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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A bit of fun or a red flag?

108 replies

Baguettecat · 19/03/2025 21:15

I'm mid-40s, divorced 6 years with three primary age school children. Not been in a relationship, not dated since leaving husband (history of psych\ and emotional abuse). Work part-time and kids with their father alternate weekends. I have felt lonely at times and yearned for physical intimacy though frankly I also largely enjoy my space and am protective of my family and myself, and I just don't meet men in my work and hardly socialise.
I joined a gym a year ago and have enjoyed an exercise class led by a young, stunning man (the class is fun and the eye candy was a bonus!). This man looks like he's in his early-mid thirties max, is not from the UK and seems isolated here socially. He invited me for lunch and honestly I didn't read too much into it he'd asked me when chatting after class about my 'fitness goals' (I don't have any) so I imagined he wanted to talk fitness and food. A bit naive but honestly, whilst I am not unattractive and do look younger than my age, I haven't looked after myself much and don't make an effort to the gym (think 10 year old leggings and bra etc). I went to lunch straight after the class without make-up, unwashed I had two hours but I worked on my laptop, whilst he showered and turned up looking slick!

Ugh! Struggling to get to the point!

Over lunch, he seemed visibly nervous, shared a lot about his personal life and past relationships (fathered 4 children from 2 mothers, all overseas) and married out of convenience to get his visa to this country the relationship he says is over and they sleep in separate rooms etc he says he's attracted to me and recalled the first time we spoke, things I did in\ out of class and got very excited when I said I thought he was very attractive too. I've said I'm not interested in a relationship-- honestly he isn't someone I see myself with in any serious way though it would be fun to mess around and maybe finally have sex with a gorgeous, sweet and safe man. But but but I will check if his wife sees the relationship as over and is aware of his intention to be with other people (he was v honest and bit too open in sharing so I feel he would be honest) and I've said that I'm not interested in anything serious though am I unreasonable to be excited about this man?

He messaged straight after our lunch, and a few more times today and says things like 'I miss you' and that frankly have put me off--is this love bombing? He guessed my age as late twenties (generally guessed more like 30s but I put that down to him being younger). I do wonder if he thinks I have money or can help him support his kids abroad. He said he'd like to meet my kids and I was direct in saying no as I don't think that's appropriate, though can't tell if he's naive, a bit dim or a potential perp in disguise.

Otherwise, he is pretty much happen book. Works all hours, is serious and enthusiastic about all things health and fitness (we both like cooking and eating so that's been a mutual topic of interest at the gym). Logistically I don't know when we would find time to meet and where --i have an elderly tenant who is home a lot and he has his wife. He has a wife. That in itself is off putting enough.

Am I getting myself into hot water?

No kids with his wife.

I'm unreasonable: nip this fantasy in the bud before it gets messy or\ and dangerous

I'm reasonable: have fun with this man. Needn't be serious and you deserve a bit of hot sex. It's been too too too long.

OP posts:
Baguettecat · 19/03/2025 22:59

Plugwug · 19/03/2025 21:54

A "sweet and safe man"?!
How on earth did you reach this conclusion based on the facts presented?

Yes you're right. That impression was formed based on no he came across as an instructor and the innocent chats in the gym. The facts present a different picture.

OP posts:
Baguettecat · 19/03/2025 23:01

Delphiniumandlupins · 19/03/2025 21:59

I think it's possible to have fun/sex with no strings but there are too many reasons not to pursue things with this man. I'm sure, now you're open to looking, you can find plenty of other options.

Yes, you're right. I haven't ever had fun\ sex with no strings, so thankfully that has meant my double thinking this. Glad I have, thanks.

OP posts:
Lavender14 · 19/03/2025 23:04

Plugwug · 19/03/2025 21:54

A "sweet and safe man"?!
How on earth did you reach this conclusion based on the facts presented?

This is what I'm wondering. He sounds awful and a walking red flag to be quite honest. I think maybe you need to have a think about what you are actually looking for op and what qualities you want in a partner before you let the fanny flutters take over completely

Baguettecat · 19/03/2025 23:05

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 19/03/2025 22:25

Good grief OP, what on earth are you thinking? He’s picked on you as he can see you’ll fall for the utter lies he’s spinning to get a quick shag. He’s married. I’m sure his wife has no idea that he’s shagging as many middle aged women from the gym as he can.

Nothing wrong with having a fling but don’t shit on your own doorstep and definitely don’t shag another woman’s husband.

Find your self respect and throw this one back. He sounds an utter sleaze.

Edited

My self respect is intact otherwise I'd have skipped to the shagging part already 🙈
Not been interested in affairs and as I said, beyond empathy for the wife, I don't want to risk her wrath or revenge.
I wouldn't be fishing this one out in the first place. Judy is out. Thank you

OP posts:
CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 19/03/2025 23:18

He’s made three major commitments involving other people that he’s not taken remotely seriously: having two children that he doesn’t see; having a further two children with someone different that he also doesn’t see; marrying another woman for convenience. He is a crap father and he is still married. Give your head a wobble, OP. His track record is telling you all you need to know. Don’t lower yourself to even a quickie with this chancer.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 19/03/2025 23:27

