her.

We talked about it and how it's a boundary for me, and she can choose friends with this guy or a relationship with me. She apparently understood that our situations are different and I should be able to keep in contact with my female friend. She agreed to stop meeting with the guy outside of Church and that was that. Queue last week, she messages me at 9pm saying she wants to have coffee with the guy in the morning, she's already messaged him about it, and I can't stop her having friends.

Am I being a hypocrite by putting my foot down and saying she can't go out of her way to keep seeing this guy while I keep in contact with my friend? Happy to give more detail if needed.

tl:dr Gf and I broke up briefly and dated other people. She kissed him and had 6 dates, he broke it off after having a "vision". I held hands and went on two, and we stopped because of differing beliefs. She organizes to see her date regularly and has constant contact, I haven't seen mine but we message sometimes. We both want to keep being friends with our dates, and I don't want her to keep seeing hers. She agreed to stop seeing him, and then broke that agreement. Am I a hypocrite? Any advice or thoughts please.

OP posts:
stayathomer · 07/09/2024 05:14

You’ve both been together such a short amount of time! Maybe you weren’t sure you were dating etc but once you decided you were if either of you was with anyone else then you’re essentially done.. It sounds like so much drama- talk it out see if you want the same things. And yes it sounds a bit hypocritical. Best of luck

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:20

You both sound far too young to be dating with this kind of toxic behaviour.

But yes, to answer your question, you do sound like a hypocrite and you are being controlling. If you get to be friends with your "ex" (I'm using this term loosely), she gets to be friends with hers. It's not up to you to decide the level of maturity she has in terms of keeping things platonic with her exes. If you're "adult enough" to have dated someone and moved on, so is she.

Either accept it or walk away.

Personally, I think you need to mature quite a bit before considering entering another relationship.

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:24

Thanks for the replies. Given the difference in our situations, you both still think I'm being unreasonable? Can you explain why at all so I can understand this point of view? If the situation was reversed, would you like your partners to keep seeing someone they were intimate with on such a regular basis?

I have no issue with her having male friends, just not one she's made out with, was seeing with intention to have a relationship with, and would have continued to see if he didn't call it off.

OP posts:
GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:31

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:24

Thanks for the replies. Given the difference in our situations, you both still think I'm being unreasonable? Can you explain why at all so I can understand this point of view? If the situation was reversed, would you like your partners to keep seeing someone they were intimate with on such a regular basis?

I have no issue with her having male friends, just not one she's made out with, was seeing with intention to have a relationship with, and would have continued to see if he didn't call it off.

Because there's no real difference. She "made out" with someone. You didn't. Big fucking wow. I'm assuming you're a teenager if you're still getting so hung up over a bit of kissing.

Either way, it doesn't matter. She's not with him anymore. You don't get to assume how she feels about him. Personally, I think it's bizarre that you're swapping personal information like this anyway. Who goes into detail about their encounters with other partners? But in this case she has told you, and it's up to you whether you stay or not, but you cannot stop her from being friends with him especially when you're friends with your ex.

As for partners exes - I'm very good friends with my husband's ex partner. She and I do drinks and dinner every few months. I couldn't care less that they used to sleep together, she's lovely. I'm also very happy for her and him to be friends, too.

5128gap · 07/09/2024 05:34

Please cut out all this 'if the situation were reversed' nonsense. It just makes it sound like you've deliberately posted it to try to catch women out in 'double standards' which us very tiresome. If you choose to ask a predominantly female audience, yours going to get people advising from your GFs perspective. Anyhow, personally I think you should leave this relationship. You've had a lot if issues in a short time, and in all honesty I don't think she really wants you at all. I think you dating someone else simply sparked a flurry of panic at losing your attention and when she got it back she didn't want it anymore. She is still at the stage where she is interested in other men and you are not the person to make her give that up and commit. You need to move on.

Dragonsandcats · 07/09/2024 05:37

I think you should move on and find someone else- it sounds hard work at an early stage of your relationship.

andfinallyhereweare · 07/09/2024 05:39

This all sounds as mad as a box of frogs. Break up.

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:40

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:31

Because there's no real difference. She "made out" with someone. You didn't. Big fucking wow. I'm assuming you're a teenager if you're still getting so hung up over a bit of kissing.

Either way, it doesn't matter. She's not with him anymore. You don't get to assume how she feels about him. Personally, I think it's bizarre that you're swapping personal information like this anyway. Who goes into detail about their encounters with other partners? But in this case she has told you, and it's up to you whether you stay or not, but you cannot stop her from being friends with him especially when you're friends with your ex.

As for partners exes - I'm very good friends with my husband's ex partner. She and I do drinks and dinner every few months. I couldn't care less that they used to sleep together, she's lovely. I'm also very happy for her and him to be friends, too.

It's a difference to me because of the connection they have.

Would you still be ok if your husband kept seeing his ex every week, just the two of them?

OP posts:
Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:42

5128gap · 07/09/2024 05:34

Please cut out all this 'if the situation were reversed' nonsense. It just makes it sound like you've deliberately posted it to try to catch women out in 'double standards' which us very tiresome. If you choose to ask a predominantly female audience, yours going to get people advising from your GFs perspective. Anyhow, personally I think you should leave this relationship. You've had a lot if issues in a short time, and in all honesty I don't think she really wants you at all. I think you dating someone else simply sparked a flurry of panic at losing your attention and when she got it back she didn't want it anymore. She is still at the stage where she is interested in other men and you are not the person to make her give that up and commit. You need to move on.

