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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Confused about my ideal man

18 replies

Yippeeme · 12/11/2011 09:56

Recently I split with possibly my ideal man as I don?t think that we clicked, and now I don?t know if I have done the right thing.

We have our small problems, like all relationships, and the arguments we have push us apart. I haven?t been in a relationship that has so many arguments, but always about the same thing. I wish he'd just get over his issue, and be normal. I can?t argue with him anymore about the same rubbish, it stresses me out, and I have other worries like the children, work and money that are more important right now. He seems to be able to forget the arguments and look at us through rose tinted glasses, and I can?t do that. Some things he says can be very spiteful and hurt me. He?s quite needy at times and has mood swings, which I struggle to understand and deal with. He says I am not supportive or I don?t care about his thoughts, but I know it's not me that causes them, and he has past hang ups that he really needs to get over, but he puts those stresses on me, and I don?t want him to. It has stopped me from feeling more for him. During arguments he says some nasty things, and I can?t forget them. They are so hurtful. He?d never say anything when we're not arguing and he says he doesn?t mean what he says when we do argue, but why say them then? Most of the time we have great sex. he satisfys me more than i have been before, but we've had little problems there too, which leaves us both frustrated. I?ve tried to talk to him when these things happen but he won?t listen and gets moody about it and it puts me off wanting him. On the other hand, he can be so thoughtful, kind, caring and he is everything I want. He will go out of his way for me and my kids without a thought for himself and I know that he'll do anything to make us happy. He does make me very happy from time to time, and I have never been with someone who is so romantic, committed, affectionate, he buys me little gifts all the time and I know he's loyal, considerate, fun and we have great sex and for somebody he is an ideal guy. He makes me feel good about myself everyday, and when we're not arguing he compliments me all the time. He is amazing with my kids and I know that they love him - I don?t know why I can?t. I know he is ideal for me, but I just don?t feel the way I should. I am sure I feel like this because of the arguments, and if they stopped then I might feel different but I don?t trust that they will, as I don?t think he can change.

When says that he loves me, in my head I want to respond that I love him too, but in my heart, I don?t know if I do and after this long together I should do. We have argued about the same things over and over again, and it's worn me out. I can?t look at him or know I?m seeing him and feel that excitement anymore. He says he does, but I think he's just saying it. I think he tries too much sometimes and that annoys me. He says his mood swings will stop when other areas in his life improve, but I want them to stop now. We argue over and over about it, and when he says he'll stop, I just think yeah right and he never does change. I know his situation hasn?t changed, but he should not constantly put that stress on me. I think the relationship should be easy and that he shouldn?t need to try, as if we were right together then it would work without trying, but I don?t know if I am looking at it from the wrong point of view. He tells me I have never tried to make it work, and I have. I wish he could understand that. I think we've both known that for me the feelings of 'love' were not right, and for some reason my feelings for him just didn?t get where they should be. But he is everything I want and I am worried that I am throwing away something that could be more than I am letting it be at the moment. I have been in a few relationships, and none of those guys were even half as good as this one.

I don?t think it has been right for a couple of months, and I haven?t felt they way I should do for longer than I remember, so I finished it a couple of days ago and now I am beginning to miss him, and I am not sure if what I have done is the right thing. Should we try again? Will my feelings develop? Should I be more understanding to his issues and needs? Will the arguments stop? I just don?t know. He is hard work at times and he can be so frustrating but at the same time he's ideal in so many ways.

OP posts:
meltedchocolate · 12/11/2011 10:11

Are you not understanding to his needs then? This is all too crytpic to be honest...

Yippeeme · 12/11/2011 10:24

I try to understand his needs. He wants me to be more affectionate and want to do things all the time. Sometimes i just want to relax and chill. I didnt mean to be cryptic and can explain more if that helps with any advice?

OP posts:
MooncupGoddess · 12/11/2011 10:32

I think getting hung up on this 'ideal man' thing is a mistake - the relationship clearly wasn't working, and therefore he isn't your ideal man (if indeed such a thing exists). If you're not happy then you were right to end it. It's normal to have a few doubts afterwards, but it really sounds like you did the right thing.

meltedchocolate · 12/11/2011 10:35

I am not sure you need advice. It depends what you want. You have every right to hold out for a perfect relationship, someone that you know you love. Don't be with someone that you don't actually love because you think you should be. This is totally your decision, don't let others tell you what to chose or what you should want...

