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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

Suspect boyfriend might be seeing someone else

25 replies

katykat5 · 30/04/2014 20:41

I feel like I am losing my boyfriend of 3 years and I don't know how to get the relationship back. When I first met him, I really thought he might be the person I would marry and spend my life with but over the last 6 months or so, those kind of thoughts have vanished and I'm left feeling distant and ignored.

It started a few months ago when he had a big argument over a woman he works with. He was constantly on Facebook chat and had changed towards me since she joined his department. He suddenly talked about her ALL the time (even negative things occasionally, but he still went on about her) and she started liking and commenting on everything he wrote on Facebook. His work colleagues then sent him a birthday card and she'd written 'lots of love' and her name with loads of x's and didn't sign her proper name, but put a weird nickname. I told him I thought it was slightly inappropriate because all his other colleagues had just written normal messages that you'd expect a work colleague to write.

He got really defensive and accused me of being 'threatened' by her and said she wasn't doing anything wrong. I didn't mean to accuse him, I just said that I thought it was strange and he got really annoyed. I also noticed that someone from work had bought him 2 birthday presents (a chocolate bear with a heart around its neck and a mug) but he said it was someone else who had bought them and not her. Strangely, they are now no longer Facebook friends but this could be a cover up as it seems a bit random.

Anyway I tried to forget about it but he's so distant. We used to have a relationship that felt perfect. Now we hardly ever go out anywhere, he refuses to book a holiday with me, he never talks about the future (e.g. I would like us to move in together but he doesn't seem interested) and he doesn't even speak to me in the same way.

We haven't had sex for months. This is partly due to me having surgery for pre-cancerous cervical cells but that was a while ago now. I tried to initiate something last week but he just shrugged me off and said it was 'weird' and 'abrupt' and that upset me. I told him this and he said he just wasn't expecting it. I'm his gf so it shouldn't matter if I initiate something he isn't expecting - he should be excited. Never worried him before.

I noticed he's got Snapchat hidden in a folder on his phone and hes possessive over it. He takes the phone everywhere, even in the bathroom. I feel like I'm with a different person as he's nothing like the man I met. I suspect he's seeing someone else but I have no real proof. I had a talk to him last week and said that maybe we should have a break as things are so hard now, but he got upset and said things would change and we'd spend more time together. Since then he's not really bothered and I get short texts and he never phones me. He used to phone me every night if we were apart.

Our friends recently had their first baby together and I was excited about going round to see the baby, but he went without me and didn't mention it until afterwards. He told me we'd go together so I felt quite upset. I feel like I can't see them alone as they are more his friends than mine, but it would have been nice to feel included. He would never gone without me a year ago.

I don't know what to do. When I came close to breaking up with him, he seemed to want to turn things around...but I wonder if that's because he wants me to break up with him so he won't seem like the bad one to his friends and family.

What do you think?

OP posts:
RandomMess · 30/04/2014 20:45

Sounds like he's either having an emotional affair or a full blown one. If he is distant and you're not happy like you once were then just call it a day - life is too short.

cantbelievethisishppening · 30/04/2014 20:48

Am so sorry but this is not looking good. The fact that he is reluctant to make future plans after being with you for three years seems a worry. From what you say it does seem he is detaching from the relationship. Perhaps you need to sit down with him and have a very frank conversation. It sounds like you are in limbo at the moment. Do you still love him? Is there a chance he may be feeling that you are drifting away from him? I think the only way is to have that talk.

MuttonCadet · 30/04/2014 20:51

I think she might have blocked you on fb (unless you have access to his account and password).

The phone thing stinks, particularly if it's a change in behaviour.

Sorry OP I think he's cheating, but if he's been treating you badly why not just break up with him?

AnyFucker · 30/04/2014 20:51

I think you need to screw up your self respect and tell him to do one

Find another boyfriend, this one has moved on and all that is left is ,more drawn out shittiness for you

TheAwfulDaughter · 30/04/2014 20:53

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Pinkballoon · 30/04/2014 21:02

Is he able to block/ hide certain friends on FB? I don't know, it seems to change all the time (what you can and can't do on there.) If she has blocked you, then it would indicate some sort of guilt for, or awareness of something?

