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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

advice needed please!!

7 replies

meggiemae · 22/10/2014 00:17

Hi all

Wondered if some could please share some thoughts on my situation, i'm kind of going round and round in my head and nowhere fast.....am i fooling myself here ???????????

i'm a single mum with 2 DS, i work full time in a pretty demanding job, that i do love, but is pretty tiring. i've been single for over 5 years and dated a wee bit here and there. nothing special.

then, a friend introduced me to one of her friends, and we started emailing and then chatting on the phone. we have both said we would like to get out there and meet people and possibly date.....so she thought we would get on well personality wise. We got on like a house on fire !! i haven't had such a great connection with someone literally for decades!! i'm 37 and he is 42.

however, he doesn't live close to me, a good 3hr drive, and he travels a lot with his work. i did mention that at the start, and we both said that it would be just nice to see how we got on. i think we were both taken aback at how well we got on. so, a month of chatting on the phone regularly and emailing and texting, we met up 3 times with lots of spark. he drove up to see me twice and i went down to see him.

he then realised the actual distance.... i'd asked him to always be open and honest so, he said he was concerned about the distance, and us feeling pressure to see each other...... he's also for the next 3 months literally in the uk for only 6 days, which i know and understand.... but i was totally gutted. but i was nice about it and thanked him for being straight up and honest. i said goodby and goodluck with everything. he was really taken aback and thought we would be able to stay friends. he said he thought about it a lot before making the decision, nad still wanted me in my life. i said no thanks, that i didn't just feel he was my just my 'friend' as there was such a spark there.

long story short, he wasn't expecting that, but was respectful and only contacted me a couple of times in the following week saying he was gutted that i didn't want to stay in touch.
i realised i missed his banter, so i said that ok we could give being 'friends' a go.
heres the crunch though- since then - over 3 weeks ago - he has been in contact with me every day... just friendly texts and banter as we both know a lot about our jobs..... but i'm looking forward to his texts or calls and i know i'm being a bridget and in my head he is not my friend.

Basically - i would love any advice on whether you think he likes me more than a friend?? - i'm confused what his contacting me every day means? and am i being a door mat by being his 'friend' ..... would it be cruel to say to him that i'm finding it hard with this level of contact to just think of him as a friend and i really need it to pare down or stop, as i really would like to be going out on dates with an open mind of the men that ask me out nad not kind of hanging back waiting on him figuring out that we could work over the distance??????? or is it likely that after this period of intense travelling and work stuff he will feel more able to give us a go???

sounds trivial, but please, it's not to me, this finally felt like an amazing fit and i'm completely confused...but i do want to get out there and have a social life now and be open to meeting the right man for me and my family..but how much does things like distance cotnrol if you both really like each other?
cheers in advance x

OP posts:
Heyho111 · 22/10/2014 05:08

This is so hard to know what to say. He prob does like you more than a friend but can't see how it can work due to distance. It's very difficult to switch from one feeling to another.
You can see how it goes over the next 3 months. But be prepared for it not to go anywhere.
Perhaps test the waters locally but I fear no one will be as good as him in your eyes at the moment.
Perhaps in a while you'll have to be honest and tell him your feelings and that you can't carry on as friends as it hurts too much. Maybe in a while he'll realise it is too much to loose.

StopStalkingMe · 22/10/2014 07:40

Can I ask, have you DTD?

If you have, then he may like the idea of FWB. If not, then he may like to keep his options open for later. Either way, it leaves you hanging on to the hope, doesn't it?

Why exactly couldn't the two of you have some sort of committed relationship long distance? Surely, if you really like each other, you'd look forward to your time together, and you would talk/chat everyday (like he is doing now)? I'm not sure I understand his reasoning.

meggiemae · 22/10/2014 11:51

thanks for the posts - that really has helped me just to see things clearly!! it has helped me be realistic ....maybe not what my heart wants to hear, but much more realistic. if he likes me that much, then he really would want something wouldn't he - much better to hurt a bit now than to drag it on over months and months, so I'm going to be honest with him.

I really appreciate the feedback, thanks again x

OP posts:
CheersMedea · 22/10/2014 12:15

I think you were right the first time when you said "no thanks" to friends and he was surprised. If you had backed off then, you may have found he came back of his own accord.

You've rather spoiled it with agreeing to be friends because you are now moving into "fantasy relationship" territory with all this contact.

I agree the best thing is to be straight and tell him you already have enough friends, don't think a friendship is possible with someone you have a spark with and wish him all the best.

DON'T under any circumstances say anything like "he knows where you are if he changes his mind" or ANYTHING that suggests you are leaving the door open or will wait.

What you want to convey is that you are a strong happy woman, that you like him but you are moving on.

If you really have that much of a connection you may be pleasantly surprised in the long run. But if not, you have saved yourself from blocking meeting other guys because you are hung up on a fantasy relationship.

lavenderhoney · 22/10/2014 12:52

If you talk everyday and get on, seeing as he travels so much it wouldn't matter if he lived next door would it?

Why don't you talk to him, tell him you look forward to hearing from him, go out for a few romantic dates and see how it goes? Worry about managing an LTR another time.

mollypollly · 22/10/2014 14:52

I agree entirely with Cheers x

meggiemae · 23/10/2014 20:00

Hi all,

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated. Will let you know how it goes, he's back in the country and we are meeting up for a bite to eat this weekend - and I'm going to be honest and let him know how I feel. Onwards and upwards :)
thanks again for taking the time to reply, it's been really nice to be able to reach out and get some help x

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