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Relationships

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When you want to move your LTR to the next stage and he doesn't ...

33 replies

Narniac · 17/01/2015 13:21

I have been seeing someone for a couple of years now - since May 2012 - both 45, never married, I have primary age children, he has none, he stays at mine Saturday nights for the last couple of years.

My children don't see their father so I have them constantly, occasionally my Mum may babysit or do a overnight babysit.
Most 'dates' are spent doing stuff with the children and my boyfriend has mentioned this in a manner that suggests he's getting fed up with it now.

He's also said that my 5 year old son needs to stop barging into our bedroom when he stays otherwise he doesn't think he can stay anymore.
My son is going through a developmental stage at the moment where he's testing out his independance I think - his sister went through the same about that age - he's moving from being a clingy mummy's boy to a more independant young boy.

I've tried explaining this to my boyfriend but he seems convinced my son is manipulating me (of course, children are capable of that, I know, it's normal enough) but keeps saying my son is pushing him out, or being deliberately antagonistic because he feels threatened by him.
I'm convinced it's just a stage he's going through. So we have a difference of opinion here.

My son has known him since a baby. They both call him Daddy of their own choosing, as in all respects he acts like a father, treats them accordingly, takes us places together as a family and so on.
They do also make the distinction between him and their bio father who they haven't seen or heard from in 3.5 years.

My boyfriend had an unpleasant, abusive experience with his stepfather when he was a toddler and he does refer to this when discussing my son, his stepfather thought he was being too clingy with his mother and used to physically haul him off her and threaten him. That's my boyfriend's experience of stepfathers.

He has also been a stepfather himself for 15 years, where he went into a relationship with a woman who already had two teenagers, neither of which accepted him as a stepdad but were happy to utilise him practically.

So,...he hasn't had a lovely time in this arena as you can see.

I'm not looking for a deconstruction of him, as he is a universally perceived good man, and we have been through a couple of trying times together such as miscarriage and heart attack (neither of which necessarily brought us any closer together I don't feel :/ ) but your opinion on whether this relationship is being over- invested by myself really. I had asked him what he thought about living together, but he explained his lifestyle was 'ideal' at the moment (he has a bachelor pad - a term he considers derogatory but I don't - with the whole Xbox, giant tv, adjacent workshop, etc) and he rarely sees me in the week, maybe to meet up for coffee, and always stays Saturday from about 8pm then goes back Sunday about 6pm.

We rarely phone eachother, just text. And today for instance, we'd arranged to go out somewhere together but it's afternoon now and I still haven't heard from him. If I text him I know he will reply with 'I was waiting to hear from you' but he's already complained he feels like a taxi driver, so my contacting him to ask we are ready to go, are you? Feels like I'm calling a cab..

Because we rarely see eachother, he doesn't seem to want to stay more than 1 or 2 nights at most, the problems he perceives with my son, the poor communication, that he's turned down the idea of living together, ... this relationship is petering out, isn't it? Sad

He's also been telling me lately about a teenager who has a crush on him through his work. He only mentions it in a bantery sort of way, but why? Is he trying to test my resolve or something?

He's a lovely man and I love him dearly, but this doesn't feel like a grown up relationship, it feels like dating in my Twenties. I suppose I've reached a point where I want to move things up a gear, but he doesn't, so how do I progress from here?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 17/01/2015 13:26

Your children deserve better - sorry :( I think you're right that the relationship is petering out too, so perhaps it's just run its course and you're not very compatible.

Schoolaroundthecorner · 17/01/2015 13:27

I think you have to make it clear to him what you want from a relationship at this stage in your life. If he doesn't feel he can give you that, then really you have your answer.

I agree though that this sounds more like a relationship you'd have in your twenties or if you just wanted something casual. Clearly it isn't what you want so if you can't agree you are better going your separate ways. In many respects he is getting the better end of the bargain here while you lose out.

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 17/01/2015 13:28

He's having his cake and eating it.

Sorry.

MarjorieMelon · 17/01/2015 13:31

You are right it isn't a grown up relationship. I think you need to have a discussion with him about where the relationship is heading. I wouldn't recommend moving in with him when he seems to have some issues surrounding your children.

Perhaps he wanted the the type of relationship where the children are off to their biological fathers every other weekend and he can spend time with his partner alone. However that isn't what he signed up for with you. If he isn't happy with the current state of things I can't see how the relationship can continue.

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 17/01/2015 13:32

You want things to move up a gear but he doesn't. So, you have a decision to make: either carry on as you are or free yourself to be able to have the kind of relationship you want with someone else.

Two years with someone you only see on Saturday nights isn't a LTR, it's dating. Consequently, his views on your parenting are irrelevant.

inlectorecumbit · 17/01/2015 13:36

This is not a relationship -- you area booty call OP.
You and your children deserve better.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 17/01/2015 13:39

He doesn't want to move in with you or be a family, and that's fine, but if you want more then you have to accept that and move on.

Maroonie · 17/01/2015 14:59

It does sound like you want different things, I don't think either of you are wrong but an honest discussion is needed

Chaseface · 17/01/2015 15:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ocelot7 · 17/01/2015 15:18

You sound like a lovely thoughtful person so I hope you will find a good opportunity to talk through things with yr partner....with young children it's quite easy for a couple to lose each other a bit & in some ways I feel for yr DP that he didn't get the couple time with you before kids came along as they were already there...& it's quite difficult to imagine exactly what life with kids is like before you have them so not really fair to say he should have known what he was getting into...

maybe if yr mum could have the kids for a w/end it would give you more couple time in which there would be time also to consider where you go from here...

There seems to be a disjunct(?) between him easily taking on the 'daddy' role but wanting to retain his 6/7 day bachelor pad lifestyle - though I wonder if it could equally be that he just likes to spend time alone? Rather than actively playing the bachelor.

CleanLinesSharpEdges · 17/01/2015 15:20

He's stated he's happy with how things are in terms of living together so, even apart from all the other issues, you don't want the same thing.

This sounds more like a fuck buddy arrangement than a relationship tbh.

FolkGirl · 17/01/2015 15:33

You're overinvested, yes.

Children shouldn't be calling him daddy. They didn't'choose' to call him that in the true sense. They know other children have one, and he's the closest thing they have to something that resembles one. That's not the same thing.

When children do this, they are trying to establish what's what. Not making an informed choice. It was your job to say, "no sweetheart, he's not your daddy. He's mummy's friend and he thinks you're fab. But he's not daddy".

balia · 17/01/2015 15:35

You really shouldn't have let DC's as young as that call this man Daddy. They didn't 'choose' in any meaningful sense. Dads don't visit Mum for a booty call once a week.

For what it is worth, he's very clearly telling you who he is, with his bachelor pad and his jealousy of a 5 year old. You should listen to him.

evelynj · 17/01/2015 15:51

Sorry OP but I agree with others & it sounds like he wants everything his way. He may not realise how he's coming across but it's time to take thee reins back -if I were you I'd say something like, I think I'll give next weekend a miss-thinking of going away somewhere with dc for a full weekend. You could invite him but you need C&C to know that he is not needed before he may disappear altogether.

Or just have the conversation with him that you don't think it's working & maybe time to move on as you want a relationships that ends up as a real family & see what he says.....

holdyourown · 17/01/2015 15:58

He's not a nice man. He's not showing your ds compassion and kindness. He's not using his own experience of a harsh stepfather to make him not act like that, he's telling you how to parent and being mean about your ds imo. I think if he stays once a week and they call him daddy you might need to actually have a chat with them that he's your bf and why that's different from say marriage, and that these type of arrangements are not always permanent? Then I would LTB and focus on having a happy life with your dcs tbh. Sorry that sounds harsh OP but this doesn't sound a great set up for your ds or you. You are putting both your needs below this blokes. Sad

Cantbelievethisishappening · 17/01/2015 15:59

I can never understand on any level, why some women hook up with someone then allow/encourage their kids to call him 'daddy or 'dad' just because DP joins in activities from time to time and BD is not around. This man stays once a week at your home. Hmm

holdyourown · 17/01/2015 15:59

Not forgetting complaining about your dcs being there of course!

Wrapdress · 17/01/2015 16:07

It sounds more like a safe and predictable Friends With Benefits situation with a lovely but unavailable man.

You're right. The relationship - such as it is - is fading away. Sounds like his head is turned too.

FolkGirl · 17/01/2015 16:21

I can never understand on any level, why some women hook up with someone then allow/encourage their kids to call him 'daddy or 'dad' just because DP joins in activities from time to time and BD is not around.

It's because they want it to be true. It's because they see the man nit running away as a sign that that's how he sees it, too, when often they just just don't care eniugh to make sure the children don't get hurt.

And I say tgat as the parent of a child who has a step dad.

op my ex pays maintenance for a child who is not biologically his because, although he isn't his father, he is his dad. Will this man do that?

Cantbelievethisishappening · 17/01/2015 17:16

Folkgirl
Yep..... I agree.

Surreyblah · 17/01/2015 17:24

"They both call him Daddy of their own choosing, as in all respects he acts like a father, treats them accordingly, takes us places together as a family and so on."

You shouldn't have let them do that, and he is not acting like a father at all!

ImperialBlether · 17/01/2015 17:40

How is he acting like a father when he only sees them on Sundays and even then doesn't like your son coming into your bedroom?

He sounds as though the last thing he wants is to be a stepfather. Whether that's because of his past experience or not is irrelevant. He doesn't want it.

I think it's time to end the relationship and to look for someone with the same goals. Just please, please don't let them call the next one 'daddy' too.

CuttedUpPear · 17/01/2015 17:59

Don't let your children see this man's behaviour as the norm for a loving relationship.
He is not behaving as a dad should.
Any adult in their lives is a role model, for good or bad.

TheyLearnedFromBrian · 17/01/2015 18:38

Get rid.

Jesus, if he's going to be that blatant about using you as his weekend 'play at families, have booty call' excursion, the very least he could do is have the grace to not try and tell you how to parent, based on his own inadequacies, jealousies and absolute lack of insight and experience.

Do your son a favour and dump this guy before he has an effect on his development.

I have a five year old. If someone external to the family tried to get me to prevent her coming into her own mum's room for comfort whenever she needed to access it, their feet wouldn't touch the floor.

Narniac · 17/01/2015 19:02

There isn't going to be 'a next one'. I'm not a serial dater. This is my first relationship since I left their bio father. I don't intend on any more after this if it failed.

I don't agree with the fwb thing. He has been on holiday with us, weekends away, day trips, he has bought presents for all occassions.

The eldest was 3 when she first knew him. She had a bond with her bio father to some degree, but as he hasn't now sent cards/spoken/seen them/paid towards them in 3.5 years, I think she adopted my boyfriend as a father figure and began to call him Daddy of her own accord. She refers to her bio Dad as 'Daddy Bloggs' or whatever, and my boyfriend as just Daddy.
Her younger brother just followed her lead. He's never really known his real father, seen him a handful of times.

If I'm honest I suppose I never pulled them up on it because my daughter especially 'needed' a father figure, and I always imagined I'd spend the rest of my life with this man. I never realised until very recently just how much his own toddler experience with stepfather's and his own adult experience as a stepfather himself has made him probably unsuited to family life after all. I admit I have been fantasising about us all living together happily as a family when I shouldn't have been.

OP posts: