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

Advice Please - Want Relationship To Last

10 replies

Sunoday · 04/05/2019 04:23

I've been in a relationship with someone for almost a year.
I really want it to work but his actions appear to speak louder than words and I don't want to be wasting time (and involving my children with someone that isn't going to be around).
We're both divorced with children, mine fulltime, his weekends.
He says he sees us as long-term and talks of selling-up in the future and buying a house together. However, he's still in his old marital home, first ever home bought around twenty years ago and I just can't see him doing this.
We have no plans - see each other week-to-week. Nothing more, he talks of things in the future but no plans but has plans made this year with his children and parents (which I expect, yet also now expect plans with us).
He's said he loves me, I do him. Although I find him set in his ways and quite lazy which I don't like in a person. Then other times he can be good fun when not talking of how tired he is.
There's no obvious huge issues but I just can't see long-term with him and unsure if it's fear on my part or a correct 'sense' /feeling.
He was married for over ten years and has since had relationships which have lasted a year or so.
I don't want to end-up being another person he's with for just a year or two.
I find him interesting to talk to and how we message throughout the day. From good morning to good night (and would really miss this). He's intelligent, I find him so attractive and we have the same sex drive.
We're both early 40s and I've realised I want to marry again -him (eventually) although he's unsure if he would ever remarry but says he wants to live together -which he talks about but I can't see it happening and worry I'm just 'filling in his time' for now.
Our children have been introduced to each other and children have met each other. All good (different ages, his are secondary age, mine primary).
I just need a crystal ball as to if it will work or not :)
I'm very conscious of wasting time especially as older and have young children. I wasted too long in a marriage and although it ended years ago, have only dated. This is the first relationship since (I just didn't meet anyone I wanted a relationship with). At first I thought I just wanted to date, then wanted to have a relationship but since meeting him realise I want a proper relationship again, leading to living together and marrying.
Rather than blindly go along I want to think of timelines. What should I expect soon, two years etc. How long is reasonable to wait to buy together, plans to marry etc.
It's so different now, before I wanted marriage and children so looked for someone that wanted the same and it was discussed early on and plans made. Now children and divorced, there's not the urgency yet I want this and unsure how it works now, when things have badly previously, how long should you wait. I've just not had this uncertainty before with not knowing if it's something the other person really means and when they want it to happen.
We both have careers and work fulltime, if this is relevant and own our houses. Same area but different towns but within ten miles of each other.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 04/05/2019 04:38

I find him set in his ways and quite lazy which I don't like in a person.

THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Stop deluding yourself and stop hoping that he will magically turn into the man you need him to be. He won't because he will not change. Everything you wrote screams that to know this isn't the relationship for you. Take the blinders off and move on.

Sally2791 · 04/05/2019 05:38

Your post does sounds like you are trying to believe that he is what you want, because that would be easier than ending it and starting again. I also agree that set in ways and lazy will just get worse. Perhaps try to put aside the idea of meeting someone and following a set path to marriage and just date with no expectations

Singlenotsingle · 04/05/2019 05:51

Is there any real need to "settle down"? It's a valid lifestyle just to jog along, enjoying each other's company, days out, evenings in, having fun without all the stress involved with marriage. Holidays together...

Do you really want to be someone's housekeeper again? Doing the shopping, cooking, cleaning? (especially as you say he's lazy). Doing his washing, tidying up after him, putting up with his mess, watching the footie when you'd prefer a film?

Unless you can find the Perfect Man, you're probably better off living on your own with your dc.

Sculpin · 04/05/2019 05:56

I'm very conscious of wasting time - it comes across that you are very keen to find the "perfect" man and settle down, but he may not be feeling this way. After a divorce, many people (both men and women) are hesitant to jump into another serious long-term relationship (marriage, living together etc) and it sounds from what you've said like he may fall into that category. If this is a problem for you, end the relationship and look for someone who wants the same things as you. But if you enjoy spending time with him, it's also OK just to date him without much expectation of the future and see how things work out. Is there a big rush for you to settle down again?

Sculpin · 04/05/2019 05:57

Cross post with single!

Sunoday · 04/05/2019 09:19

Thank you.
This is the worry that it's not the right relationship!
I have thought if he's lazy now it will just get worse as he gets older.
I didn't want to marry again until I met him and this has been only very recently. This is due to the chemistry with him I think to be honest and him being the 'best' man I have met since being single.
I'm not sure why I'm wanting to settle down. I think it's so that he'll always be around, rather than the current just dating but equally, I think of the reality of someone around all the time which isn't so appealing too.
The rush for me is a pathetic, thinking it'll be alot harder to find someone new as I get older (I have a thing about my age and always lie usually that I'm late 30s). I don't feel (or look yet) my age and he can act older, often tired, needing early nights. It's depressing to think of meeting someone new older with the mentality (I know not every Man will be) and most Men seem to want someone younger than them!

OP posts:
category12 · 04/05/2019 09:37

It sounds like you want to commit because you feel insecure. It also sounds like he's not the right guy for you and he would be quite tiresome to be tied to.

I'd be careful of the drive to move things on with the relationship, I'm not sure it's coming from a healthy place. It has to be right because you have young dc - you really don't want to disrupt their lives by making a mistake here. Put the brakes on.

Sunoday · 04/05/2019 09:49

Yes sadly true, the commitment as insecure and a commitment is as so I then know.
The laziness and set in his ways are his bad points. Which I of course have. He has good points and since being with him his healthy eating and fitness has made mine better.
I found before him the chemistry so difficult to find in someone. Therefore as I have it with him, reluctant to let it go.
Yes, I really have to be sure for my children's sake. It's almost as so I want him to be serious about living together, possibly marriage and then I can decide.

OP posts:
CaptSkippy · 04/05/2019 09:57

OP, I think you already know the answer to this one. And if you don't want to waste your time, his or your kids' time then don't.

Sunoday · 04/05/2019 11:39

I think it helps asking people that don't know you and say what you want to hear.
I think it most likely is a feeling of knowing. Therefore I am wasting my time as want more, in theory anyway.
I need to be sensible and finish it before I find I've wasted years living in hope! Or see him as someone just dating and date others.
When I was married it obviously didn't work but was nice coming home to someone, an adult ton spend evenings with. Someone to do the things I just don't get, like pointing out an issue with the car. Being able to do DIY. Being able to go-out as a couple. Not being as now the single parent.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page