I really fell in love with my partner 6 years ago and thought he was the one.
I was wary as he had 4 teenage kids - officially separated from a wife who lived around the corner and still treated him like a husband. I had a son, but to me that was a lot of 'baggage'! (I know it's not the best word).
But he fell in love with me, was the kindest man I'd ever met, persuaded me that he would stand up to Ex. So I went for it, moved in, had a kid with him, and he just...
... had terrible cold feet! Backed off, still very kind and caring but stopped taking me out. He said he felt 'used up' by his first marriage and didn't want to do it all again.
It was a rollercoaster for a while, me with the baby too, but then he started to come around.
But it still feels like I am the one who puts all the work in, he doesn't want to take me out, it just feels pretty so so. Especially when I think of how much he did for his first wife - married her, went on holidays, sent gifts. I feel in contrast he does far less for me now.
Should I stick around hoping for more one day or cut my losses and find someone who more clearly wants to commit and be with me?