Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Am I being needy or is this a bit crap?

169 replies

WildBelle · 11/08/2017 23:40

Been seeing a guy I met OLD for a couple of months. Really like him, he ticks far more of my boxes than anyone else I've met. We chatted on the phone for a few weeks before we had a chance to meet up, and we'd end up chatting for hours most nights, I think 4 was the record! After we met, and it was all systems go, we carried on chatting every night without fail for a good while.

Maybe 2/3 weeks ago contact seemed to die out a bit. We'd still whatsapp a few times a day, but phone calls turned into more like every other day, and would generally be a lot shorter. I started getting paranoid that he wasn't as keen but when we saw each other (usually a couple of times a week) things were just as amazing as they were before and I thought maybe I was being daft.

We went away for a few days and got back on Wednesday, and I haven't spoken to him since then. The reason we don't speak so much now is that his dd likes him to lie with her while she goes to sleep, and then he ends up falling asleep too.

I know he's got a lot on his plate (he's on his own with 3 kids most of the time and working full time), so he's knackered. I also know that the level of talking we did - hours every night - isn't sustainable long term. But to me it's important that we speak every day, even if it's just a catch up for a few minutes, and I try to make sure that happens, but it seems like more often than not now he's already passed out. He's said to me that to him, relationships are every day things, and if you can't see each other then you need to at least talk, but it seems that's not happening.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable in my expectations here? I worry that I like him more than he likes me and that can only end badly for me.

OP posts:
sepep · 12/08/2017 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mintychoc1 · 12/08/2017 13:38

Sorry to hear that OP. I think 2 months in is often the point at which relationships go from initial infatuation to the next stage, which is either continuing or breaking up. It sounds like he was full on to start with, but has realised he's not feeling enough to move forward. It's mean that he didn't tell you though.

In an ideal world you'd just not contact him now. But if it was me I know I'd want to confront him and make him tell me straight what's happening.

BillyDaveysDaughter · 12/08/2017 13:40

Aw. Something shifted while you were away maybe, he's no longer that into you. Sad

It sucks, give yourself a bit of time to wallow then shake it off. Don't over-analyse, that way madness lies - it wasn't meant to be, but I know it hurts. Flowers

user1488575338 · 12/08/2017 13:46

I think you knew deep down something was off, it's shit but you've got your answer. That gut feeling rarely is wrong. To be honest I think the first 3 months of seeing someone are tricky, it's kind of the make or break period whether it will turn into something more long term. This guy showed you with his actions that he was pulling back, such a shame he didn't have the balls to say it to your face, after spending 3 days away with you. Poor manners on his part.

Dust yourself down and don't dwell.

WildBelle · 12/08/2017 13:59

Well I just spoke to him. I sent him a message with the screenshot from GSM and a message saying I guess this tells me all I need to know.

He just called, and said he'd logged in because he'd had an email to say someone had liked him, and he wasn't sure how it had happened as he thought his profile was hidden.

I really want to believe him, not really sure what to think.

He definitely isn't still with the wife, I've been to his house a few times and also heard a conversation between them on the hands free in his car.

OP posts:
Trollspoopglitter · 12/08/2017 14:11

He's too busy with kids to text but found the time to log back in, eh?

Yeah, the other one is that his friend wanted to look around the site but didnt want to create a new profile. Thats why his profile looks "active" like he's been looking Hmm

timeisnotaline · 12/08/2017 14:14

I wouldn't expect a guy with no commitments whatsoever to talk to me every day! If you get a message every day he's trying.

FizzyGreenWater · 12/08/2017 14:15

Sorry, oldest excuse in the book.

Just move on. No need to reply to him any more.

Sorry.

LesisMiserable · 12/08/2017 14:19

I agree. No need to contact him again.

user1488575338 · 12/08/2017 14:19

I thought he had sent you a screen shot of the cancellation? Now he's saying its hidden rather than cancelled?

It's not adding up is it. Your call.

Bluebelle38 · 12/08/2017 14:20

He's lying. As if he logged in at just the moment you looked. Don't contact him again. He's so much baggage and a liar

ThinkIlikeit · 12/08/2017 14:20

Hmm likely excuse. This plus the backing off vibes you were already getting tells you what you need to know I think.

