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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

On Line Dating OP coming on too strong

61 replies

1DAD2KIDS · 28/04/2016 19:10

So anyone who is privy to my other theads/posts knows I am currently OLDing. They will also know I am quite openly looking for a causal arrangements or posibly a FWB (if I find the right person). Mainly because I have very little free time, loving being free to explore the world again and if I am honest have very serious trust issues from my previous marriage.

Anyway all is going well and I had a lovely causal experience last night. The trouble is there is this one girl I am talking to on OLD. She is smart, very attractive and funny. Met her on Tinder. Made things very clear (as always) what I am after. She said she was after something serious. So I thought fair enough, nice to meet you end of the line. Anyway we kept talking and we are both single parents who have been in abusive relationships. We have a lot of shared values and if I wanted to share my life again with someone she would potentially be a good candidate. I told her again that I did not want a relationship. She said my story had reduced her to tears and she could see I am such a good sweet man. It's such a shame I did want anything serious she said. I have a lot of respect for her as she has been through hell and come out the other side. She asked me then can we be friends? I said OK, let's have a pot of tea and some cake sometime.

The trouble is I am not sure if I have done the right thing. Like I say I think she would make a good friend. I have loads of good friends but non who are single parents. Love to have a friend who know where I am coming from. But I am not sure if her offer of friendship come with an motive. She has messaged me saying this:

Your so cute ... I wish you was ready for a girl.
I think we would be great together ...
2 nice people looking after eachother & all our babies lol x

Now is it me or is this a little strong? I mean she did put lol at the end. Maybe it's my trust issues making me paranoid?

Do I entertain a friendship with her or is she clearly wanting more for me than i am ready to give. If so do I call off the whole thing?

Or am I shooting the goose that laid the golden egg. She appears to be great relationships material and so intelligent. I know this is a little shallow but the fact she is hot is also muddying my judgement.

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 22:51

Oh and saying your story reduced her to tears?
That alone would see me heading for the hills. Over invested, much?
That's just weird.

Hissy · 28/04/2016 22:53

She's trying to hook you for her own reasons.

If she were someone with a healthy view of life, relationships and being a responsible parent, she'd NOT be planning out your future, and worse the future of your collective children.

No decent parent would subject their child to a stranger, but this is what she's doing.

She's hoovering you in, to get you where SHE wants you. Bugger what YOU want, she knows better. You just need to be convinced.

You are not being paranoid, you are seeing great big similarities for a reason.

Why would someone who has never met you plan out a future with you? You could be literally anyone. Why would you agree to this? You'd be mad to go along with this, even if you were looking for a relationship.

Would you WANT to be involved that takes her dc safety so lightly? You may be drop dead gorgeous and utterly fabulous of course, after all you're a mumsnetters, we're all fabulous, but she CAN'T possibly know this you have never met her.. She's never met you.

Remember that what you've known is manipulative and controlling. These are the triggers you will respond to. You do need to keep women at arms length from you and your children until you know you can handle the situation. This means you know that if something is not right, you end it. You don't involve kids until you're sure.

This recognition of what your instincts are telling you is a start. The next step is to act to do what needs to be done, and say no, this is not for me, it's not going to go any further.

Then start again looking for someone else.

I have a sneaking suspicion I'm in a similar situation, Or at risk of falling into something more quickly than I want. I'm detaching and laying down boundaries, we shall see what the reaction is this weekend, and I'll make a decision. My gut is that it's a situation that's going to need to be ended. Again.

Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 22:54

I can forgive a bit of poor grammar (I don't like it, but the dialect where I live now is basically just shite grammar!). But it's the content that makes her sound thick. I am really curious as to why you think she's intelligent when she blathers on about looking after your babies together when she hasn't even met you. She sounds like a slightly dense 17 year old.

Hissy · 28/04/2016 22:56

I've failed to reply to messages for less than her crap grammar too btw, I'm not looking for just a shag/hook up etc, and make that clear, but even if I were, if a person can't string a sentence together, it's not going to fly.

ExasperatedAlmostAlways · 28/04/2016 22:59

Intelligent, I'm not getting that from those comments and the way she's conducting herself tbh. I'd give her a wide berth if I were you.

ProphetOfDoom · 28/04/2016 23:00

She's looking for a sincere LTR and you are not - she doesn't quite believe that you won't fall her charms and become a unit. One or both of you will end up hurt. The assertive, decent and self-protective thing would be to communicate this to her, wish her well and move on.

LogicalThinking · 28/04/2016 23:07

She's trying to save you - fix you with her love.
There is no friendship that can ever work here.

1DAD2KIDS · 28/04/2016 23:35

She came across quite intelligence though our back and forth conversations and small talk. If you mean she don't sound intelligent because she is making big advances before evening meting then fair point.

But if you are saying she is not intelligent because of sloppy text speak then I am not sure if I necessary agree. I don't think you can measure intelligence based her use or lack of full English or grammar. That's surly more an issue of background and personal importance place on correct use of English. I am dyslexic and make loads of errors. But I wouldn't say I am thick. Also there are great advantages to using text speak and abbreviations in terms of making electronic text more efficient. So personally I am not the typing police and I not stigmatise them who use shortened text.

But I do get it can be a sign of a person who doesn't value the same things. So I can understand that argument. And despite what I said above I do find it a tiny little bit off putting.

