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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

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:
confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 13:47

Well, yes. Thought you had read my other thread about that.

Basically it's a woman he went to school with who left when she was 14 to go and live in Australia, they got in touch about 5yrs ago though friends reunited and started emailing every few weeks.
Then 4yrs ago she came to visit family and they met up and got on well, she returned to Aus and they carried on emailing, then she came over again last Sept and spent 5 weeks at his house...then because they'd got on so well and were both 'of an age', they agreed to give things a go as it might be their last chance of happiness or whatever, in April he would get an Aussie Visa and she'd come over here in April and stay with him for the first 6 months of the Visa, helping him sell his house, his dog and all his possessions and then they'd both go over to Aus and stay at hers for the last 6 months, reassess every 6 months and then if all was still going well, he would apply for a partnership visa.

Sounded bizarre to me, as the 5 weeks was the only physical contact they'd had in their whole 7 month relationship, but now this is weirder so I can't talk...

Anyway she ended up not being able to come over here in April, due to family stuff so it would have been Sept before they got to see each other.

Start of April he was on his weekly Skype session to her and he admitted he was having doubts (which he'd told me he was having in Nov-December, that's how we got chatting really), so she ended it.

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 13:49

Thanks Katie.

I know it seems like I'm selfish, deluded, frankly mental cow with no regard for my children, but trust me they are my life.

You have no idea how amazing they all are, they are all so different and run rings round me daily but I thrive on it, it's chaos but brilliant and they make me laugh so much :)

I usually pride myself on always considering everything I do to make sure it won't negatively affect the kids, which is why I am kicking myself for getting carried away with this guy as I did, and being selfish for a time.

OP posts:
ladyjadie · 21/05/2013 13:53

Lunchpackets Grin

Glad you have a GP thing booked. If I came across as frustrated it was because I know how horrible it is to feel how you have in those moments when you've clearly panicked.

Just wondering, have you been drinking when you have these outbursts?

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 13:55

No... not sure whether that's a good thing or not.

I don't drink alcohol.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 21/05/2013 13:56

No, had not read another thread, just what you have said on this one.

That does sound mad. He had a whole life plan which he has thrown over last month because of doubts, and now less than 6 weeks later declaring undying love to you one minute, freezing you out the next, then proposing. All in the middle of your push me-pull me shenanigans, he is wasting your time.

TheRealFellatio · 21/05/2013 14:00

Arf at 'strange old man'.

I'm glad you said it Getof. Grin

QuintessentialOldDear · 21/05/2013 14:01

Having read this thread, I will be blunt and I can tell you one thing. He is not as big an arse as you.

You appear to be totally off your rocker and in serious need of help.

If I were you, I would be worried that he should disclose how you behave to his sister. You have a Criminal conviction, fgs! You are behaving stalkerish and needy. You say you have treated him like shit. You hide his shoes to keep him in your house! You are an utter fruitloop! Can you please do your children a favour and refer yourself to your GPs mental health team. You need help.

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:02

Yes, but he said he only went along with it because he thought it was his last chance of being with someone, and the way he put it was because he wants a LTR but is quite scared of commitment (after being with his wife for 28 years with no affection and then her having an affair and admitting she never loved him), he wanted to totally burn his bridges by selling up and moving over there 100% - he said if he did it any other way it'd just feel like a holiday romance and not real.

BUT with his age, he wouldn't have got another job in Aus, he cashed in his life insurance (I think it was that) to get the money to go over, was going to sell his home, his 7yr old dog, possibly never see his mum again as obvs she's quite elderly and not in great health, and he was 'risking' it all for someone he barely knew, and because he thought he wouldn't meet anyone here.

He also says then he met me and realised he could have those feelings (and have them reciprocated) for someone here, and the doubts he was already having became more so.

I'm going into this eyes open now, as I said I'm keeping an eye on the situation and will act accordingly.

OP posts:
QuintessentialOldDear · 21/05/2013 14:02

Sorry, took so long reading the thread I missed your last couple of posts.

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:04

Oh - he also said that once he took the decision he wasn't going to go to Aus and it had ended, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief, but when he finishes with me he doesn't feel that relief, he fees scared.

However he also said last night he feels scared of the feelings he has for me, which are more than he's ever felt before.

Yes, sounds like bollocks so I'm taking things like that with a pinch of salt, but I'd like to give it the chance, just in case.

OP posts:
QuintessentialOldDear · 21/05/2013 14:05

Scared of what you will do next? To him? To yourself?

CVSFootPowder · 21/05/2013 14:05

OP would you please link us to your other thread?

GetOrfMoiLand · 21/05/2013 14:05

Oh bloody hell. It just sees like a load of old baloney.

You could meet someone nearer to your age and have a lovely life. You have young kids
Presumably Cedric is near retirement. So you will have young kids and a pensioner to look after. What do you get out of this, apart from breathless assertions of adoration and undying love? What's the point?

QuintessentialOldDear · 21/05/2013 14:06

She gets to hide a grown mans shoes. That must be fun.

TheRealFellatio · 21/05/2013 14:07

OP you do seem to be remarkably thick skinned and impervious to some of the things being said on this thread. I am worried that you are not even actually listening to anyone because you are so focused on your own idea of how things are, and your own stream of consciousness. It does seem a bit weird to be honest.

Why does his sister have such issues with you? You are just a parent at school and she has no reason to even know you terribly well, given how young your children are. Unless there is something you are not telling us.

TheRealFellatio · 21/05/2013 14:08

And why do you keep having relationships with men so much older than you?

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:14

I explained that earlier on in the thread... (the Headteacher I mean)

Of course I'm listening...but the point of asking for advice is that's what it is; advice. And then basing your decision on that advice, weighing up pros and cons etc - not blindly following that advice as after all, you are a bunch of strangers on an internet forum and are only going on what I type here,

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:15

Two relationships with older men, the other one was a man-child; as in, his mum still babied him.

OP posts:
gymboywalton · 21/05/2013 14:16

i think you should go on the jeremy kyle show and get him to do a lie detector test

KatieScarlett2833 · 21/05/2013 14:18

What are you going to say to GP on Friday?

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:22

No idea...probably just start rambling on about how I'm not great at coping with stress, been like that since my first child was born, probably end up mentioning the past and saying I think I need counselling...haven't thought about that yet :/

CVS I can't, I must have set up a new account for it and can't remember what the thread was called now, or the username I used...

OP posts:
KatieScarlett2833 · 21/05/2013 14:24

Sounds good Smile

TheSilveryPussycat · 21/05/2013 14:24

Hi there again, I PMd you, did you notice?

confusedisitme · 21/05/2013 14:26

Oh God I found it...

hides

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1724728-Like-a-man-with-complicated-relationship-what-to-do?pg=1

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 21/05/2013 14:40

Hello OP.

I'm all for diversity and a bit of difference in your life but this isn't right.
I have looked at your last thread and noticed people telling you to run a mile, back then.
Please take their advice. You sound like a great mum and how you describe you dc is heart warming. Please don't let them be affected by a man who by all counts seems very intense and weird.