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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

Dating problems as LP-Aibu?

45 replies

badsurname · 06/02/2018 09:01

Hi all, I'm hoping you can enlighten me as to whether I am being unreasonable in my new relationship as I am ready to throw in the towel over something small but feel like I might be irrational!

I'm mid divorce, have two small children and have hashed out arrangements with stbxh that leave me every Wednesday and Saturday night child free. Which is amazing and liberating to me since I have been in sole charge of the kids for nearly six years.

I have been seeing a guy since the end of November. He hasn't been married, no kids. Has a couple of very time consuming hobbies, so he is busy most nights and weekends. When we started seeing each other befor Christmas I had a few weeks of unexpected child free nights and we saw a lot of each other and I really fell for him. He said early on that I was "invited to everything and could stay over whenever I liked", which made me fall for him even more. He also described one of his hobbies as something he did to fill time, but that if I wanted to spend time with him it was optional.

Fast forward two months and all that seems to have changed. He has been moody since new year. There have been a couple of times when I have unexpectedly had some child free time and asked what he is doing only to get a tirade of "no, too late, you weren't free, I made other plans". Which is fine, but I am feeling a bit like he has changed his tune and it really upsets me. Not that he won't see me, as I don't expect him to change his plans, but the way he tells me off for even suggesting it leaves me feeling shit.

Last night I was really knackered and in bed by 9 knowing I had to get an early train today. He started texting around 930 and all was well. Turns out I'm child free this Friday so I asked what he was up to and he said a party in London so I suggested I could come along, and got a tirade of "No. It doesn't work like that, you weren't free so I've made plans and I'm not changing them". Except I wasn't asking him to change his plans, I thought he might like me to come with, and if he had just said sorry not something you could come to I would have been fine. But having delivered this edict he switched his phone off and my reply (saying Im not asking you to change your plans!) still hasn't delivered. I assume he is having a lovely long sleep, but after that I couldnt get to sleep myself for hours and now have to chair an important meeting on no sleep, so I am probably blowing it out of proportion.

I am thinking it shouldn't be this hard. Two months in should still be exciting and fun but I feel like he is moody and irritable and I'm walking on eggshells trying not to put a foot wrong. The whole thing has got my back up. I am wondering if someone in the past has mucked him about and he is projecting that onto me, because I have never asked him to change his plans for me ( although apparently he did a few times in the first weeks but he didn't tell me he was doing so and I'm not psychic!) I know that I am not as freely available as someone with no parental responsibility but I do have quite a lot of free time and I have even taken up his hobby so that I am not impinging on him getting to do what makes him happy.

I am supposed to be going on a city break with him next week and now I feel like I should just not go because being stuck with him in a hotel room in a foreign city could be disastrous. The whole thing has just left a bad taste in my mouth and I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
badsurname · 06/02/2018 20:46

I really don't think he is seeing anyone else. I think the fact I asked if I could come got his back up and he new he was being an arsehole in response and wanted to go to sleep. Which is ironic since I wanted an early night myself

OP posts:
RedForFilth · 06/02/2018 21:10

I'd sack him off without a second thought. Two months is no time at all. Next time you're dating someone don't ask them to see you every time you're child free though. Make sure you make plans with friends or to have your own time too. You don't want them to be your everything when you're kids are away.

category12 · 06/02/2018 21:12

OK, but anyway, he's being an arsehole - after 2 months. DTMFA.

Snowman123 · 06/02/2018 21:16

I would start getting busy on your child free nights.
I also think you need to weigh up whether this relatively short term relationship is working for you.
I did also wonder if he had someone else on the go as well......

badsurname · 06/02/2018 21:32

Dtmfa?

OP posts:
RubberJohnny · 06/02/2018 21:36

You've just found another frog I'm afraid. Dump and move on. If you settle for him you are setting yourself up for a hell a lot of pain and stress.

And you might just be missing out on the right one whilst you are stuck with a twat.

badsurname · 06/02/2018 22:03

Thank you wise mumsnetters

OP posts:
Jellyheadbang · 07/02/2018 03:11

What a cunt. I’ve dealt with jealousy from partners without children. If/when I do meet someone I definitely want a guy with kids.
I seem to attract a lot of child free ‘bachelors’. I’m mid 40s and each child free guy has had a huge issue with my availability and priorities.
Altho I did date a gorgeous guy with a child same age as mine, he lovebombed the fuck out of me then blew cold. A real blow to my self esteem until I miraculously met two of his exes on one night out, turns out he’s a serial lovebomber with a thing for single mums!
Not sure what point is making so going to stop now....

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 07/02/2018 03:19

My guess is that DTMFA means Ditch The Mother Fucking Asshole.

With which I totally agree.

letsdolunch321 · 07/02/2018 03:47

Totally agree with other posters - sack him off.

If you were to form a long relationship with him, it would be like having an extra child on board

MistressDeeCee · 07/02/2018 04:47

Moody, petulant, irritable, rude, tells you off. All this, after just a few months? Not that it's acceptable at any time, but - I couldn't be doing with all that. He's extremely bad mannered and is upsetting you.

It's hard when you're really into someone but I'm a firm believer that in life, we don't have to have someone just because we want them. If they're no good for and with us then it is what it is

All this angst during what should still be your new fun and exciting stage? Let him go OP there are nicer men than that out there
He sounds like a pain in the arse. You can do better

NavyGold · 07/02/2018 05:06

Fireworks are overrated

Lots of meaningful relationships are more of a slow burner type situations

He sounds awful!

category12 · 07/02/2018 08:27

Ditch the muthafucker already (Dan Savage thing).

falang · 07/02/2018 08:32

If he wanted you to come with him to the party he'd have asked you when you said you were free. I'm afraid that he's not that into you. He's also horrible. Dump and move on. You can do better. It will never ever go back to the way it was before Christmas.

badsurname · 07/02/2018 10:13

I don't buy into horoscopes but this is bizarrely astute!

Dating problems as LP-Aibu?
OP posts:
dirtybadger · 07/02/2018 10:24

This guy is just fucking rude.

I wrote a way longer post, but that's what it boiled down to.

yetmorecrap · 07/02/2018 11:12

I am very suspicious of guys who seem to have a thing about single mums and only single mums, my opinion is they know many are vulnerable and feel that many will be ‘greatful’ and put up with shit and too many of them seem to want to make a move ‘in’ way too quickly. I am not a single mum but my 2 main friends are and they have found this to be the case too.

yetmorecrap · 07/02/2018 11:13

In this case OP, I think he probably has a couple of you on the go, so likes ‘set’ arrangements

FruitCider · 07/02/2018 11:16

I also think he has more than one woman he is seeing. Either way he is a bellend. Dump his sorry arse!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 07/02/2018 14:03

See even your horoscope agrees!

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