WildBelle · 12/08/2017 14:30

He did cancel his subscription, but he says he thought his profile was hidden too. Which was why he was surprised when he got someone liking him. That's what he's saying, anyway.

He's sent me a message saying that he's deleted the profile now.

Dunno.

OP posts:
LesisMiserable · 12/08/2017 14:36

I suggest you get signed up for it yourself and get back on the horse. I also suggest that you let go of any and all expectations re contact frequency and instead make a conscience decision to a/ not be led by the man b/ not let phones define the success of your relationships and c/ treat a new relationship as you would a new friendship. Space, respect and non-reliance.

DianaMitford · 12/08/2017 14:38

Er - I am not projecting any issues, I simply speak from experience. And with the latest update it looks like I was right.

Even if he was too busy/tired to talk, it doesn't take a moment to send a message and he'd stopped bothering. Even though OP was clearly bothered by the sudden change. Sadly, everything screams "I'm not interested".

WildBelle · 12/08/2017 14:43

Ffs. I really like him. I really don't know what to think. He said in his defence that if he was still on there he'd have been active less than 3 days ago. I really want to believe what he is saying. We had such a perfect time when we went away, it was amazing. I also don't want to get hurt.

OP posts:
IfNot · 12/08/2017 14:47

He did cancel his subscription, but he says he thought his profile was hidden too. Which was why he was surprised when he got someone liking him.
He might be a lying git, I don't know, but the above happened to me- I thought my profile was hidden/ cancelled but I had to reactivate it to find some info and it stayed up. I'm a bit inept at stuff like that. I probably have dating profiles live all over the shop! He might actually be telling the truth. Trust your instincts.

WildBelle · 12/08/2017 14:51

I have had the same thing happen to me on POF...definitely hid it but it would pop back up all by itself. So he could be. I really hope so.

OP posts:
user1488575338 · 12/08/2017 14:51

Not let phones define the success of your relationship - brilliant bit of advice. I think it's so easy to think someone is into us because they are constantly ringing|texting - at the end of the day it means nothing. Some people like to chat to fill the void of a night by themselves.

I don't know how that site works, maybe with a cancelled subscription he's still visible? I would forget about this one. You've got suspicions and these will not just disappear if you continue dating him.

ThinkIlikeit · 12/08/2017 14:54

So why has he gone a bit off with you since you got back?

Mintychoc1 · 12/08/2017 14:54

OP I suspect he didn't feel quite the same after your trip away, for whatever reason, so when he got back he had another look to see what else was available on GSM. Obviously nothing worth going back there for, but he still felt a bit unsure about you, so started to back off.

If pride is important to you, you should walk away now. At best he's being disrespectful, and at worst he's planning to string you along while meeting other people.

However, you clearly really like him, and this is the real world, not just big tough mumsnet where people seem able to walk away holding their head high very easily! If you really can't bring yourself to tell him to shove it, I would back off massively yourself. Scale down your expectations, don't call him, let him make some effort. At least then if he contacts you you'll know he actually wanted to, and he wasn't just responding to your requests for contact.

Being harsh, I suspect you may be flogging a dead horse, but who knows, relationships are strange things and no two are ever the same.

user1488575338 · 12/08/2017 14:57

You had a perfect time whilst away but he's not rang you since you've been back. If he thought the same he would have been in contact, even just to say how much he enjoyed it. I probably sound really harsh but I'm looking at the situation from the outside. Give him a chance if you want to but keep your guard up and take a step back.

Lulusmother · 12/08/2017 14:58

Ok... so I've read a book about dating ...why men love bitches... the one thing that's remained with me is the quote "he's the hunter, you're the prize"... therefore don't bother texting, looking to see if he's online etc. If he's really into you he will contact you, although with all that on his plate he sounds like he's got his hands full. What will be, will be. If he wants to be with you he will make the effort, and he doesn't, then it means he's just not right for you x

user1488575338 · 12/08/2017 15:00

I more or less just said the same as minty!!

WildBelle · 12/08/2017 15:11

His reason for not calling since we got back was that he's been knackered and fallen asleep. He's had to work both days, really early starts, then having the kids to deal with after work. He said his son has been using his phone a lot too, because his own one is broken, so he's not had the chance to message/call so much because his phone has been commandeered. I know it's true that the son's phone is broken.

OP posts: