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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/ man advice

43 replies

Charlie09 · 12/03/2019 21:55

Hi I wanted everyone’s advice on something.
We all know how hard it is trying to date whilst being a single mum. I’ve been on a few dates where I just felt no chemistry. Finally went on a date with someone I had met online. We had talked on/ off and finally exchanged numbers and talked on WhatsApp. He was flirty but not consistent.. is not always responding straight away or a day or so. Finally we talked some more and he wanted to meet up. We agreed that Saturday and it came to Thursday and I asked if we were still meeting up, no response until Saturday where he messaged ignoring my previous message. I said if he didn’t want to meet up he could just say. He then asked to call me, we talked for 20 minutes and then he was more flirty saying he liked my voice and we messaged lots and the next day spoke for almost two hours. We flirted over text and he said he wanted to meet. We both messaged and he would say morning gorgeous and good night etc. He then said I gave him butterflies which is strange as we hadn’t even met etc. We met on the Tuesday and the chemistry was crazy. He said he liked me and he was cute and joked about and said nice things but not ott. I asked his usual type and he said brunette (I’m blonde) but said that’s obviously never worked out before. We kissed and he said he didn’t want to talk to anyone else now and I was going nowhere and hasn’t felt that way in a while etc. He said he couldn’t wait to meet again so we agreed that Thursday.
He carried on messaging and being flirty. On wed I asked about the cinema the next day and he joked ‘of we could skip the cinema’ and I said it would be nice to go and he said ok. Then Thursday he messaged like normal in the morning. At lunch I got a long message saying he was tired and an hour later cancelling (but not saying another date to change too).
I said I got the impression he’d cancel and he said not to ‘say it like that’ I said I wasn’t being mean and just knew he would. He then rang me that evening and messaged me throughout the night. Then gradually his messages were more spaced out so I asked him after a week of anything was wrong as things seemed to change as he’s not so chatty, he said nothings changed and still likes me. But still wasn’t asking to see me?
I had tried to make plans but he was busy.
He then said I could leave it with him if I wanted and he’s just rubbish at responding like before we met. I said if he wanted to meet again I’d like that but up to him. He didn’t message back but the next day agreed to meet that Saturday, anyways.. long story shirt he cancelled as he was poorly! Stopped with the flirting. Cut down any attempts at flirting etc. Then after the Saturday cancellation I messaged him the following Tuesday and said I obviously get he doesn’t want to meet again but would be nice to stay friends. He said ‘being friends would be njce’. I’ve sent the one or two friendly text with a one word reply until last message was unanswered. (I only text twice over space of two weeks since we said we would be friends),

Thing is.. why did he say all that stuff when we met? I felt the chemistry and the way he looked at me and felt like we had a good connection and we could talk on the phone etc and he never seemed like he was Percy in texts (as in after one thing?) I had tried to get out of him why he changed his behaviour but would never say? We live an hour apart so maybe it’s too much effort? Maybe he has 5 women on the go? It’s just annoying as I feel I have no answers and I really liked him and feel it’s hard finding that connection with someone. He got defensive and said he wasn’t a player when I had only asked if there was anything going on (as in his life, just to see if his mind was preoccupied).
Any ideas of what I might have said or done or why he pulled back so quickly after it felt so intense and exciting?

OP posts:
NotTheFordType · 12/03/2019 21:58

He's a flake.

Forget him.

Charlie09 · 12/03/2019 22:07

Is that because he doesn’t know what he wants?!

OP posts:
BobbiPins · 12/03/2019 22:15

“We could skip the cinema” wasn’t a joke. He just wanted sex. You wanted to go out and a real relationship. He decided you are too much effort and backed off.

BobbiPins · 12/03/2019 22:16

And he is a player.

NameChangeNugget · 12/03/2019 22:25

He’s not interested

Charlie09 · 12/03/2019 22:39

It felt genuine when he said he hadn’t felt that way in ages and I gave him butterflies etc. I did ask why his other dates didn’t work out and he said they turned out to be friends or not much chat or they wanted too much of his time which he didn’t have. I told him not to say things like he doesn’t want to talk to anyone else (after our first date) and he said he meant it 😕 he seemed so genuine and honest in person but then totally died really quickly. Then I felt Bad for asking why he’d changed. Don’t get why he’d agree to meet and then make excuses but still say he liked me and then when I gave him out to he friends he took it?!

OP posts:
Onemansoapopera · 12/03/2019 22:43

That's what dating is though, testing the waters....I wouldn't take it personally. Yes its disappointing when people change their tune but they're quite entitled to.

sidesplittinglol · 12/03/2019 22:45

I'd agree with bobbypins. He's only after one thing and he didn't get it

redastherose · 12/03/2019 22:52

Yep I agree with pp's he wanted one thing only and when you weren't interested in just having sex he didn't want to waste any more time on you. He said all those nice things when you met because he wanted to get you to agree to sleep with him ASAP. Ignore and move on, he's a player.

crimsonlake · 12/03/2019 22:59

You are overthinking it all and he is a time waster, move on.

