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New partner needing 'time'

951 replies

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 15:54

I've recently started seeing someone - it's been under a month officially but we were very close before that for about 6 months.

He seems to come across as quite intense in his 'feelings' - always saying things like how he's broken, doesn't wan to lose me (said in that breathless, urgent way you'd imagine someone to say it in a cheesy american movie!) and the first week we were together he kept saying how strong his feelings were, felt like we'd been together a lot longer and all that stuff.

However, because he'd recently split up with someone and because of the fact I don't get on with a family member of his (I knew this family member before I knew him and we've never got along), he's been reluctant to tell anyone he's seeing me - he wanted to wait until the summer and then he felt like he'd be able to tell his close family members (including this person that hates me).
This caused issues between us, because I felt like we couldn't go out anywhere - he'd come and visit me at home, stay over etc and we have been out a few times out of town, but I want to just be able to go to the local restaurant or something in town and not worry that he'll be looking over his shoulder. He says I want everything 'now' and it's not possible...so because of this we argue - not full on rows, but niggly sort of things where usually one of us says we can't cope with it, and it's all up in the air again.

We were due to go out last night together, in town for a meal.

It'd been planned for 2 weeks, I had got my mum to have my three children overnight so we could go out (which meant me buying air beds and a travel cot so they could sleep at her house), and then Friday morning I had asked him to come over that night because we had been arguing and I wanted to try and fix us before I could go out with him the next night...eventually he agreed, we had a slight niggle but the rest of the night was fine, he said he couldn't lose me, the next morning he was very loving and we left on a good note - although he hadn't gone to sleep when I told him to that night, instead he kept trying it on for 90 minutes so we ended up only having about 4 hours' sleep :(

It got to 5pm on Saturday, the kids had already gone to my mum's and he text saying he was very tired, hadn't had a chance to sleep and would have to stay home - then didn't seem to understand why I was pissed off. I asked him to stick to the arrangements, he said he needed sleep and it spiralled into this massive argument and him refusing to even come over and see me, but stay in the house with me and not go out...which annoyed me further.

Eventually at 9pm he agreed to come over but sleep on the sofa, but said it would be finished for good if I "made him" come over...so he turned up, was very cold (I'd hoped I could win him round a bit but it didn't happen) and eventually left again after saying he couldn't handle this, and I should've let him stay at home.

He's now saying we need to "work on positive texts and see how we go" - we can't see each other now until the weekend after next as we both have commitments, so he wants me to basically just send him chatty, random texts through the next couple of weeks, effectively covering up how hurt I am and not talking about 'us' until he decides whether he misses me and wants to try again or not.

I understand that all this arguing has got him down; it has me too, but on Friday night he said he can't lose me with that sense of urgency and passion that made it seem like he loved me...then last night he said his feelings had significantly reduced over the past week or so and he wants to se if he can get them back - to me, I don't want to wait around to see if his feelings reappear; if they went in the first place (mine haven't, despite the arguing) then it feels like I'd be losing the self respect I still have left by taking him back if he decided he wanted to.

Does that make sense at all?

Apologies for the essay...I suppose I'm just wondering if he's being unreasonable in what he's asking of me now, or I am.

PS - he did text me last night saying that he can't see how he can be with me, but the thought of not being with me hurts him like crazy; and that he just needs a bit of space from the arguing, and just positive texting for a week or so, and see if it helps his feelings reappear.

OP posts:
akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:35

I see how this is going.

Now it becomes your problem and you're the 'flaky' one so what you must do is attend to your own issues TO MAKE YOURSELF MORE ACCEPTABLE TO HIM.

No. You are just wrong for each other. In so many ways and on so many levels.

BreasticlesNTesticles · 19/05/2013 20:35

I've actually started feeling sorry for him now Confused

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:36

But if I was in the wrong on the issue I posted about and every argument we've had has been like that (I'll type out another example if you want!) then how is it not my problem?

I need to work on my issues anyway.

OP posts:
FreddieMisaGREATshag · 19/05/2013 20:36

I got back with an ex boyfriend around the same time as you and he got together.

Neither of us have declared undying love, we have no plans to move in together and he hasn't met my kids, much less met them after a shagging session.

We don't argue and bicker all the time. And I wouldn't tolerate the kind of mind games either of you are playing.

forumdonkey · 19/05/2013 20:37

No download the book and read it ALL don't just take snippets from the website.

I can't believe that you can possibly reading and understanding all on there in between the essays.

BTW I was in an unavailable relationship which worked in the beginning because I chose to be unavailable. I have dedicated the last 5 years being effectively 'single' to give my DC stability and only now at 18 & 16 do o feel we ( but more importantly they) are ready for me to bring a man into our lives

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:37

I think you're lonely.

Am I right?

Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:37

Are you a long time user of mn under a different name was what I meant because the ex story is ringing a bell. Get counselling for your low self esteem and stay away from losers-it will do you and your dcs a world of good.

SisterMonicaJoan · 19/05/2013 20:38

Sorry, my misunderstanding re: the strangling.

You, my dear, have more problems than who was right in this one argument. Are you looking for us to all say that your are wrong, so you have another excuse to text him?

Stop prolonging this shitty situation and get a hobby or something.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:39

You know on the baggage reclaim website when it talks about amber and red warnings?

All I was thinking of doing was working on these issues over the next week or two, whilst giving him the space he needs and then if he misses me during that time and is willing to go for a drink with me, not stay over, talk through what went wrong and try and work out how not to let it happen again; in other words treat him/this whole thing as an amber warning - assess and watch carefully, keeping eyes and ears open.

OP posts:
akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:39

Yes, agree with sister I think the only way OP could justify texting him would be to say she knows it's all her fault.

And the dance begins anew.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:41

No I'm not lonely, I work from home, provide for my children, I have three young children that I've brought up on my own for the past 4 years, I go out once a week with my friends, I am just starting a college course.

OP posts:
TheSecondComing · 19/05/2013 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:42

Over the next week or two?

I think that's an example of wishful thinking OP, sorry. I think you'll find that the site would strongly advise you do this without a man on the periphery. It's not something you do to 'fix' a broken relationship.

forumdonkey · 19/05/2013 20:43

See OP you're not listening or reading anything properly otherwise you wouldn't be looking to make yourself 'better' for him!!

How long have you been single?

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:44

I don't mean loneliness as not having people. I mean something on a deeper level.

Something like an emptiness and lack of meaning.

Scrazy · 19/05/2013 20:45

It isn't all your fault, he sucked you in by declaring love, talking about moving in far too soon. See I don't agree with everything on the baggage reclaim site but this one is a red flag.

What went wrong was you both jumping in without even knowing each other. No point waiting a couple of weeks to bang on about it again, the scales have fallen from his eyes and you need to take a big step back.

Me might want to get back on track or he might be letting you down gently, as he is probably worried about what he has done and gotten himself into.

IME men do do this, they say they love you straight away. It's to gain power in some cases. We all have heard of things going well this way too but usually both parties are more stable.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:45

I'm not going to text him - not this week at least.

I'm just trying to see my own flaws, not blaming myself but I can se the effort he has made in the past to appease me when I've been telling him to come over or its finished, etc.

Another example - the night my ex (children's father) came round to see the kids, put them to bed and then wouldn't leave, once the kids were asleep he got aggressive and pushing me around, I had to call the police to get him removed.

I then texted my partner/whatever I call him, and explained what had happened, he asked if I needed him to come over, there were a few texts and phonecalls exchanged with me umming and aahing and then eventually I asked him to come round, he did but was upstairs seeing to my youngest when he knocked the door, didn't hear the first knock but then he used the letterbox which was quite loud, I got pissed off and stormed downstairs, opened the door and said he could fuck off now.
Then let him in, he was confused as to what was wrong and I explained about the door, he said he hadn't know I was upstairs and apologised...but then I wouldn't let him near me, sat the opposite side of the room but then got arsey again when he went to leave.

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:46

I don't totally blame him for feeling overwhelmed.

OP posts:
FreddieMisaGREATshag · 19/05/2013 20:47

You are far far too invested in this for a relationship of this length.

Fuckwittery · 19/05/2013 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GetOrfMoiLand · 19/05/2013 20:48

I don't know whAt is going on really but it seems that you are now painting yourself as the bad guy in order to get some of use to say that it is your fault, but different from the start of the thread.

I think you do have issues you need to work on but NOT in relation to him.

You remind me of someone who has posted before.

It is all a bit over emotional and all over the place and and just generally strange, so I am going to bow out of this that now,

CVSFootPowder · 19/05/2013 20:48

The Baggage Reclaim site is great, it helped me to get out of a fairly lengthy relationship with an emotionally unavailable 'assclown'.
But I think this situation is well beyond the scope of Baggage Reclaim.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:49

fd - I take it you mean single before this guy? Officially, my children's dad moved out in Dec 2011 but we were never really together; he was violent, controlling and lacking empathy and shagging around all the time.

Scrazy that conversation went (him) you do realise you're gonna have to marry me, don't you" (said with a smile as a jokey thing), I said I hated it when he left and he'd have to move into my shed...then later on that day text him to say I hadn't actually meant my shed and was being serious, and he said it seemed like totally the wrong thing to do, but felt right.

OP posts:
Fuckwittery · 19/05/2013 20:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lweji · 19/05/2013 20:52

I agree.

It sounds like you should be apart.

And in any case I'd leave him anyway.