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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

Losing my man to another woman, help!

999 replies

ArtsyLady · 29/10/2013 21:53

Hello ladies,

I am new to this forum. I'm not married and I don't have children but I am going through something and could use some help.

I'm 29 and in a relationship with a 40 year old man. We've been together close to a year and I'm certain that he's the one. He has never been married but I've been hoping and trying to get him to commit.

Things have been great between us - we have good chemistry, we've traveled together, did some exciting new things. This has all changed recently, he has lost interest, doesn't contact me as often, even our sexual relationship has cooled.

I recently discovered that a new woman has entered the picture. She isn't actually "new". He has known her for many years. She is recently divorced but was already married when they met. They were introduced through mutual friends 7 years ago and he helped her apply for a job where he worked. She then got the job and they worked together for a period of time. Apparently, during this time he developed feelings for her, but she was happily married then and he couldn't act on these feelings. He then got a new job in the city and moved and has hardly seen her for years.

Now she's newly single and has moved into the city herself. What really made me mad is that when he reconnected with her, they were both invited to dinner with some mutual friends. He knew she was going to be there and didn't invite me along (even though he normally would). Since then he has been spending time with her, I don't know how far it has gotten.

I got all this information from a friend who knows them both. I have confronted him but he claims that nothing is going on, I don't believe him.

What do I do?

OP posts:
blessedwolf · 31/10/2013 09:13

OP - this is the advice that I think you want to hear:

Your DP is an idiot. Can't he see that you are all he needs? What is wrong with him?? Find out what attracts him to the OW and change yourself to be like her. Show him you are all he needs til he realises that he loved you all along. Fight for your man until you win him back and he shakes out of the delusion that the OW is something special.

Only, the thing is, NOBODY here is saying that, are they? EVERYBODY is telling you to move on.

You will eventually see that what we're saying is good advice. Your choice is when to take that advice. Now, with your dignity in tact. Or months (years?) down the line, when you'll find yourself having to factor in regret, resentment, wasted time and a whole host of I-told-you-so.

You simply cannot fathom WHY we love who we love. If it was easy to understand we'd all get it right, first time, and live happy ever after with our first loves.

This man does not love you. He loves someone else. You won't ever be able to scientifically work out why. And, even if you could, it wouldn't change his feelings one jot.

I urge you - move on!

ALittleStranger · 31/10/2013 09:19

OP it worries me that you seem to think there's still something to think about here. The only choice you have is whether to walk away now with your dignity in tact or let him string you along until he knows this woman is good for a relationship.

Do you realise how high most people set the bar for interfering in other people's relationships? The only reason his friend has told you these things is because you are making a fool of yourself. And why on earth did you think she was going to say this woman, her friend, was a bitch?

Look, you're getting some firm harsh advice on this thread and to be honest it's necessary. But I feel for you. I was dumped about your age and went through the same rationalising process. But I'm prettier, skinnier, funnier, cleverer, how can he prefer her to me? While the fact is he did, and if I'd taken my head out my arse as thankfully I did much quicker than you appear likely to I realised that these are not the things that really cement love or grow a relationship. As others have said, love is not a project you can rationalise and fight for. I think most of us have made the mistake of hoping it can be, but now you need to listen to those who have been there, done that.

I bet you think that if you hang around he might realise the other woman is hard work and you are easy and ready to meet his needs. It's not going to happen. Listen to the experience here. You're hoping that the sun is going to rise in the west one morning.

LittlePeaPod · 31/10/2013 09:25

Artsy. It's clear you have fallen for this guy, what he offers (now and in the future materially & emotionally) and he may well be your "Mr Right". His swept you off your feet and you have been dreaming of the white wedding, children and some form of future together etc. I know you have had some wonderful times and his taken you to some wonderful places. I really feel for you and its awful seeing anyone in pain.

The reality of your situation though seems to be that this guy doesn't see you as his "Miss Right", he seems to see you more like "Miss Right Now". It seems that for him your relationship has been a bit of give and take. He gives you the wonderful experiences and travel etc. You look great on his arm, you are fun and his enjoyed your company. The problem is, even though he may well care deeply for you he clearly doesn't love you. He seems to have held a torch for the OW for a long long time. If she allows it, then its inevitable that they may well together. By carrying on as you are, you are:

  1. Delaying the inevitable break up
  2. Prolonging the heartache you feel
  3. Driving yourself to despair trying to think this through and find a solution to something which is out of your control. You can't make someone love or want you to commit to you. These emotions are normally out of our control and it just happens

I understand you want us all to say. You can win him back and what you need to do is this, that and/or the other and he will stay or see sense etc. but we can't because as third parties we can see what you seem blinded too. This guy just isn't all that into you and clearly doesn't love you. No one that is in love would behave the way he is. His probably carrying on with your relationship because OW isn't in a place to start a new relationship yet. But, do not be deluded, if and/or when OW decides things could work with him, he will drop you quicker than a red hot potato. Leave him now and if he really loves you, he will fight for you and do anything/everything to get you back. But maybe deep down, you already know he wont and he will simply let you go!

