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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

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:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/05/2013 21:36

I am getting an anxious feeling reading this. Seriously, you have been writing on this thread for hours now. Where are your children please?

Yes - if you're able to get three children into bed for 6:30, can you give me some sleep tips for the baby Grin

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 21:36

I said the Catholic thing to try and cover up who I was...you know, in case she reads this or something.

She doesn't like me because of the thing with the teacher - him complaining to her that I was being unreasonable etc. And also because I've been told I can't work in school (but can still do the pta stuff) due to a criminal damage conviction on my CRB from when my ex kicked me out at 3am...also a long story).

And I didn't hide the show, he was putting it on so I grabbed it and held it until he talked to me.

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 21:36

shoe. sorry, spelling.

OP posts:
Chubfuddler · 19/05/2013 21:37

You aren't happy you loon. You are a strung out mess.

I think your boundaries are so out of kilter you think a man has to be angsting to prove he cares. Really, angst isn't love. Separately you may be perfectly nice people but honestly you are describing nothing healthy

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/05/2013 21:37

When they conked out on the sofa.....had you been speaking to them about this? I kind of feel the same

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 21:38

They're always in bed by 6.45.

They get dinner at 4.30, bath at 5-5.30, bit of a play and then the elder two go to their bedrooms and straight to sleep, the youngest sometimes whinges a bit in his cot, but he's in with his brother so seeing him asleep, means the youngest drops off after 10 mins.

Been like this since...well day dot really.

Freddie I meant risk being in love in the future, not now.

OP posts:
HibiscusIsland · 19/05/2013 21:38

Only read half of the OP, but it sounds far too complicated and stressful. It's not meant to be like this!

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 19/05/2013 21:38

OK then, sorry. My 9 year old doesn't withhold shoes to stop people from leaving. That better?

Nanny0gg · 19/05/2013 21:39

So - can someone tell me, after everything else I've told you about what I've done, give me examples of exactly how he's an arse?

You're joking, aren't you?
Have you actually read any of the (virtually unanimous) answers on this thread?

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/05/2013 21:39

And I didn't hide the shoe, he was putting it on so I grabbed it and held it until he talked to me.

Well that puts a totally different perspective on things Hmm

CVSFootPowder · 19/05/2013 21:39

yw Freddie Grin

arf Gobbolino Grin

time i had more Wine

TheSecondComing · 19/05/2013 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 21:40

Chub - that's my point!

So if I make an effort to do as he's asked, give him the space and time to think whilst working on trying to let myself trust him, then after a few weeks we start to meet up and go out on proper dates, taking it slowly as we were meant to from the start...then what's to stop it working?

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 19/05/2013 21:41

When there is a discrepancy between what they say to you v how they behave towards you, they are fuckwits to be avoided.
He is running screaming for the hills and you are wondering how to please him. Can't you see how messed up this is?

SgtTJCalhoun · 19/05/2013 21:41

I thought so TSC.

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 19/05/2013 21:41

Hibiscus, read the rest, honestly!

Confused- you say you've realised since the start of the thread that you've been unreasonable here. I think there is a unanimous agreement throughout the thread that the relationship is NOT a good idea, and that you should seek some sort of help with your mental health. What are you going to do with that information? Or are you going to keep asking the same questions over and over?

FreddieMisaGREATshag · 19/05/2013 21:41

When I was with my exH and my marriage was failing and falling apart, I was a strung out mess and I remember some fierce rows. And I would have done things like grab a shoe to get him to stay and listen to me.

But that was a marriage. Of years and years. Not a month old relationship.

And I got out. And my head is sorted. It was 6 years ago and my ex isn't a bad person, just together we are fucked up.

You need to get out of this emotional messed up fuck up.

forumdonkey · 19/05/2013 21:41

Pages back I asked you OP. Why do you not care what this and your previous relationship are doing to your DC's?

Why won't you put the same effort and energy into their happiness and childhood as you are into yours and that stupid arse prick you've know for all of 4 weeks?

BreakOutTheKaraoke · 19/05/2013 21:42

What's to stop it working? Really??

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for referring to the content of a deleted post

Chubfuddler · 19/05/2013 21:42

Your personalities and the back histories of the last month of drama would probably be pretty major stumbling blocks.

Why are you so desperate to make this work? Do you honestly think that at 38 no other man is ever going to take an interest in you again?

unapologetic · 19/05/2013 21:42

You have been on this thread for nearly 6 hours (with three children to play with, bath, feed and put to bed btw.) You are obsessed.

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 21:43

20.35.11 was my post when I predicted the OP would suddenly blame herself .

OP I think you should see your GP. This is not at all good. Your 'epiphany' does not sound genuine. I think you are running away.

I am also concerned that you didn't say what RL friends think of this situation.

Scrazy · 19/05/2013 21:43

He probably had an ego boost that a woman 20 years his junior was interested in him, tbh. Wanted to prove he could still pull someone younger. You told him you thought he wanted you for sex therefore he was probably worried about trying it on all the time. Also when a couple are in love, you should be unable to keep your hands off each other in the early days. It's not really a compliment if they are worried about appearing to be a sex pest so keeping their distance.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 19/05/2013 21:44

Seriously - please ignore everyone else and read Freddie's last post. She speaks sense