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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

Urgent relationship help needed...

96 replies

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 16:53

I have been with my bf for 3 years now. He is nearly 50 and I am nearly 40. He left his wife 3 years ago coz he wasn't happy and thought he wanted to be with me, I wasn't interested in a married man. We then got together and he moved in with me in nottm. Things was good but then stresses from his wife and teenage children started getting on top of us. They said they would have nothing to do with him whilst being with me, so he left me and moved back to the north.

After a week or so nothing had changed with them but he missed me and we tried again, only for 3 mths later he left again. And for the next 18 mths or so this is what happened even leaving me in a new house we got after 1 mth which was just before Christmas. Only for him to a few days before Christmas get back in touch and say he's made a mistake, I stupidly forgave him and he came to see me Boxing Day after I had spent Christmas alone crying and heart broken. Each time we have got back together we have never really talked things through as it's just easier to just try and move on, plus he won't except my feelings and how hurt he's made me.

Then he got a job offer to go to NZ, we talked it through and yes we was going to NZ together. The plan was that we would get rid of the house in nottm and all my furniture etc and live in the house up North and commute to nottm daily for the 2 mths we had left in the uk. So I moved to the north east leaving my family, friends and 16 year old son ( he didn't want to come) I sold all the furniture and threw a lot of my stuff away as I couldn't take it to NZ. A week or so after being up north his bosses offered him a more exciting job if he stayed in the UK and promised the chance to go abroad in 18 mths or so, so he took that option, didn't talk to me about it just decided that's what we wanted. I was upset but only coz he hadn't talked it through with me I was only going to NZ coz I loved him.

Anyway not long after that he dumped me again, is time he couldn't just walk out like all the other times as I lived up north now and he had no intention of leaving here. This again was all in the lead up to Christmas and yes again a few days before Christmas he wanted to try again. This continued on off for the next 12 mths. Then 3 weeks ago after finally a nice Christmas together we break up again.

He wants to be on his own to come and go as he likes and not to answer to anyone. However he doesn't want me to leave the house, nor will he move into the spare room so we share the same bed, he cuddles and tries to kiss me, been telling me he loves me and wants me, but then backs right off. Tells me in detail his plans despite him saying he wants freedom! I've suggested relate but apparently it's not for me but thinks it would help but can't bring himself to do it.

I love him and want to be with him but know things have to change. One day he ignores me then he tries to be all over me, last week he was away with work (where the promise of great things never happened and he hates this job and is bored out his mind and regrets not going to NZ) and I wasn't available to his calls etc, and he seems to be paranoid that I was with someone else, which I wasn't... What can I do to save us? Why is he hot and cold? I don't know anyone up here and feel like I'm going out my mind....

Last night I told him how much I loved him and didn't want to end etc, he told me he loves me wants me and i am his world but he can't have everything , I asked if he thinks about the future without me and he says no coz it's too painful. This is as emotional as he has ever been. How do I get him to open up and make a go of this?

OP posts:
AliceinWinterWonderland · 02/02/2014 17:18

I'm not sure how you can really say you've been with him for 3 years, to be honest. He's gone and back and gone and back so much he must have given you whiplash. Hmm

WHY would you want to make a go of this? He doesn't love you or respect you, that much is fairly obvious as he doesn't seem to care at all about your feelings.

Move on.

Leverette · 02/02/2014 17:22

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teaandthorazine · 02/02/2014 17:23

There are two of these threads running (this one has paragraphs!)

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 17:33

Yeah I am need it this and did as you asked and added paragraphs and it's created two threads, sorry...

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Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 17:34

No I think I deserve better, he does give me the world but it seems to come at a price, a big emotional one...

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starlight1234 · 02/02/2014 17:45

He does not give you the world no respect or thought for your feelings...He will not change why should he..both you and his wife (?) have allowed him to come and go as he pleases..

Why don't you move into the spare room till you can find your own place

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 17:49

Yes his wife did but I stand up to him more when it comes to coming and going as he pleases, but I can see why she gave up trying...

Perhaps coz I don't want to go in the spare room as I deep down want to be near him and also coz I don't want to sleep on the floor... Stupid I know...

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plutarch14 · 02/02/2014 17:54

He gives you fuck all as far as I can see. I would have got fed up with this a long time ago. I think you should just dump him tbh.

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 18:02

Yeah I'm surprised by how much I've put up with tba, but I always had an excuse for him...