Not making plans for the future would be an alarm bell for me. As would the phone in the bathroom thing. Does he spend ages in there? I used to think my exDP suffered from poorly tummies and would be discretely suggesting seeing the doctor/ if I could get medicine for him etc. You live and learn!!! Angry

I think you need to have a make or break chat with him again.

LizzieBelle · 30/04/2014 21:10

Aww katykat, it sounds a bit suspect to us on here. Maybe you should just talk to him and say you aren't happy. When you start pulling away, he may come to his senses. Draw back and wait and see what he does.

Life is too short x

hamptoncourt · 30/04/2014 21:35

OP you don't need evidence and you don't need his permission to leave a relationship you are no longer happy in.

It sounds like you are just getting crumbs now and clinging on to the man/relationship you had years ago.

You have to deal with the man/relationship before you, and clearly this is not working for you.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 30/04/2014 22:16

I think we all deserve someone whom we can trust. As somebody who has been treated for pre-cancerous cells, why would you waste precious time trying to second guess an increasingly remote partner. Last week's chat should have been a huge wake-up call, has he responded, no.

He's not a live-in boyfriend, you can start making your own plans for this summer.

Theoldhag · 01/05/2014 00:02

Awww kitykat you deserve so much more than this, affair or not he has checked out of your relationship and is being a heartless knob about it. Really you would do much better in the long term by ending it with him, create a space for someone who will love, respect and cherish you in a way that you deserve.

If you were advising a friend in your position what would you be saying?
I know it hurts to end a relationship but the pain does fade and you will survive.

Do you have any support irl? Family or friends around you to help you through this? Please look after yourself, make plans that don't include him, live life, it is far too short for heartache of this calibre.

Thanks
BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 01/05/2014 08:23

Dump him.

'You're having an affair, so I'm moving on. You're a shit. Before you deny it, remember you're going to want to make her public in a few weeks/months, so don't make TOO much of a fool of yourself denying it, or I might have to let everyone know who they can expect you to have 'got together with' by, ooh, let's say early June.'

CogitoErgoSometimes · 01/05/2014 08:32

I'd suggest you stop waiting for him to decide what he wants and tell him that it's not working for you any more. Take the control back rather than letting him take it for granted that you'll always be there.

iggy0155 · 01/05/2014 11:16

Sound like he wants to have his cake and eat it. It does sound like he's playing away. Think you need to tell him what you want to happen rather than letting him call the shots Thanks

Jan45 · 01/05/2014 11:24

Takes his phone to the bathroom - there's your answer.

katykat5 · 01/05/2014 17:11

Thanks for your replies. I don't think this woman has blocked me on FB as I can still see her profile. He is just no longer showing up on her friends list or vice versa.

I think I will have another talk with him and take the control back. He is so off with me at the moment and life is too short to feel unwanted :(

OP posts:
JDD · 01/05/2014 17:54

It sounds like they defriended on Facebook as a cover up and are using snap chat instead. Being glued to his phone and secretive is a dead giveaway. If I were you I'd end it unless he hands over his phone and all his passwords and proves its all a misunderstanding. Even if it is innocent, it doesn't sound like he's treating you very well.

chaseface · 01/05/2014 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katykat5 · 01/05/2014 20:23

He is early 30s, chaseface

OP posts:
chaseface · 01/05/2014 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katykat5 · 01/05/2014 21:31

What makes me feel even worse is that he seems to have a track record of pursuing young girls who start at his workplace then moving on when another young girl catches his eye. We met when I started working in his department (I was 23 at the time, 26 now) and he'd broken up with his live-in girlfriend 4 months earlier. He met his ex at work too when she was about 19.

This current girl I think he's after is younger than me, about 22. She also looks a bit like me, but a more glamorous and outgoing version. It makes me feel really inadequate and sad.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 01/05/2014 21:33

Have you had the "talk" with him, katy, or are you going to carry on feeling sad and inadequate because of man ?

chaseface · 01/05/2014 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katykat5 · 01/05/2014 21:39

I haven't seen or spoken to him since Sunday, only over text. A sign of how crap things have become. So I will be having the talk when I see him at the weekend.

OP posts:
ReadyToBreak · 01/05/2014 21:42

Shiiiiiit, he's not my ex is it? That was exactly his MO but I thought we were different because we lived together and were getting married!

Dump his loser arse. Not worth anymore of your time or energy.

AnyFucker · 01/05/2014 21:44

because of a man (a crappy one at that...)

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