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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:
ArtexMonkey · 28/05/2013 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 14:13

SP I know you were being sarcastic, but at one point I did lead things more that way...not through desperation, but just through - well, that's the one way we are compatible and as he said, we're both single...

He said that's not how he is, it wouldn't be right, he'd have no respect for either of us and just flat out refused.

If he wanted just sex he'd have been over here when I offered surely.

OP posts:
ArtexMonkey · 28/05/2013 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CinnabarRed · 28/05/2013 14:18

I've said a few times today that I'm not continuing with this guy.

Yes. But we've heard it many, many times from you. Like when you decided not to contact him for two weeks and manage to last 12 hours.

Frankly, I don't believe you any more.

garlicgrump · 28/05/2013 14:18

You've deleted him? Well done!

Take up geocaching, or some other demanding pastime that you can do with the kids. Good luck :)

confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 14:19

Well then I can't say anymore can I.

OP posts:
ArtexMonkey · 28/05/2013 14:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSilveryPussycat · 28/05/2013 14:22

I wasn't being sarcastic, confused. Sex can change things, it can clarify things, it can stop thoughts about sex that can be confusing you (although for me it can also be dangerous as can lead to me falling in love Blush)

There's nothing wrong with two single people who are attracted to each other having sex...

ArtexMonkey · 28/05/2013 14:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSilveryPussycat · 28/05/2013 14:39

No, and I have read the thread. CBA to go back and check whether they had DTD. Also x-posted with OP deleting his number. What the OP had been doing up to then didn't seem to be working. So was merely thinking what she could do differently. Brew

confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 14:41

Ok well SP - we have had sex quite a few times...and I disagree wholeheartedly with you. Sorry.

Even I can see that is NOT the way forward!

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 14:43

garlic - told you...I've got me a marathon to train for (that I probably won't even get a place on anyway).

I even went and bought the 'kit' - running shoes, top, bottoms etc.

Would have started today but it's raining so instead am wallpapering the lounge.

NOT sitting around texting janny, people! Honest!

OP posts:
garlicgrump · 28/05/2013 14:46

Fab! Go you! If you run out of things to keep you busy, I have a huge decorating backlog ... Wink

TheSilveryPussycat · 28/05/2013 14:48
Grin
confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 14:57

messed it up the first time as I had the little one hanging round my ankles trying to 'help', so having to redo sans kids ;)

OP posts:
ArtexMonkey · 28/05/2013 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 15:05

:( thanks.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 28/05/2013 15:32

OP you've been very changeable with your approaches.

Have you been assessed for bi-polar?

confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 15:43

Oh good god. I went to the GP the other day, described everything and he concluded it's mild depression and anxiety issues. I have OCD which is where he thinks the obsessive thinking and overanalysing comes into it, he thinks CBT might be the best approach rather than meds, I'm seeing him again in 2 weeks to discuss.

I don't have great varying changes in emotion...I'm never really excited or happy...about anything and never really sad. Just sort of - neutral, empty maybe. That's why the GP thought depression, I think.

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 28/05/2013 15:45

And being changeable - it's really just that all along I was thinking similar things to you all - if you asked this guy he'd tell you that everytime I saw him, I'd be saying that he'd never be able to admit to anyone he's with me, only really interested in sex, and he'd always say that wasn't it...bring up examples of things like "well then why would I share your bed when it was your time of the month" (eww sorry...) and stuff, it would get me thinking/hoping that he was genuine and when you confirmed my own thought, I rallied against it hoping that you and I were all wrong.

Simple as that.

OP posts:
CinnabarRed · 28/05/2013 16:15

Feelings of being empty are a classic symptom of BPD.

I'm not trying to diagnose you, BTW. Just making a general observation.

KatieScarlett2833 · 28/05/2013 16:46

Training for a marathon Missus? You are clearly fabulous and too good for that idiot. You can hang wallpaper too?
I am in awe Smile
Good news re the docs. I've had CBT and can't recommend it highly enough.
Congrats on deleting his number. What will you do when he inevitably texts you with more of his headfuckery?
You need to have a plan Wink

KatoPotato · 28/05/2013 16:52

Was this Mr 'Marmite Towers' ?

Offred · 28/05/2013 17:01

Woah... Have just read the whole thing.

You are nuts. With good reason but living entirely in denial about the effects of your childhood and a total lack of self-awareness.

Your obsessiveness over instilling "old fashioned values" in your children is quite worrying to me in the context of your abuse (and the lack of dealing with it/support and denial you need help/support over it).

"Old fashioned values" of the kind you have hinted at were designed to prepare boys to grow into superior and entitled rulers and girls to be servile and compliant. This is not good parenting though you seem to think it makes you better than others I think you are missing the real issues with the family environment you maintain, empathy and manners are one thing, "old fashioned values" quite another to me.

Reminds me of another thread where a young girl had moved in with her baby to live with her boyfriend of a couple of months. The bf was being a dad to the baby (who wasn't his child) but the girl didn't love the bf and had a crush on his best mate who she had kissed and chatted intensely to at their house warming. She was a great parent because she took the baby to "be cultured" at museums and art galleries apparently. Very misguided...

The issue with the environment you provide is that you are in denial about your abuse and therefore have weird approaches to relationships and boundaries. The dc "Knowing" the janitor is not a good thing.

The bad thing is how the dc know him. Him shagging you and then being randomly in your kitchen having coffee with the dc and then you never mentioning it and just hoping dc are not messed up is absolutely going to damage them.

You are demonstrating confusing messages between the expecting "proper" behaviour from them (to the point of obsession), not having friends round (so not having a life) and then him randomly being sat in the kitchen and you not talking about it which send the message that you don't want to/them to talk about it....

You seem to be doing the thing many people who were abused as children do and putting an unreasonable amount of pressure on yourself to be the perfect parent. Unfortunately you have never worked through the abuse or it seems really even acknowledged it so you are somewhat emotionally detached and unpredictably affected by any level of emotional attachment.

Your flipping from totally ignoring/avoiding men to obsessive behaviour over how men look at you/whether they fancy you is also from the abuse. Your self esteem is destroyed and you have learned to repeat wrongness in your sexual relationships (sexual abuse/breaking taboos).

The crazy emotional abuse of janitor is down to those self esteem problems and also feelings of fear/anger at men and also a need to test new partners so that you can feel safer/find evidence of the problem being with you.

All these weird obsessions this year have been way to intense and very wrong. I really do think you miss the point in obsessing over what janitor might think, what he might say, what he might do because you are emotionally abusing and controlling him, he hasn't been able to say or do or think what he really wants for a while. All that aside he still sounds like both an idiot and a completely inappropriate person for you to be involved with. All the, the kids know him, "I don't understand why him being a TA is a problem" "but ds will be in year 6, he's too young for gossip" just shows the level of detachment you have from your children's feelings IMHO too. It is not surprising though that you might find real intimacy difficult.

If your ex is coming into your house you really need to stop that too. It isn't good for any of you, more weird (but understandable boundary issues).

I feel very sorry for you but I can understand the responses you have had here in total frustration.

What you absolutely definitely need is to deal with your history of being abused. What dance of obsessions you are doing with what man does not matter as much as this one thing. I think you should contact rape crisis/women's aid/napac or all three.

CVSFootPowder · 28/05/2013 17:10

Kato yes it's Marmite Tower Man.

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