He thinks I am unreasonable coz I don't approve of him wanting every Friday night out with the lads whilst I stay in, boys weekend trips away, and boys holidays... Errrr he's nearly 50 I thought they did this when 18... So of this I can accept but every weekend and holidays no! I want nights out with him and without him, nice holidays together, weekends away together, but I'm unreasonable...

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AliceinWinterWonderland · 02/02/2014 18:22

You haven't really stood up to him on the coming and going though. If you had, he'd be coming and going... and then it would be done. Because he would be gone. It's like your house has a revolving door on it.

LTB.

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:03

Yeah it sure is like a revolving door... He must know what he is doing is bad coz he doesn't like me telling anyone and he doesn't even mention it to his best friend...

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AliceinWinterWonderland · 02/02/2014 19:09

Okay. So let's review. Treats you with no respect. No regard for your feelings. Comes and goes as he pleases. Doesn't want you to tell anyone how shabbily he treats you.

If this was a friend of yours, wouldn't you be encouraging them to leave?

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:11

I know I would of dragged my friend away by now... But I don't know where to go...

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AliceinWinterWonderland · 02/02/2014 19:15

What about your family and friends? The grandparents that your 16yo son is staying with?

iamonthepursuitofhappiness · 02/02/2014 19:20

It's the equivalent of the relationship hokey-cokey isn't it? He's in, out, in, out and shaking it all about.

Why is he hot and cold? Well, every time he throws a curve ball your way he gets to see you prove how much you 'love' him and gives himself an ego boost.

Really, is this love? you have made lots of sacrifices and compromises to be with him and he gets to dip in and out of the relationship when he feels like it. Your happiness is reliant on him choosing to be with you, if he feels like it. There is a great saying about this, 'If someone makes you feel like an option, take yourself out of the equation'.

As hard as it might be (as it sounds like you have co-dependency issues), you need to cut all contact with this man and move back with your son imo. Don't be tempted to resume contact, what will achieve? More of the same old shit. You might have sold your possessions and have to start again in that respect but it sounds like a fresh start is needed so that is no bad thing.

Best of luck :)

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:21

They live down South and my job is up north where I live, I couldn't move down there without an income it wouldn't be fair to them, but I am applying for jobs down there... And my son is now 18...

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gingerbeard · 02/02/2014 19:21

Are you absolutely sure he has left his wife? It does smack a bit of those guys who live double lives. It's the stuff about breaking up before Christmas and wanting holidays "with the boys" - times to be with his family? Perhaps? Whatever the truth, you deserve more than this man child. Get rid, and move on.

Logg1e · 02/02/2014 19:21

Were you the Other Woman before he left his wife for you?

Cabrinha · 02/02/2014 19:24

Well, I could say you deserve better, but actually I want to say that your son deserves better. You were going leave a CHILD (16 is still a child) to follow this arsehole who doesn't give a shit about you to the other side of the planet. How about you lose the dickhead before you lose your SON?

Dump him, get counselling to work out why you would accept this, and get busy making it up to your child.

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:24

I do know if I left I would never contact him again, I would never look back again!

It does seem like he loves the attention he gets when we are back together but when I relax into what u consider a normal adult relationship he then starts getting cold feet! Plus it mirror his bf's moods with his wife... His bf can dictate if I am allowed on nights out with them or not!

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Logg1e · 02/02/2014 19:26

How did your son feel about this? Had he left home when you moved away?

Logg1e · 02/02/2014 19:27

OP, His bf can dictate if I am allowed on nights out with them or not!

No, your boyfriend uses his mate as an excuse as to whether he allows you to go or not.

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:27

Ginger oh yes his wife is well out the pic her and the kids hate him more than words...

Cabrinha regarding my son we had issues and the only good thing about moving away is believe it or not we are closer than ever it's done us the world of good. And despite all the guilt I had I don't any more coz I actually got my son and mother relationship back...

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Quitelikely · 02/02/2014 19:27

So you have up and left your SON, family and everything you know for someone who does not k ow what he wants, he is keeping you dangling like a thread.

He certainly can go out with his pals and on holidays with them it's a free life and he certainly likes his freedom!

I just don't think he is who you want/need him to be. Why try to change him. Let him be, find someone who you're a better fit with. Honestly this is not a relationship.

You reap what you sow though so...........

Carriebradshaw27 · 02/02/2014 19:29

My p is a sheep, I don't think it's an excuse he's just weak and pathetic

Loggie my son doesn't know my issues and my son left in the April as I moved in the cot, he moved with his nan they are very close since she got cancer!

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