I think it's a pertinent question. It's only relevant if there is a double standard.

OP posts:
Cherryana · 07/09/2024 05:42

I also think you need to break up.

Church life where there is an expectation that who you date becomes your husband/wife is very pressuring and often leads to unhealthy dynamics. This has already got a lot of red flags. Move on.

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:44

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:40

It's a difference to me because of the connection they have.

Would you still be ok if your husband kept seeing his ex every week, just the two of them?

I can see that, but that's your problem to deal with, not hers.

Do you have an issue with reading comprehension? I've literally just told you that my husband and his ex are friends. Of course I don't have a problem with them spending time together alone. They can do it as frequently as they like; they're grown adults and I trust my husband. I'm also not insecure.

You're really desperate to get someone to say they'd have a problem if they were you. Big hint; grown ups don't give a fuck about a few dates. Grow up.

MovingTooFast121 · 07/09/2024 05:45

Are you 15?

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:44

I can see that, but that's your problem to deal with, not hers.

Do you have an issue with reading comprehension? I've literally just told you that my husband and his ex are friends. Of course I don't have a problem with them spending time together alone. They can do it as frequently as they like; they're grown adults and I trust my husband. I'm also not insecure.

You're really desperate to get someone to say they'd have a problem if they were you. Big hint; grown ups don't give a fuck about a few dates. Grow up.

Edited

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

OP posts:
GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 05:52

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

Clearly. Because you're an insecure little man with control issues. Why don't you try Reddit? Plenty of incels over there who'll give you the answers you want.

GreyCarpet · 07/09/2024 06:00

Joeyjoejoe · 07/09/2024 05:49

I would have an issue if my partner continued seeing an ex twice a week. I guess that's a different topic...

You can, of course, have a different opinion to anyone on here in terms of what is acceptable to you in a relationship.

Personally, I chose not to date men who had very close friendships with exes and that is just as fine and reasonable as *GiddyRobin *and her partner and his ex all being friends.

Because people have different boundaries.

But I'm going to highlight the important part of the above...

I chose not to date men...

You can choose not to date someone for any reason you choose, but trying to control the choices of someone you are dating so that you feel more comfortable is abuse.

GiddyRobin · 07/09/2024 06:04

GreyCarpet · 07/09/2024 06:00

You can, of course, have a different opinion to anyone on here in terms of what is acceptable to you in a relationship.

Personally, I chose not to date men who had very close friendships with exes and that is just as fine and reasonable as *GiddyRobin *and her partner and his ex all being friends.

Because people have different boundaries.

But I'm going to highlight the important part of the above...

I chose not to date men...

You can choose not to date someone for any reason you choose, but trying to control the choices of someone you are dating so that you feel more comfortable is abuse.

Perfectly put. Boundaries in relationships are absolutely reasonable (and important!) things to have.

OP is choosing another road entirely; one of control. That's what's unhealthy here.

Illpickthatup · 07/09/2024 06:04

It should be this hard only one year in. Too much drama. Cut ties and move on.

GuestFeatu · 07/09/2024 06:05

YABU for being in a relationship that has been rocky from the start. It's not meant to be so hard.

GRex · 07/09/2024 06:19

It isn't appropriate for you to try to control your girlfriend's behaviour nor friends. It may be that she's keeping him on ice for when you two next split or argue, or just enjoying the friendship. It does sound reasonable from your story's perspective not to trust that she will manage to keep things platonic and to break up. In fact, you can break up for any reason at all, you don't even need to give an explanation. Find someone without all the on and off drama, life'll be much easier if you're with someone who knows they actually want you.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 07/09/2024 06:29

When I was in my 20s I had a years relationship with a lovely guy. Fancied him like anything and we had a great sexual relationship
We wanted different things in life so split amicably but he became my best friend.
We saw each other regularly still and he is part of my life
I married and he is godfather to our eldest.
My husband knows our background and knows I see him every couple of weeks for coffee/dinner/cinema as a friend
Do I still think he is gorgeous - yes
Would I sleep with him or kiss him sexually - no
Do I hug him hello and goodbye and kiss him on the cheek - yes
My husband is fine with this because he trusts me and that’s what it comes down to.
You can’t force someone to be with you and you don’t own them
If you don’t trust her to be with this man then there is an issue with either you or your relationship
If the issue is your relationship then is over. If it’s you then that’s fine, it’s who you are, but let her go and let her be who she is. Find someone that shares your beliefs about no regular contact with ex lovers.

curlywurlymum · 07/09/2024 06:44

You’re in a polyamorous relationship, just go with the flow.

Mummyoflittledragon · 07/09/2024 06:57

she can choose friends with this guy or a relationship with me

This is what she means by controlling. You’re dictating her behaviour. If your boundary is that you won’t date her whilst she keeps in contact with this guy, it’s for you to modify your behaviour and end things with her.

angellinaballerina7 · 07/09/2024 07:02

So much drama. Just break up, this isn’t a great relationship. It really doesn’t matter who’s a hypocrite or not, it’s hardly very “adult” of either of you to be attempting to continue this.

Hateam · 07/09/2024 07:02

I think both of you need to break up and grow up

If this is how the two of you manage adult relationships then neither of of you are likely to build a successful partnership even if all you want is a boyfriend/girlfriend for a few laughs.

Noseybookworm · 07/09/2024 07:03

This relationship sounds a bit ridiculous to be honest. Way too much drama 🙄 she's obviously not prepared to stop seeing this other guy so you have a choice - put up with it or break up.