Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for ignoring my ex and not giving him a reason for our breakup/closure?

51 replies

traumallama07 · 04/05/2026 16:23

Sorry, this is a long one.

I (38f) had been friends with a guy (41m) since I was about 15. He was always interested in me, but the timing never seemed right. He once paid the back taxes on the house of a relative of mine that he never met just for me so she could keep her house (which happened to be the house I grew up in). He eventually got married and had 2 kids. We didn't talk for about 5 years or so, as I didn't think it was appropriate. He then got a divorce. Around the time he was divorcing, he came back into my life (we ended up reconnecting through my relative, who was selling the house and wanted to give him the money back).

Ultimately, we got together but broke up about year later. I have not explained to him my reasons for breaking up and I've been ignoring his calls and texts. Here are my reasons (basically in order of importance):

  1. I, like a responsible adult, insisted on us getting tested for STDs before continuing any unprotected activities. This was very important to me because I had a childhood friend die of AIDS, a friend's bf cheated and got HIV and almost gave it to here, and, most importantly, I was SA'd by a man who had HIV (I am clean though). I am therefore paranoid about STIs. I was celibate for like 10 years before we got together. I told him this and he's aware of my trauma. He never got tested.
  2. My mother was murdered. He made a big show about how he would be there for me and would come to the funeral but just had to check with his boss. It took 3 weeks to schedule it because it was crime and evidence needed to be collected, etc. During that time, I asked him repeatedly when he would by flying in and what his plans were (he's out of the country a lot for work). I asked him at least 4 times, to the point where I felt like I was hounding him while I'm trying to grieve. I finally got an answer the day before the funeral when he said he couldn't get off work. He didn't even send a card. 3). Never knew who my dad was. I went on AncestryDNA in 2018 to hopefully find him. Literally 2 weeks after my mother's funeral, we matched! I told him about, all excitedly. His reaction was "that's cool, I guess..." And then for the next month didn't ask me a single question about it. My father and friends and family members kept asking me what my boyfriend thought of it all, and I kept saying I didn't know. We hadn't spoken about it. I finally broke up with him when I realized that.
  3. My mother's funeral was 4 days before my birthday. He was still out of the country but never called or texted to wish me happy birthday. I initiated the contact that day and told him that it was hard to celebrate because of what happened with my mom.

Other reasons....
5) I always had to travel to wherever he was to see him (using my PTO and my money to travel). He never ONCE came to see me.
6) I have narcolepsy and struggle with daytime sleepiness. So I have a hard time staying awake for work. I asked him not to call or text me in the middle of the night and respect my sleep. He would still call and text at 2-3 am. I know he was in a different time zone, but he could have looked up what time it was where I am.
7) I also asked him not to call or text me during working hours. He still did.
8) When I told him I thought we should take a break from dating (haven't yet told him the reasons why), his first response was to attack me, saying he didn't think I was serious about him (despite me breaking my 10-yr celibacy due to trauma for him) because every time he called, I wouldn't be available or would have an attitude (see reasons #6 and 7 as to why I had an attitude - and for the record, I always called him back, but he would take days or weeks to call or text me back when he was away but then love bomb me when he was back)
9) When he called (during work hours) to discuss it, I told him I didn't want to talk about it then, but I'd be available between noon and 1 when I took my lunch. I called him twice during that hour and texted once. He never responded. Didn't hear from him again until the following week when he texted "miss u" which I ignored.
10) A week later, he accused me of ghosting him. I said that's rich coming from you. He claimed I never picked up and then he left the country, but he was back and wanted to discuss it. I told him he was in the country the day he called to talk about it originally during work hours. I called on my lunch as I said I would and he disappeared for a week. He didn't respond to that.
11) Disappeared again for another week and then texted me "u up?" at 10:00 pm. I've been ignoring him every since.
12) He would just generally claim to have called or texted whenever I accused him of being absent, but my call log or texts wouldn't show anything, so I always felt like I was being gaslit.

Given our over 20-year friendship, AIBU for ignoring him?

OP posts:
independentfriend · 05/05/2026 18:26

I think if he's in your extended family + friends circle you might be better giving a bland explanation 'not working for me, happy to be in touch in about six months to see if/how we fit together as friends + how we navigate events we might both attend'

Don't think he's entitled to an explanation and it's not unreasonable to avoid giving him one.

SteveHill · 05/05/2026 18:30

You are right to break up with him, but I do think it is fair that you give him an explanation. Perhaps a similar experience on my part might explain my reasoning.

22 years ago, my first wife died. Within weeks my best (male) friend of 30 years, who had been supportive throughout my wife's terminal illness and had regularly visited, simply ghosted me, along with his wife (over whom he has always been controlling). I have not seen or heard from either of them since.