I really feel for you but you are slowing moving into the stalker category and this (he) is becoming an obsession. That is not healthy for you. The way you are behaving is very unattractive and makes you look desperate. It's really not a good look. Leave him, try to move on and walk away with your dignity/self respect. You are only 29 and you will meet someone that truly loves and values you. But this guy isn't that guy!

MoominsYonisAreScary · 31/10/2013 10:01

You sound infatuated with him, he sounds infatuated with her, she probably just sees him as a friend. I can see everyone getting hurt here. If I was you id break it off, especially after what the friend has told you.

jonicomelately · 31/10/2013 10:06

Newgirlintown Thanks so much for your suggestion I should critique other people's posts but I'm happy to stick to my comments abouts yours Smile

Ohnoitsgonewrong · 31/10/2013 10:12

It doesn't matter about age , dress size , attractiveness and it won't help you to learn what is special about this woman .
The fact is he wants her , you can't make someone want you nor should you try as you will just become a nuisance.
He may keep seeing you till she's ready and you will feel a million times worse than if you'd kept your dignity and finished it as you deserve better .

meddie · 31/10/2013 10:38

The heart wants what the heart wants. Im afraid his wants her. Theres absolutely sod all you can do about that.
The only thing you can do is keep your self respect.
He is acting like a coward by stringing you along until such time as he can get with her. At best if she says no you will always be the booby prize.
Do you really want to hang onto this knowing that the most you can hope for is second best?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/10/2013 10:47

Joni - I can see why NewGirlInTown was so harsh, and whilst I don't agree with everything she said, I can understand why she said what she said.

It strikes me that the 'love' that ArtsyLady is feeling at the moment is most closely akin to an addiction, and as such, she can't take any steps in the right direction (ie. away from this man) until she has acknowledged to her self that she has a problem.

ArtsyLady - there has been some plain speaking on this thread - and some very plain speaking - and an awful lot of good advice. I really hope you can listen to it.

You need to stop trying to 'win' this man, stop trying to find out about the other woman, stop trying to change yourself to be what you think he wants, and start being an independant, interesting, challenging (in a good way) person, who is standing on her own feet, exuding an air of 'I don't need you, you would be lucky to have me'. If there is any hope for this relationship (which I gravely doubt), this is far more likely to bring him back to you than what you are doing currently (mistrust, reading his phone, being something you are not, etc etc).

And if, as we all believe, this relationship is dead in the water, then being an independant woman, who isn't going to change to please a man, who values herself more highly than you are doing at the moment, and who has that air of confidence, 'You'd be lucky to have me' is going to attract the sort of men who like that sort of woman, who will value her for herself and won't expect her to change, and who you will be far more likely to build a mature relationship of equals with.

ArtsyLady · 31/10/2013 11:04

oh god I spoke to my source again. Don't worry I didn't call her bugging her again. She called me to see if I was okay. She said some pretty tough things though.

She said that there is no use comparing myself to this woman because nobody knows why he feels a certain way about her. Although she did say that OW has a lot of good qualities, that she's a nice person, intelligent, beautiful and it's not a surprise that a man would be attracted to her, but why he feels a special connection with her is not something anyone can understand. Fair enough.

She then said that if I do want to compare myself to OW, I should know that she would probably never behave the way I'm behaving right now. She would handle the siatuation with a lot more grace. That really hurt

I feel like such an idiot. And yes, I can see that I'm acting like a stalker. I'm just so hurt Sad

OP posts:
LittlePeaPod · 31/10/2013 11:12

Move on Artsy yes it hurts but you will get over it.

Desperate is not an attractive quality in men and/or women.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/10/2013 11:13

Then take a bit of time to be kind to yourself, look after yourself, love yourself for who you are - I am sure you are a lovely, kind, intelligent woman - and stop trying to 'win' him.

Then look at all the advice you have been given here, and resolve to be an independant, intelligent woman, who any man would be lucky to be with - that is far more attractive than being needy and obsessive.

BalloonSlayer · 31/10/2013 11:15

Read up about Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Camilla.

That's the sort of situation you have got yourself here.

Man fancies a woman, doesn't get to have a relationship with her, she marries someone else, he marries someone else, original object of affection suddenly appears available, a Strong Friendship is resumed, wife gets jealous, husband confides more and more in Friend, especially about batty jealous wife . . . you know the rest.

SolidGoldBrass · 31/10/2013 11:15

So are you going to listen to the woman who you actually know? I do hope so because TBH you could be on the way to getting yourself into trouble with the police if you don't let this man go.

FolkGirl · 31/10/2013 11:15

I think you need to listen to your friend Flowers

BalloonSlayer · 31/10/2013 11:17

Actually maybe the one attraction that this woman has for him over you, is that she is unavailable. They are still not in a relationship, although he is hoping.

If you finish it with him YOU will become the unavailable one.

Just sayin'

FolkGirl · 31/10/2013 11:29

Artsy I have an idea of something you can do today to start this moving on process.

Compile a 'pen profile' about yourself, either in list or spidergram form, with your name at the centre of it. And write down everything about you, who you are what makes you the unique you.

So, if looks are important to you include them, but don't just write pretty or beautiful, list the characteristics you think are your best "big brown eyes", "even teeth", "shiny hair" whatever.

Then list your traits, qualities, values, hobbies, interests e.g. likes reading, vegetarian, liberal political views, exercises regularly.

And don't just include the things you already are, but the things you aspire to be e.g. does voluntary work, speaks Mandarin, rock climbs, runs marathons.

Have you seen that advert about each of us having our real live selves and our online self, include your real life self, but also include your 'online self'; the characteristics you aspire to have. It's a way of validating who you already are and acknowledging what you aspire to be. Then when you look at your aspirations, you can begin to formulate 'SMART' targets to achieve them.

I did it, and it made a massive difference to how I feel about myself. Particularly when I look at some of my 'aspirations' that have now become my reality.

It's good for the self esteem and it raises confidence and you will become the best you that you can be.

It does sound from your posts that, until now, you have relied on your looks to get you a man. That's fine, but looks will only take you so far. What you need to do now, as you approach your 30s, is work on the whole package, the whole person. When you are looking for a man in their 20s for fun, yes they are going to only be interested in your looks, but as they get older and begin to think of settling down, they want more than that.

loopyloulu · 31/10/2013 11:41

Artsy There have been times during this thread when I began to wonder if you were real or a teen bored with half term and concocting some Mills and Boon story.

Why do I feel this?

Because never once have you really engaged with any of the comments and advice.

Each time you have come back to post again, it's as if you are in your own little vacuum, where you don't refer to anything anyone has said.

I don't think you have EVER in all these pages said, 'yeah....XXX is right, thanks for the advice.'

It's like having a conversation with someone who doesn't listen, and who doesn't engage in an exchange, but simply presses on with their own thoughts.

Have you even read the comments- are are you just adding more posts to offload? I'd really like to know.

If you are like this on a forum- which shows a bit of insensitivity and a bit me, me, me- then are you like this in relationships? In other words is this why you are now only facing up to the truth when in fact it's been staring you in the face for some time ( dwindling sexual chemistry etc etc- there will be more for sure)? Have you ignored the signs that this man was not interested, but you have pressed on with your 'agenda' trying to engineer commitment- just like you appear to be ignoring most of us giving our time to try to help you?

And I expect you to ignore this post too- along with all the others....

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/10/2013 11:51

FolkGirl - that is amazing advice - I think we should all do that - I certainly would benefit from it, I am sure.

DeMaz · 31/10/2013 11:52

I've been reading this thread and have to agree with what everyone is saying, especially Loopy's posts.

Are you actually reading peoples posts or are you just skimming through them because they're not telling you what you want to hear?

Yes, it hurts but stay in this relationship much longer and you'll hurt even more!

If a guy wants to be with you forever then he will need no one else!

fromparistoberlin · 31/10/2013 12:00

can people give OP a break

some people post here, on the assumption that being shat on makes you "wise".

It doesn't. being shat on makes you human.

people also get annoyed that they are not personally thanked and ackowledged for their posts

she has said "I can see now how fighting is pointless. ", she gets it. I can see she gets it, why cant you?

OP I am not delighted by yiur friend here BTW, that last comment she made was unecessarily cruel. fuck off, your reactions are human and normal. I am sure this lady would not like being shat on either. you should reconsider whether this woman really is "your friend", maybe dump her when you dump him.

and dump him you should

fromparistoberlin · 31/10/2013 12:01

poor Diana, although I was never a fan that situation was fucking horrible

fucking charles

ArtsyLady · 31/10/2013 12:04

@loopyloulou - I have read ALL the posts and I am grateful for the advice. I'm sorry if I come across as insensitive, it's just when there are so many people telling you the opposite of what you want to hear it's difficult to swallow.

I've been trying to say this. I understand what everyone is saying. I really do. But this whole situation is so sudden to me and on top of that to get 195 people telling me to end a relationship that I've been investing a lot in is also difficult to process.

I just need some time to think this through. I suppose I've been putting my thoughts and developments here for my own benefit. I also talked to people that I know about this and nobody (other than that one woman) has told me to break up with him. But I see that it's much easier for anonymous people to give such brutal advice and that my friends have been telling me more of what I want to hear.

So I am thankful, really. And I definitely am real haha

OP posts:
FolkGirl · 31/10/2013 12:04

It works SDTG I could literally evangelise about it!

I think we can sometimes become so bogged down with life and/or trying to be what we think we should be that we can lose sight of ourselves and who we actually are.

onlypassing · 31/10/2013 12:07

Folkgirl - can I just ask: do you also put all the things you don't like about yourself to paint a totally honest picture? Do you list all your faults? Things you can do nothing about and things you maybe could change?
Or is it all positive? Good things about you only?
Did the idea come from a course? or a book?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/10/2013 12:07

ArtsyLady - you have invested a lot in this relationship, you say. Could you try looking at it as a financial investment - draw up a profit and loss account for it, and try to see that the time has come to stop investing. If a financial investment wasn't paying off, was costing you more and more and more, and wasn't delivering anything good for you, you wouldn't go on putting your money into it, would you? This is the same - harder, because it is your life - but also more important, because it is your life, not just your money.

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