Charlie09 · 13/03/2019 07:19

I do overthink. It was just unnecessary him saying all those nice things. I’ve had people flirt before but not be that full on and then go cold! Annoys me he said things he clearly didn’t mean! Obviously does to a lot of women!!

OP posts:
Order654 · 13/03/2019 07:33

It’s because he doesn’t really care.

He probably said yeh to friends to seem nice.

Notcoolmum · 13/03/2019 07:33

Dating can be brutal. Join the dating thread on this board. It has helped save my sanity. The rules are very helpful.

He met someone he likes more. It’s always useful to meet as soon as you can and not waste time building up a a rapport over messaging first. You didn’t do anything wrong though. It’s with him.

Onemansoapopera · 13/03/2019 08:09

Lets not demonise the guy after one date ffs.

Charlie09 · 13/03/2019 08:16

I’m not demonising him. I thought he was lovely! I just don’t agree with leading people on. I’ve been on about 4-5 dates and when they’ve asked if I want a second date I’ll always be upfront and honest. I’ve never said things I don’t mean. I think also I felt he meant it so thought it would continue but it just seems a second date was never on the cards which was just disappointing as I think we would have continued to get on. I guess I couldn’t deal with the flakiness though and lack of texting!

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 13/03/2019 08:18

I did ask why his other dates didn’t work out......they wanted too much of his time which he didn’t have.

This comment he made tells you all you need to know. They wanted a real relationship, he wanted sex with no real strings.

wishywashy6 · 13/03/2019 08:39

Yeah I agree he was only after one thing. Actions speak louder than words and you get a lot of men (and women too I'm sure!) who are great at spouting out bullshit but not always that great at living up to it.
Judge him on how he's acted not what he's said.
He's not worth the time or effort you've put in to thinking about this

Walkacrossthesand · 13/03/2019 08:47

I agree with others - the only phrase/words of his to remember, is 'we could skip the cinema' ie just have sex. He said that after one single date. Everything else, hard as it is to stomach, was sweet-talking you. Out of interest, did he hint at going back to his/your place on the first date, in among all that amazing chemistry? He may even pop up again & try some more sweet talking, but this is not a guy to sleep with quickly unless you just want some sex. He's not a keeper.

Onemansoapopera · 13/03/2019 11:43

No I didn't mean you OP. Also, disappointing though it is, lots of people who aren't that sold on their date (actions speak louder than words) might still consider sex if they're horny and need to scratch an itch. Not classy but not a hangable offence either. Again, that's what dating is, the sorting hat for none wizards if you will. 😁

crimsonlake · 13/03/2019 17:43

Take everything a new partner you meet with a pinch of salt, it is a learning curve but some will say anything to hook you in. It is horrible, but you do have to develop a thick skin, also do not put all your eggs in one basket, so you do not build someone up in to something they clearly are not. I have just watched Dirty John on Netflix, maybe you should take a look at that and the dangerous of internet dating and being gullible.

Charlie09 · 13/03/2019 17:46

I totally agree.. actions do speak louder than words. The only other thing he said on the first date was ‘he wished I lived closer’.
I’ve deleted his number now. I did text him Monday to say hope he had a good weekend and an inside joke about something and he didn’t respond. So I won’t message again and don’t think he’ll pop up again. I think being 50 minutes apart was too much effort for him too! He wanted someone to pop back to their house easily I guess.

OP posts:
Onemansoapopera · 13/03/2019 18:00

@Charlie09 my now dh lived 60 miles away from each other (tinder) , we've been together 4+ years married nearly 2, we still have both houses and live between the two. The point is the right two people will make it work 😊 he's out there but this one wasn't it.

Onemansoapopera · 13/03/2019 18:02

I say that to be encouraging (I hope) not smug. Just want to point that out. OLD can lead to fabulous things but you have to keep chilled early days (especially if they're not!) And keep your hand hidden,, youre strangers after all.

AFistfulofDolores1 · 13/03/2019 19:04

I'm surprised you held on for as long as you did, OP. Why would you settle for that kind of treatment not once, but a few times? Why would you want to remain friends when you barely know each other?

Charlie09 · 13/03/2019 20:21

I think I wanted closure and when I asked him why he had backed off he said ‘remember what I was like before we met, I’m rubbish with messages’. But the chat had changed too. He then said he felt the same as he had on the date so I said ok but from then it got worse and eventually I thought I’d message just to say I get he doesn’t want to meet etc so would be nice to be friends and he said that would be nice! I think it was to see if he’d say ‘no I like you’ or finally admit he wasn’t bothered and obviously he took the easy out I gave him!!
Tbh up until now I hadn’t been bothered about anyone and if I of them stopped messaging I didn’t care.. but felt different with him.. I felt so comfortable and open with him and like I had known him for years and he said the same. He was very open about having a difficult childhood on our first date too. Just seemed strange as I’m good at reading people and the way he looked at me and the way I felt I really believed it all!
Never mind! I just want to find that again but with someone who’ll make the effort and not cancel on me and mess me about! I’m glad it hasn’t gone too far as would have hurt a hell of a lot more and I wonder if he sensed that too.

OP posts: