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Relationships

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

Am I ready for a relationship?

25 replies

JALG · 06/03/2013 00:35

Hi there, did anyone out there jump straight back in the saddle? My story so far - married for 24years since childhood. 2 DD's, no contact with my family but very close to ex DH's mum. His first affair 10 years ago messed me up, went on for 7 years, finally stopped at birth of youngest DD (9). Next affair July 2010 came out of blue went on for a year and finally I asked him to leave. 24 years of marriage over - I was devastated. Managed 7 mnths on my own not knowing if we would get back together and trying to come to terms with many years of emotional abuse. I was a mess, but plucked up the courage to ask the only other guy I have ever fancied out. He was a divorcee of 8 years with a string of short term girlfriends under his belt. He was in a difficult place and I supported him, helped him get on his own two feet and we were magic! Sex was amazing and we stayed with each other every other weekend when my youngest was with the ex DH. we have done holidays, furnished his flat, entertained his friends and grown up kids and parents and generally got on well. He dotes on me when I am with him, all the time that he is the centre of my world. He seemed to get on with my youngest DD, but did not like the way my eldest DD (20) still needed her mum. recently he has started drinking more in the evenings and finds sex difficult although would never talk about it. He is 6 years older than me and has a good business and is very popular with loads of friends and hobbies. So whats the problem ? I am half way through divorce proceedings, and trying to sort a very messy Financial agreement. My youngest DD is finding things very hard adapting to the new family set-up and is having a rough time at school. I love both my kids very much and invest a great deal of time in them. When I go to stay with him every other weekend I often have my dog with me, and invariable get a call form the kids wanting reassurance or needing some other input from me. I am very aware not to let me time with him be dominated by this and shower him with loads of attention.

So, My boyfriend has just told me that his mother wants us all to go for lunch at a pub on Mothers day. I have told him that my girls have plans for me and that I want to see their Nan (ex DH's mum) and he has gone nuts. He has basically called time on our 1 year relationship, saying I am not ready to be in a relationship as I still have so many other commitments like my daughters, the dog, the rabbit and my ex Mother in law. But I will always have my daughters, pets and the kids nan? They are not going to go away. I am not ready to live with him and would not even think of it yet because of the effect it would have on my youngest. I am happy to be in this new relationship, its great and I have even said I can imagine getting a place with him in a few years time. But his last 2 girlfriends he moved straight in with, they both had toddlers that called him dad, not savvy young girls who doted on their own dad. Am I ready for a relationship, I am so scared to be in that lonely place again, but feel that I can't keep denying the existence and importance of my children, not for any man. Has anyone else got straight back in the saddle then wondered if they did the right thing?

OP posts:
SolidGoldBrass · 06/03/2013 00:44

It's not about your 'readiness', it's about this man being a selfish knob. Tell him to go and fuck himself, and move on: a man who insists on being prioritized over everyone and everything is a man who's heading towards abuser status.

TanteRose · 06/03/2013 00:55

"I can't keep denying the existence and importance of my children, not for any man"

this

he is being totally unfair to you
you are not doing anything wrong

JALG · 06/03/2013 00:58

SolidGoldBrass - I did not think that I would get that kind of reply but you know this is something I am worried about. He is very controlling, I am scared of him when he can be so cold towards me just because I want to be with my kids on Mothers day. He has just emailed me (after 2 days of silence) to tell me that he cannot make this work as i clearly have too many other priorities in my life. I have never told anyone to fuck off before - shall i give it a go?

OP posts:
sallyfromthealley · 06/03/2013 06:53

Your poor daughter is only 9. She is your priority.

Lizzabadger · 06/03/2013 07:08

Yes - he sounds like a self-centred dick.

MidnightMasquerader · 06/03/2013 07:17

Yes, please do.

He clearly wants you to panic at the prospect of losing him, and then kowtow to him so that he gets his own way (the big baby) and your DDs get shunted down the list.

Well screw that.

TisILeclerc · 06/03/2013 09:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lovingfreedom · 06/03/2013 10:02

Dump...
Decent men, even those without their own children, respect that a mother's first priorities are her kids
He's a nightmare.

Lovingfreedom · 06/03/2013 10:03

Don't need to tell him to fuck off...'you're right i'm not ready for a relationship with you' will do.

JALG · 06/03/2013 10:17

Thank you all so much for what you have said. Shortly after shutting down last night my daughter came in crying and couldnt sleep. We have both been up most the night. She is my priority, they both are. Why do men want you to choose? So sad, I was just starting to feel good again after years of being mucked about. What next? will do what Lovingfreedonm suggested - great line !

OP posts:
SorryMyLollipop · 06/03/2013 10:27

Agree with what others have said, your children are your priority and his kids should be his priority. No matter how old they are. He can't accept this and appears to be sulking/playing games - two days of silence followed by an email!

Dump!

