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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:
akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:22

OP has he met your RL mates?

HamsterDam · 19/05/2013 20:23

you were in the wrong in that scenario.
youre needy. you give him an option then get the arse if he chooses the wrong one.
sounds like you're the controlling one to me

SgtTJCalhoun · 19/05/2013 20:23

YOU are as much of a problem as he is and in that last argument you describe you sound like a complete PITA.

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:23

What does it matter what we think about who was in the wrong on that occasion?

forumdonkey · 19/05/2013 20:24

OP I've told you what to do and where you'll find all your answers.

Download the book Mr Unavailable and the fallback girl.

It has all your answers I promise

SisterMonicaJoan · 19/05/2013 20:25

I read one of your posts recently on another forum. How many times has he "de-friended" and "re-friended" you on fb now??

All you are looking for are excuses to carry on how you are. You haven't and won't listen to anyone. You really are desperate and I despair what your children are going to learn about relationships the way you act and the rubbish behaviour you accept.

Don't think anyone else has picked up on one of your previous posts that he tried to strangle you?? Yeah, he's so fucking misunderstood. You should have ended this charade then.

hth.

FreddieMisaGREATshag · 19/05/2013 20:26

WTF? Shock

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:27
Shock
forumdonkey · 19/05/2013 20:27

OP he tried to strangle you? Shock wtf

Any links peeps?

deste · 19/05/2013 20:27

You know what, if he came on here and told us his side of the story, we would tell them your behaviour was a red flag. You both sound about 12, it's not healthy and I think you should do us all a favour and stop posting because you are never going to listen. Concentrate on your children. You sound desperate for any attention.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:27

It's also documented on the baggage reclaim website fd and I've spent the last hour reading it.

More points relate to me than him...

aka - because that is how all our arguments/exchanges go. That is what happens eveytime he comes over.

I genuinely think it's me - I'm insecure, emotionally unavailable, needy, controlling...and he's been trying.

So if I can give him the space he needs and in the meantime go the to the GP re possible depression (because I have other signs of that) and also try and work on being less clingy and confrontational, then maybe we might have a chance.

OP posts:
Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:28

You invite the janitor/ta around-never heard of such a hybrid btw?-within a week of knowing him,have a shag and let your kids see him there in the morning? Wow classy. Have you been on this forum under another name because you remind me of another poster very strongly?

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:28

No - my ex tried to strangle me - the father of my children.

Not this guy.

OP posts:
Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:29

No you have no chance-he is 20 years older than you and he is a janitor at your kids school!!! 10//10 for an entertaining thread though op.

Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:29

Did you used to be called something else op?

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:29

Ashoe we officially got together on the 18th April I think it was. He 'met' the children...10 days ago maybe? Lost track now.

OP posts:
Ponyphysio · 19/05/2013 20:30

Hear hear Ragwort! I'm feckin drained just reading about. They both need a toe up the arse...

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:30

Why does his job and age have anything to do with it?

OP posts:
Scrazy · 19/05/2013 20:31

Oh dear, it sounds to me that this guy thought he had met someone he loved, jumped in with both feet only for it to dawn on him that you are a very insecure woman, who isn't ready for anything and he got scared off. He is trying to remove himself from you. Carn't you see this? Please give him all the space he needs.

He's an idiot too for declaring love within a week of seeing you.

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:31

My point is I'm recognising that if it's me with the problem, I will work on it to try and make things better.

OP posts:
Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:31

Wow a whole 3 weeks then-I am seriously impressed at your self restraint in introducing a random geezer into your dcs lives...

Ashoething · 19/05/2013 20:32

Did you used to be called something else op?

akaWisey · 19/05/2013 20:32

Have your RL mates met him?

confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:33

Yes, I started the thread about the guy with the Aussie partner - as someone else mentioned a couple of pages back.

I have said I got far too caught up in things - it felt like one of those whirlwind things, like we clicked so well and fitted together completely...all clichéd and silly and then when we started talking about him moving in fairly soon, I realised what an idiot I'd been for going so quickly.

OP posts:
confusedisitme · 19/05/2013 20:34

No, not yet aka - we've only been out twice, and that was for walks with his dog and a meal out of town.
Yesterday was meant to be the time we went out around town, ut umm...didn't happen.

OP posts:
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