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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

hand holding needed here

10 replies

MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 10:13

So here's the deal. Started seeing someone back last year. Was very into him. He said he was me. It got pretty intense and serious very quickly. I was and felt deeply in love. After just a few weeks something started to bother me. I felt a cooling. I felt insecure and I felt that the relationship was fizzling out. I ended it saying I couldn't sustain a relationship with someone that blew hot and cold. He didn't put up any kind of resistance and after a couple of failed conversations I finally sent a text saying that we should draw a line under it and stay away from each other. Deleted his numbers from my phone. Deleted all text conversation and made sure that I didn't bump into him at all. No contact I think it's called. It was working for me relatively well. However, not a day went by when I didn't think about him. Wonder what he was up to. Think about the relationship we had until it went wrong. Had silly thoughts about what it would be like if we ever bumped into each other again etc etc....

This was maintained for 4 months. I am happy. Have been on a couple of dates but not really interested in any of them. I haven't been in the least bit worried about seeing anyone really. Life is feeling pretty nice to be honest. I am feeling confident and secure.

I admit to having those thoughts that was it real love that I felt? Was it one of the things you hear other people talk about but isn't a real thing? Just childish daydreaming? I am a pretty cynical person and not sure if there is such a thing a 'the one'. But I just couldn't get the damn man out of my head and he was there every day, several times a day. Sometimes it was anger, sometimes it was loving fond memories, sometimes it was a pure longing to see him and be in his arms again.

So to the point. Four weeks ago he got in touch. Tentatively. He asked me to do some work for him at first. I agreed but was thinking, is this the right thing to be doing? You might go and fall in love with him again. I didn't listen and went ahead with the work. The contacts and visits increased. He started to be more and more friendly. I started to feel unsettled but in a nic way if you know what I mean. I realised the old attraction was still there. I was very careful with my words (and actions) when dealing with him. He was being pretty careful too. I realised pretty soon on that he still desired me. But I concluded that it was just a bloke looking for a leg over.

In the end I had 'the talk'. Said that I didn't want to go there again. I was happy on my own. Not looking to get embroiled in such an intense relationship again. He saw my point but said that he had never stopped thinking about me. Said he was unbelievably hurt when it all ended and had spent the last four months trying to pick up the courage to call me and try to explain or work out what had gone wrong. Said he has never stopped loving me and has missed me dreadfully. Doesn't want to imagine life without me even if it means a friendship and not a physical relationship.

So dear readers. What do I do? My heartfelt inclination is to go very slowly and carefully and see what happens. My brainfelt inclination is to say it didn't work out last time it won't work out now. I am aware I am very much in the driver's seat at the moment and have said I absolutely do not want to have a full blown relationship with him.

However, I have admitted to him that I have thought a lot about him and that I missed him too. But I want to make it clear that this must be the relationship it should be. An open one, an honest one and I need to be able to trust him (and myself) that we are both on the same page as to what we want.

Hold my hand? Or tell me to ditch and run? This could have a lovely ending or just fizzle again. Shall I be putting a coat of armour around my heart or should I be just letting it happen knowing full well, if it all goes tits up again, I will hurt but I will recover?

Long story I know and thanks for reading. Any opinions from you lot?

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 22/05/2014 10:21

How long was it last time between meeting, the intense part, the impression it was cooling off and ending it?

MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 10:27

The relationship started with flirty conversation and went to physical after about 4 weeks. It all went tits up about 6 weeks after the first time we slept together. Due to kids etc sleeping together didn't happen very much just about 4 or 5 times. So I would say from beginning to end about 10 weeks. I did end it very abruptly though. We tried to be 'friends' for a couple of weeks but I found I was too hurt and preferred the clean break.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 22/05/2014 10:33

Who was driving the speed and the intensity? Were you the one declaring love and him saying 'me too' or was it the other way around?

MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 11:02

It was him Cog. I was happy to let things go slowly really, but yes, he did push things along pretty fast. I have told him to please take his time with it now. It will be interesting to see if he hears (and understands) what I'm saying. I've said I want more space. He would see me almost every day before. I think we need to just get together a couple of times a week. I so want to get to know him slowly like a new person. I need to maintain my independence too. It's very important to me. I am deeply suspicious of anyone that pushes a relationship too quickly. Are they trying to get you pinned down before you see the faults?

Am very wary and worried but afraid that my fears might be stopping something that could be lovely.

OP posts:
heyday · 22/05/2014 11:17

In life there are absolutely no guarantees whatsoever and every relationship is a bit of an emotional gamble. Perhaps you both just rushed things and it went a bit wrong. This time you will be going in with your eyes open. I don't really think that you will fully commit to any relationship until you have finally got him out of your system. Perhaps he is a bit scared by it all too and has maybe been hurt in the past and he is bringing these feelings to this relationship. Why not just take it nice and slow. Be friends, get to know and trust each other and then see if there is any real future in it. Who knows what tomorrow will bring for any of us but quite often in life we regret the things we didn't do rather than the things that we did. Try and protect your heart but if it all ends in tears or in wedding bells your friends here at MN will be there to hold your hand.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 22/05/2014 11:36

If he was the one who went too fast to begin with and then cooled on you just as you were starting to have strong feelings then stay wary. To me he sounds the type that enjoys the chase but finds victory too boring to stick with. 'Bloke after a shag' might be all he'll ever be

MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 11:41

thanks heyday. I feel my hand being held.

I guess I just have to make sure I don't make the same mistakes again and do what I tell everyone else to do. "Make sure you are getting the relationship you want, not just the scraps someone else is prepared to offer you".

Having read so much on this kind of stuff over the last few months (Baggage Reclaim etc) I feel pretty armed and ready for this but a bit of me is hoping I'm not just being very niaive .

I've been doing some pretty extensive work on myself and my self esteem. I think I know what went wrong last time and I know I played a huge part in it. Initially, I put all the blame on him because I let him control the pace of the relationship I think. I got swept up in his tide of love and demonstrative way of doing things. I don't tell people I love them easily. It seemed to come out of him very easily. I'm a great believer in actions speak louder than words. Any fool can say those three words. It's in actions that it shows. The ability to recognise those actions are what I think I miss or overlook sometimes. Taking care of someone when things might be a bit shitty. Trying to understand the other person's feeling and point of view is something I lack I think. Too wrapped up in how I'm feeling. But on the other hand practising self care as well. A difficult balance really, but in the right relationship a balance that can be achieved without too much of an effort I would imagine.

Fingers (and legs) crossed!!!

OP posts:
MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 11:45

Yes Cog that is my thinking too. Well part of the time, and yet again, we didn't sleep together much at all before really. Holding out on that part of the relationship won't necessarily provide the answer because I'm just increasing his desire to 'conquer'. It's what he does after that will show what is really going on. I guess I'll have to just take a chance. Might turn into a one night stand but it will be a jolly lovely one if my memory serves me well!!!

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 22/05/2014 11:59

Sounds like you know what you're doing. I shall therefore bequeath you my man-magnet of a friend's winning response for when he tell you he loves you ....

'That's nice'....

MrsIrony · 22/05/2014 12:06

Which exactly what I have been saying! Will keep you posted!!!

OP posts:
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