OP posts:
Littleallovertheshop · 28/04/2016 23:39

Run. A. Mile.

Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 23:45

It's not the txtspk or poor spelling and grammar. It's the content.

These are the reasons that a person you have never met is all "oh we'd be so good together, you and me and our babies":

  1. They're 17 (and probably a bit of a dense 17yo)
  2. They're very desperate and needy (and probably a bit dense)
  3. They're sweet and lovely and full of Disney hopes and dreams and it's all quite endearing in a way and I hope they get their happy ever after but... they're a bit dense
  4. They're simply a bit dense
  5. Any combination of the above
1DAD2KIDS · 28/04/2016 23:46

Logical that is a nice angle. If that is true I am touched. But the truth is only I can fix my self. Plus I want to fix my self. Because then I can fix my self to my way not to how someone else wants me to be. I have become so guarded over my independence. But I do feel really sorry for her too. She like me has been through the wars but 10x worse than me.

What ever her motive I was foolish to agree to be friends. That last message has confirmed she still wants more that want to give. I need to nip it in the bud.

OP posts:
1DAD2KIDS · 28/04/2016 23:49

That cool Cabrinha. That why I was asking if it was because of content or text as I wasn't sure at which aspect you were getting at.

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 23:50

No, Logical's comment is not a nice angle.
People who think they can fix you with their love are doing it because of their own unhealthy relationship patterns.
It is not altruistic, it is selfishly (albeit not consciously) serving their own need.
People who are emotionally ready to have a good healthy relationship but also are kind do not seek out wounded birds. They seek similarity emotionally healthy types for relationships and pour their kindness into charity work.

She cried over your story?

Run a MILE from anyone who is attracted to you because of it.

1DAD2KIDS · 28/04/2016 23:51

Although to be fair you did say look at the context in your post. So I am the one looking a bit dense at the moment.

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 23:54

Well I did say in my original post that it was the content and I could forgive the grammar.

Tbh I'd be very wary of anyone who was sharing their history in such detail when they haven't even met. And sorry - that means I'd be wary of you too.

Friends, internet boards and therapists for any difficult life story. Not randoms that you haven't even met, but are talking to in a relationship content.

Cabrinha · 28/04/2016 23:55

Grin crossed posts! Other people mentioned the spelling/grammar, so I can see why you thought I was one.
Not dense!

1DAD2KIDS · 29/04/2016 00:07

Don't be sorry. Its a fair point. I sort of got dragged into it. But of course I didn't have to. I someone shares doesn't mean I have to reciprocate. I do need to be more careful.

You have defiantly put a darker more sinister angle and that angle. Even if it is subconscious on her behalf.

I suppose as long as I keep to the plan for now and don't get dragged down the relationship path I a cant make any mistakes in that respect. But I think one day if I ever do want something more I have a lot to learn. At the moment I feel like a lamb to the slaughter relationship wise. A massive fear of picking the wrong woman. Probably an accurate fear base on the fact that earlier I was seeing her as a good catch if I did want a relationship. Its scary to think I could make the same mistakes again.

OP posts:
BlueFolly · 29/04/2016 00:08

Why are you giving her so much headspace when she's obviously not right for you?

1DAD2KIDS · 29/04/2016 00:12

Now its not so much to do with her. I think its highlighting problems and weaknesses with me. Thinks I can learn for the future.

On the other hand I could just crack on, put this on the back burner. There not really things I need to sort now.

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 29/04/2016 00:18

I think you could more usefully spend your time and mental energy talking that all through with a good therapist experienced in the aftermath of abusive energy, than developing friendships with random strangers online.

You say you just want casual. I certainly can see that you only have time for casual. But actually personally I think it screams from your posts that you want what you thought you once had - a full and loving relationship.

In which case, forget hook ups and dating and put that time and energy into moving on from your past.

Cabrinha · 29/04/2016 00:20

I disagree - I think they are things you need to sort now, because they are really important. Not least because you're talking on dating sites to people who have said they only want a relationship.

novemberchild · 29/04/2016 01:10

She'll have a 'pregnancy scare' if you ever do have sex.

Have you a pet rabbit??

HelenaDove · 29/04/2016 02:11

1DAD FFS run like shit through a goose! I was at school with someone like this. Still see her around occasionally and on fb. She gets OBSESSED very easily. Gets pissed off and very nasty with other women if a bloke asks them out instead of her. Does not like it if a bloke she is seeing even talks or looks another woman in the face And gets off on attention Loves it. I HATE that this sounds like im doing another woman down but im NOT honestly Ive known her since high school. And that was thirty odd years ago.

The woman you are talking to sounds so similar its unreal. BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hissy · 29/04/2016 07:13

1dad, I agree with cabrinha therapy is the best option.

Abuse doesn't go away by itself. It needs proper talking therapy. 6 months or so would do you the world of good. Treat it like a kind of insurance policy, preventing this shit ever happening got you again.

I also feel that until we begin to treat the vulnerability to manipulative types, it's like there's blood in the water and they are drawn to us.

Learning to establish and police our boundaries goes a long way to repealing those who'd try to make us do what they want is to do.

Have you ever called Mankind for advice?

Hissy · 29/04/2016 07:14

*repelling

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