RumourOfAHurricane · 12/11/2011 10:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Yippeeme · 12/11/2011 10:41

Thanks Mooncup. It wasnt that i am unhappy or that the relationship wasn't working, we do get on so well. Its my feelings towards him that are stopping things. My head wants to love him, but my heart doesnt know.

OP posts:
Yippeeme · 12/11/2011 10:50

Shineon - he is ideal for someone and he has all the things i look for in a man. He is fun, loving, kind, makes me laugh and makes me feel good when i am low. He's good looking, has a good job, great with my children and his own. We want the same things in the furture etc etc. My feelings just arent what they should be at this point in a relationship.

I can explain more if you anyone doesn't understand.

OP posts:
beatenbyayellowteacup · 12/11/2011 16:11

Yippeeme if he says nasty things in arguments which make you feel like you can't trust him (ie your instinct to protect yourself kicks in) and he won't talk about it with you to help resolve the argument properly for you, then he's not a good man for you.

MooncupGoddess · 12/11/2011 16:25

Your feelings mean something - love isn't about someone ticking all the boxes, it's about that amazing dynamic that means you can't do without each other.

EricNorthmansMistress · 12/11/2011 23:18

If you don't love him then he's not your ideal man. Beware 'good on paper' guy.

WibblyBibble · 12/11/2011 23:32

"it's about that amazing dynamic that means you can't do without each other."

Bollocks. You can still do without people you love. Don't be so stupid- this kind of reasoning is what causes people to stay in dodgy relationships or never get over it when their partner leaves. Love is something you choose, not a magical fairy dust disney crap you pulled out of a kids film.

WibblyBibble · 12/11/2011 23:33

A lot of this depends on what 'his issue' is, really, but if you want him to be 'normal' and he isn't, you should leave the poor guy to find someone who appreciates him for his abnormalities.

mycherubs · 12/11/2011 23:43

having you ever truly let your heart 'go' with a man? i say this only because you use the term 'ideal man' - as you get older you realise they dont exist and people are more complicated ... no one person can be your everything or be everything you want them to be ... and visa versa

inatrance · 12/11/2011 23:46

Sorry but I don't think he sounds 'ideal' at all. Would your ideal man really say nasty or spiteful things during an argument to hurt you? Needy and moody are red flags too...

I don't think the arguments will stop to be honest, if you are going round and round and never resolving anything, and he refuses to see your point of view, or behave in a caring way despite his own feelings, where do you go from there?

There are far better men out there, dump this loser!

Yippeeme · 13/11/2011 02:16

i'm sorry inatrance, but he's not a loser! he may have his faults but that is cruel! yes he has his faults, but i challenge you to find anybody that doesn't. thank you wibblybible and mycherubs, much more constructive! i am not here to slag him off, so please don't.

OP posts:
AlpinePony · 13/11/2011 07:10

I'm not even through your second paragraph yet already I see that your "ideal man" is "spiteful, needy and says nasty things".

Wow. That's your ideal man? :(

I've got ideas WAAAAAY above my station then. My ideal man is "kind, considerate and loving".

beatenbyayellowteacup · 13/11/2011 10:06

^Some things he says can be very spiteful and hurt me. He?s quite needy at times and has mood swings, which I struggle to understand and deal with.

I?ve tried to talk to him when these things happen but he won?t listen and gets moody about it and it puts me off wanting him^

OP of course he's not all horrible, or all good - no-one is. But these really are going to be big problems, not little ones. Your instinct is already telling you this. Buying little gifts will not make up for a huge issue of being needy/moody topped with being unable to resolve issues. If he won't listen to you then he's not the man for you.

Sorry.

mycherubs · 13/11/2011 17:24

a man has mood swings - blimey - MOST WOMEN DO TOO!!!!! i do chuckle every now and again how peoples faults are ripped apart - no ones perfect the question is do the positives outweigh the negatives

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