To this day, I have absolutely no idea why he did this. We had been both friends and work colleagues for decades; we had regularly taken holidays together as a foursome. To be dumped just after my wife died is unfathomable.

I have been somewhat shattered by this experience, and had counselling for a while. I doubt I will ever be over it completely.

But I would have been able to move on with my life more easily if I knew why.

I would just cut and paste your OP into a message to your ex saying "this is why".

Pessismistic · 05/05/2026 18:50

Op sorry for your loss how horrible for you. I personally would just text it’s not a good time and we’re not a good fit that why’s we were always just friends.

ThisJadeBear · 05/05/2026 19:01

Your mum was murdered and you are worried about this idiot?
You have an awful lot going on, more than most of us would ever have to think of, and you are going to drive yourself into the ground.
But I still think it might help you in the long run to end things properly.
’Hi Steve,
You have been in my life for such a long time, I did not want to walk out of your life without explanation.
I am still coming to terms with losing my mum and need time to grieve properly.
Due to the differences in the way we live, I think it’s best to end things between us here.
I would be grateful if you would respect my decision, and for both of our sakes, I think it would be best if we have no further contact.’
Job done.

Dancingintherain09 · 05/05/2026 19:37

Maybe just send the link to this post 🤣 he may get the message.

worldshottestmom · 05/05/2026 20:05

Wow so many people on here are truly vile. The raw, vulnerable things this woman has shared only to receive callous, blunt responses. Have some compassion.

I can see why you wouldn't want to bother providing him an explanation. He's messed you around to the nth degree and it feels like you're serving him further by explaining all of this, when he clearly shows very little care for anything other than himself - despite knowing everything you have been through.

If I were you I would ask myself what is my goal here. You don't want to waste more time having a back and forth over the reasons you ended the relationship, but you also want him to leave you alone. If my ultimate goal was for this man to leave me alone, I would send the reasons in the OP, making it clear that is why it has ended and will not be restarted, and if his response is anything other than an apology and taking responsibility (i.e. trying to debate every reason) then I would just block him. Move on with your life and don't waste anymore time on him. Yes he has helped you/your relative in the past, but his present day behaviour is anything but helpful. Just move on.

I'd like to extend my condolences about your mother, and the SA, my heart sank when I read those parts. Look after yourself OP. You don't owe him anything.

worldshottestmom · 05/05/2026 20:10

SteveHill · 05/05/2026 18:30

You are right to break up with him, but I do think it is fair that you give him an explanation. Perhaps a similar experience on my part might explain my reasoning.

22 years ago, my first wife died. Within weeks my best (male) friend of 30 years, who had been supportive throughout my wife's terminal illness and had regularly visited, simply ghosted me, along with his wife (over whom he has always been controlling). I have not seen or heard from either of them since.

To this day, I have absolutely no idea why he did this. We had been both friends and work colleagues for decades; we had regularly taken holidays together as a foursome. To be dumped just after my wife died is unfathomable.

I have been somewhat shattered by this experience, and had counselling for a while. I doubt I will ever be over it completely.

But I would have been able to move on with my life more easily if I knew why.

I would just cut and paste your OP into a message to your ex saying "this is why".

Consider yourself liberated from a man who is controlling over his wife, and easily dumps best friends for no given reason. Sounds like a complete sociopath.

RawBloomers · 05/05/2026 20:12

I think it's a bit immature and petty to just blank someone you've known for that long unless there's abuse or something. So I guess I think it's a bit unreasonable not to have said something along the lines of "[Whatever watershed moment finally made you decide to stop seeing him] is the final straw in a series of let downs, BF. I've been unhappy for a while, as you know, and I need to move on."

I don't think ex's should be given a detailed character assassination or given opportunity to argue, but just blanking someone you've been close is generally pretty poor behaviour.

Scotland3232 · 05/05/2026 21:03

I think you were totally reasonable to break up with him but can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t tell him why. It might actually help you because hopefully he’d stay away once he realises how strong your reasoning is!

dh280125 · 05/05/2026 23:07

Sure it's a little petty, but also he sounds like a prat so you go ahead. Let him wonder forever.

PollyBell · 05/05/2026 23:09

Well women are told all the time they should have closure or if a man ghosts them the man is in the wrong they need to be told so why is the revese different?

meganorks · 05/05/2026 23:21

Well you don't owe him anything. It hardly sounds like you were in a relationship if he was overseas all the time and often MIA.

But surely it is in your interest to tell him all that so he stops bothering you? I don't understand how you can possibly say you might get 'sucked back in' or he might gaslight you - just read your own post!!