At best he’s just after sex, at worst he’s after money. Telling so much at the beginning is definitely a red flag, especially what he told. You should be running away from this man, very very fast. So fast in fact, you won’t need the exercise class anymore! If you do want to continue the exercise class though, shut this down immediately or it will get very awkward. I bet you’ll see him start targeting someone else before long.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 19/03/2025 23:33

Is he about to be thrown out by the woman he married for a visa? If so, will he need another visa providing woman? Wasn’t there someone recently who avoided deportation by arguing that he had a strong relationship with the child of the woman he was currently living with, although he was not the parent. 🤔

Poppyseeds79 · 19/03/2025 23:39

I wonder if you casually mentioned him to other women in the class if someone would say he's been trying it on with people 🤔

Squigglesandgiggles · 19/03/2025 23:42

This is ringing alarm bells for me. Find a new gym

healthybychristmas · 20/03/2025 04:31

He has more red flags than Chairman Mao ever had. You'd have to be absolutely insane to date him.

Guinessandafire · 20/03/2025 04:57

He'll be trying it on with loads of other women of a certain age that he can tell fancy him.

I'd give it one sex session before it emerges there is a family member that needs x amount of money for some spurious reason.

Please don't be this gullible

HelmholtzWatson · 20/03/2025 05:09

He guessed my age as late twenties

eyeroll

pinkdelight · 20/03/2025 05:24

Glad you’re definitely not pursuing this. Quite apart from the wife and all the kids, he’s full of shit with his miss you and wanting to meet your kids, and no matter how good looking he is, it’s rank that he’s using his job to eye up women exercising and shag them. You might want some no strings fun but given that it’s been 6 years and this guy’s bullshitting nature, you could easily catch feelings and get hurt and it’d get messy. It’s already made things awkward and you don’t need the aggro: if you want a fun fling, there’s plenty of guys who’d be up for it and you sound smart and attractive so no need to go for this guy just because he’s there. Better to have someone who won’t be in your life afterwards, with his wife and all the other gym women he’s targeting. Ugh. No.

RedHelenB · 20/03/2025 07:38

Poppyseeds79 · 19/03/2025 23:39

I wonder if you casually mentioned him to other women in the class if someone would say he's been trying it on with people 🤔

Good point.

Chuchoter · 20/03/2025 07:40

Ask yourself why someone so good looking and young is interested in an older woman who's only just started getting into shape?

One thing and one thing only. An easy shag because you'll be grateful.

That's the cold hard truth and I've seen it a million times. He'll work his way through all the older women and they'll all be too embarrassed to complain because they fell for his charms.

DoloresDelEriba · 20/03/2025 07:43

No, no and NO.

Fountofwisdom · 20/03/2025 07:52

He’s 💯 lining you up as his next sugar mummy when the current wife kicks him out. You are being completely deluded. He will take your money, destroy your self-esteem, blight your children’s lives.

You already know he is a liar and a criminal. Leopards don’t change their spots. If you pursue this, you are a complete fool and care more about your ego and libido than about maintaining a happy, stable life for your children.

From your glib replies, I don’t actually believe you are going to finish it, but when he ruins your life and sucks you dry financially, don’t say you weren’t warned

HenDoNot · 20/03/2025 07:53

Lots of PT’s are serial shaggers and view their workplace as a hunting ground, I’ve seen it so often and it’s always the older, out of shape, recently divorced, low self esteem but ‘just on the brink of starting to flourish’ women they target.

I’d take a wild guess that his wife has had enough of his bullshit and he’s looking for a new Sugar Mama to take care of him.

IlooklikeNigella · 20/03/2025 07:57

He just sounds too much hassle. Sorry OP. When I was 35, I had a fling with an absolutely gorgeous guy who was 25 from another country who also seemed really open and earnest.

It was A LOT of fun. We basically never got out of bed. (The funniest thing was how my own age male peers got so unsettled by him - this fella was seriously handsome.)

It did finish with a mild bit of drama from him (a tantrum basically) but he was very young. I have fond memories.

However, now with kids on both sides, a wife, having your gym regime messed up... I wouldn't risk it.

Noodge · 20/03/2025 07:58

I thought I saw you having lunch the other day OP.

A bit of fun or a red flag?
LouH1981 · 20/03/2025 08:01

I would trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t and the fact you have had to ask probably answers your question.
You sound lovely, OP and you don’t deserve to be messed about xx

ChangeTheBeds · 20/03/2025 08:21

He has left 4 kids in another country to fraudulently move here? Sounds like he's looking to have a child in this country that might enable him to stay here.

Denime · 20/03/2025 08:33

You’re considering having an affair with a married man? I don’t call that a bit of fun.

He wants to meet your children but left his own four children in another country? (Four?!)

Then he married his wife for a visa to this country?! He sounds sneaky and a bad father but you call him ‘sweet.’

Why don’t you just go online? You could meet someone today and be shagging them by the weekend.

AllTheTreesOfTheField · 20/03/2025 08:39

I am genuinely shocked that you'd even mildly consider taking up with this walking red flag after all he's told you.

Find another gym ASAP.

GoodEnoughParents · 20/03/2025 08:41

Ph3 · 19/03/2025 21:23

for me this is a bit of red flags the whole I want to meet your kids and I miss you. Too much to soon. And also I have heard/red the whole I’m only married for convenience but really his wife is not aware of this “convenience”.

Don’t do it OP
There will be other men for a bit of fun! This one is just a walking red flag