Lovingfreedom · 06/03/2013 10:28

Aw... JALG ....enjoy your kids while they are young....they grow up quick....and of course, they need their mum. I know exactly what you're saying but decent men don't expect you to choose. You don't need to. It's only immature guys who act like kids that try to compete with your kids for your love. Mature guys understand that your love for them is different...and that being a good mum is an important part of who you are. If he finds kids such a threat then he should date women without kids...simple as that.

bestsonever · 06/03/2013 11:12

Maybe it was too quick as you recognise that he is controlling,but this has not put you off until now. Also, only a year in and he's drinking heavily and "finding sex difficult and won't talk about it", so what's there to miss ? He does not sound like much of a catch. He obviously has issues and sounds quite needy, which is why he is wrongly jealous of your affection for your DC's.
Just agree with his email and leave it at that, but be wary, if he is controlling he may persist with other attempts to get you back on his terms. Do not give in, your life will be better without this manchild.

SolidGoldBrass · 06/03/2013 11:28

Thing is, JALG, decent men DON'T behave like this. The one you have just dumped is abusive. Unfortunately, it's fairly common for women who have had one shit relationship to pick another loser next time round - just a different variety. By the sound of it, your previous partner was persistently unfaithful, so the fact that this new bloke was obsessed by you and wanted to see you all the time reassured you that he was monogamous and wouldn't be off with other women. As that mattered to you so much after your H, it made it easy to overlook his arsehole tendencies.
Be proud of yourself, right now - you have seen that he's a loser and you have got rid of him. Give yourself a little break from dating, and remember when you start again that it's OK to dump a man if he isn';t making you happy, whether he likes it or not.

mrfrancis82 · 06/03/2013 12:55

Sounds like a prick. It's funny how many people with successful businesses are pricks at the end of the day - something about their stubbornness I reckon

OneMoreGo · 06/03/2013 12:58

Just tell him you've seen the light and agree with him that you are not ready, and then run like fuck.

rightchoice2 · 06/03/2013 13:05

OMG just run as fast as you can. Get out quick.

akaWisey · 06/03/2013 17:40

Of course you are ready for a relationship. Everything in your OP says you have your priorities sorted.

His priorities, however, clearly demonstrate that this man cannot tolerate being in a relationship without subjugating the needs of his partner to have other important people in her life - including and especially her DC's because in fact he is rivalrous with them.

You have posted here in time to stop him from exploiting your affection for him and you sound sorted.

He won't give up easily unless you give a really clear message that it's over.

JALG · 06/03/2013 18:57

AHH, you guys are good. it sometimes takes other people to put things in into perspective. I have had this crisis of conscious for months now. I actually felt like I was sitting at the last supper and denying the existence of my kids at times. I knew this was wrong but as SolidGoldBrass put it, I was very much wrapped up in being made to feel like a goddess - all the time I towed the line. I have been 'told off' for daring to open one of my Christmas presents from him when I woke on my own Christmas morning instead of waiting until he was with me - according to him its just not the done thing!

I was made to leave my eldest DD at home on Christmas day as she had the Norovirus and he told me that I had to have lunch with his parents as she was just attention seeking!

I can see stuff now, that I thought I was doing wrong, don't lick your knife, don't drop your g's and constantly picking me up on my pronunciation ! I just laughed it off feeling very foolish. And now I feel weird. Just empty, no tears actually nothing... I am scared though, to be on my own, as I haven't got many friends. Thanks for your support.

OP posts:
rightchoice2 · 06/03/2013 19:03

Let go of this creep. Get out with your DC and look forward to a peaceful future without this nightmare of a control freak.

Don't be afraid of freedom it is to be cherished. You need to get to know YOU again.

JALG · 06/03/2013 19:29

Lovingthefreedom - so true, weird that both his last partners had kids but they were tiny and he pretended to be daddy, this will make you laugh: - his email said " Under the circumstances there isnt any room in your life for a full time relationship, only a part-time one (every other weekend) (as long as the kids, dog, rabbit and MIL ? are catered for first) so he obviously has a problem with rabbits too - ha ha

OP posts:
ATouchOfStuffing · 06/03/2013 19:32

Horrid man. You focus on your family first. Sounds like he saw you were a bit vulnerable and now you are stronger he doesn't like it.

Saltpig · 06/03/2013 19:42

The problem with being a 'goddess' is that sooner or later you will FAIL to meet unrealistic expectations and that's when he must punish you and anyone around you that he sees as a threat to his right to you exclusively.

That's what his email is about.
And making you leave your poorly DC on CHRISTMAS DAY?????

FFS! Have you told him he's absolutely right yet?

EternalRose · 06/03/2013 20:32

You have had some great advice already, you know you have done the right thing.

My ex also liked correcting my pronunciation, it would ALWAYS make me feel like a thicko. Textbook abusive behaviour..

JALG · 06/03/2013 22:04

A couple of you have said textbook abusive behaviour? I was so trying to avoid the emotionally abusive stuff that I didn't really look out for this. So what is it?

OP posts:
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