Hi - quick background. My ex-husband left nearly two years ago and very quickly, someone started pursuing me, which if I'm honest, I found quite flattering. I really didn't want to get into a relationship so took things VERY slowly (ie no kissing or anything) but then told him that I didn't really fancy him about 4 months into knowing him. However, the next day, I actually felt more sad about that than I did when my ex-H and I split up. We chatted a couple of days later and decided to give a relationship a go. And in the beginning it was fun (isn't it always?!). He has 3 kids from 2 other partners and I have 2 young kids so life wasn't exactly simple and we didn't see that much of each other, but when we did we had a laugh and things were good. However, as time has gone on, it feels like things have got more and more difficult (he feels we're stuck in a routine, but doesn't follow through on any ideas he may have to change the routine; he has criticised how I am with my kids, which I think is not on and criticised how I deal with my ex-H) and last week culminated in him having a massive go at me - I have been moody and not the happiest person of late, but this last arguement really knocked me confidence and made me see myself in a different light. He apologised to me and told me he loves me the way I am, but it doesn't feel like that. I feel like I'm more of a mother than a girlfriend to him (I cook for him, I organise our nights out, I spend time with his kids as he feels that's important, but doesn't feel the same desire to reciprocate). I guess that's the control freak in me - should I learn to let go a bit? In lots of ways I wish I'd stuck to my guns and resisted that intial flattery.
I just don't think relationships should be this hard work, but maybe I'm wrong? Maybe that's why I'm divorced?!!