FlockofSquirrels · 06/05/2026 00:17

8) When I told him I thought we should take a break from dating (haven't yet told him the reasons why),

This is what's unreasonable and what makes your behavior come across as game-playing.

You haven't actually broken up with him. You said you wanted a break from dating but left things open for discussion/reconciliation then you've called and texted and agreed to discuss and called and texted again... but now you're back to ignoring him with no explanation or indication that you won't be engaging again if he just persists.

End it. You don't need to justify it to him and certainly shouldn't try to get him to agree it's the right thing, but do yourself a favor and tell him that you're not interested in any sort of relationship moving forward. "Neither our friendship nor dating are working for me, so I'm wishing you well and moving on". Don't send a single text after that or answer a single call. Allow him one acknowledgement text but if he continues to reach out block him on all channels with zero engagement.

ChocolateAddictAlways · 06/05/2026 00:22

So sorry for the loss of your mum and all the trauma you've experienced , it must have been very hard on you 🫂

You don't owe him a reason but I think it's wouldn't be a bad idea to share your post. It may give him something to reflect on.

Katflapkit · 06/05/2026 00:38

If this was some man you met on line ane dated for a few months, I would say no problem but this man is meshed in to life and your family.

I think you should let him know because then it's final and over. The two of you have such a long history he could keep pursuing you thinking it's one of your off times during your on/off relationship.

Stop with the he doesn't deserve to know. YOU deserve to live in peace with someone calling you asking why. End it properly so he knows. Send him an email/letter of you dont want to speak to him. Half of those reasons would be grounds for ending it.

  1. You knew I wanted your support at my mother's funeral and you let me down at the last minute.
  1. You ignored my birthday
  1. I repeatedly asked you not to call at certain work times which you ignored
  1. I always made the effort to travel to you to meet up. You never came to me

I have not felt supported, cherished or heard. I know it's better for both of us to end this now.

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 06/05/2026 00:43

I too am so very sorry about your Mum. I have also had a close family member murdered & it does add yet another layer to the grief.

i would have dumped him over the way he treated you at that time.

for your own sake (not his) you need to end it, get out if this 'not dating' limbo & completely end it! Something like this.

Fred. I'm sorry to say that whatever we had is over, completely. I'm very thankful for you lending x the money when she needed it & for xyz, However, our relationship causes me more hurt than anything & I'm not putting myself through anymore. It's a shame we're not compatible, but we aren't. I don't want to discuss it any further, nothing will change my mind. Llama x

Bandit24 · 06/05/2026 04:14

YABU not for ghosting him but not telling him why. He doesn’t need to like your reasons but the mature thing to do will be to tell him anyway and block him off completely. He shouldn’t be a let o reach you after that really

S0j0urn4r · 06/05/2026 05:03

He sounds like a complete twat. I would just block him and move on.

ThesebeautifulthingsthatIvegot · 06/05/2026 05:53

Qltimately, you are right to prioritize yourself and you must bear that in mind (especially if he tries to argue back). But a lack of closure does seem unfair to him and actually seems to be causing you more pain as it must be hard seeing missed calls and texts.

How about something simple such as:

You have been in my life for such a long time, but turning our friendship into a relationship has not been how I hoped and it is causing me more hurt than happiness.

You can follow this with as much detail as you want to share, or none at all.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 06/05/2026 06:00

Why not tell him? They are all valid reasons. If he is living in a different area / country he is more detached from the things that you are experiencing. He sounds thoughtless but sending your OP would help be less thoughtless for the next woman.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 06/05/2026 07:29

@traumallama07

I voted YABU because given the back story it would be the decent thing to do.

You can share the reasons, just paste your OP, or pick a few, say you’re done, it is not up for negotiation, and then ignore him. You don’t have to engage with his attempts to justify or explain. Don’t waste that energy on him, block if you need to, but I would say why, yes.

Sorry for your loss and that he’s been a massive disappointment, that just really hurt.

Grammarninja · 06/05/2026 10:36

He doesn't deserve an explanation but give it to him anyway. He needs to know how his actions have been perceived. It'll help some woman in the future.

Wishihadanalgorithm · 06/05/2026 11:36

I don’t think this man deserves your breath or your thoughts.

A simple, “this is not working for me and I need you out of my life” text is enough.
Block him and move forward.
You have had enough heartache in your life so put this one to bed and focus on your needs and not having to make compromises for this man - who only seems to let you down.

Know your worth.

Whiteheadhouse · 06/05/2026 11:42

He sounds awful. Text him to stop contacting you or you will contact the police.

Cocktailglass · 06/05/2026 17:43

Tell him all of this as he may be the type who needs it in black and white. Xx