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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

Early 40s, very young kids and almost divorced. How do I get ready to date again?

20 replies

OhioOhioOhio · 11/05/2019 13:16

I am overweight. I have varicose veins. I've birthed 3 big babies. I've fed 3 babies. I'm untrusting. I take no bullshit. And I'm no contact with abusive stbxh.

I'm fun. I'm funny. Im kind. I'm a professional. I've got my shit together. I like cooking.

And I don't know who I fancy anymore. I look at pensioners and wonder if they are my age.

But I think I'm ready to consider dating. Or am I?

OP posts:
Fonduefrolics · 11/05/2019 13:34

Hello Ohio

I’m in my 40’s overweight with with varicose veins. I even got them in my vulva when pregnant. I’ve fed my babies too. Are you concerned about your body and how it will be perceived? Yeah, my boobs aren’t so great as they were and I thought my fanny was probably past it’s best but any man who says no because you’ve got wobbly bits isn’t worth it. It’s good you’ve got a strong bullshit detector and it’ll help you weed them out. You do need a thick skin and the ability to not over invest. Let the fun and funny side out when you’re ready.

OhioOhioOhio · 11/05/2019 13:36

Have you met anyone post divorce? I almost can't imagine.

OP posts:
MaybeDoctor · 11/05/2019 13:41

I think that men notice a lot less of this stuff than the beauty industry would have you believe!

Prospective suitors aren't hovering at ankle level inspecting the quality of skin on your calves. I suspect that most men see face, boobs and hair then take the rest on trust!

Fonduefrolics · 11/05/2019 13:46

Yes. Have been on 10 dates (with different people). Lots of interest, but not everyone to my taste or me to them. Some of those dates led to some short term stuff (and sex). I think I’ve seen or heard it all now after a year of dating been ghosted (hard), finished with someone I really liked because his heart wasn’t in it and now am dating someone at the moment. I can’t imagine another long term, live in arrangement but it’s nice to date and have someone (to have sex with if that’s your thing)

category12 · 11/05/2019 13:47

What's the hurry?

If you think it'll be fun and whatnot, then why not, I suppose. But it's good to spend time on your own and pursue your own interests.

OhioOhioOhio · 11/05/2019 13:58

I guess I feel lonely. And now time has passed I realise what a non marriage my marriage actually was.

OP posts:
Moffa · 11/05/2019 14:34

Following! I don’t think I’ll date for a long time (newly separated, haven’t had the big D chat yet, but need to soon). I can’t even imagine dating again!

I’m 40, two young DC. Not overweight but body definitely battle worn from pregnancies & births!

How does anyone trust again?! X

desklamp · 11/05/2019 16:21

Similar situation - only ever been with one man and it turns out he's an abusive arsehole. I won't be ready to date anyone for a long time. Maybe never. The thought of being alone for the rest of my life isn't a cheerful one, but the thought of dating is terrifying!

Needhelp101 · 11/05/2019 16:39

I suggest getting onto Tinder, setting your age parameters to under 30 and wait for the the MILF hunters to flood in 😉. Seriously.

OhioOhioOhio · 11/05/2019 17:57

101

That sounds awful!!!

I guess the last time I was single I fancied men 10 years younger than my current age.

My barometer is all out.

OP posts:
SchoolofHardKnocks · 12/05/2019 08:20

OP - I feel like I could have written your post, except I only have two young LOs. Only finally ended abusive relationship with STBXH last year but was effectively single for years so have felt lonely for some time. Haven’t dated in almost 15years and have no idea how these things work. Part of me wants to love & feel loved, and part of me wants to have some fun on Tinder.

ShinyShoe · 12/05/2019 08:34

Following with interest. I have no idea if I’m even attractive at all anymore! I used to be able to flirt easily but after 3 babies and a whole load of stress I look like a flabby carrier bag full of air!

OhioOhioOhio · 12/05/2019 08:42

So what are we all going to do about it?

I read on here the other day about a mum who is so short with her kids because she has put her life on hold for them and now is so lonely a d tired.

I don't at all want anything to upset my family but I don't want to screw up my life waiting for some perfect random moment when cupid might strike. Or might not. If you see what I mean?

OP posts:
kayvade · 12/05/2019 09:09

This was me about 6 0r 7 years ago. I could say what I've learnt and I could pass it on but a lot of mumsnetters might poo poo it. I suspect they might have been coming from a place of more robust confidence though and a less inherent people-pleasing place..

I'd had an abusive relationship and thanks to MN I understood abuse and felt really well informed and could see through all of the bullshit but my people pleasing personality was still there really so what was happening for a long time was that I spotted abusers and away from the them quickly (well done me, progress) but that the decent less selfish men were after being initially interested in me , turned off by my hardwired people pleasing. I understand it but it hurt me a lot and knocked my confidence MORE

So I had to learn things twice. In theory, and then in practice.

So my advice to you would be to write down what you feel your deal breakers and boundaries are while it's still theory, and then later, when it becomes 'practice' and there's a real romance , refer to your list and do not waiver. That was always my failing due to the people pleasing traits which i've worked hard to overcome. I"ve got there now finally. But I used to let things go because it was a real romance and not a list of standards but I shouldn't have.

After it had happened a few times (ie, dumped by men who had been interested to begin with) I set certain rules for myself, ie that unless I felt comfortable ringing somebody out of the blue then I wouldn't bother proceeding,. ie, any sense whatsoever that my phone call was breaking a rule then I was done. If my call wasn't welcomed with 100% enthusiasm I smelled another avoidant trying to compartmentalise. If I needed to prioritise the kids and they guilted me, I would get turned off not strive to ''make up for it''.

Some switch in me flipped after about four years of internet dating on and off.

I have listened to a lot of relationship gurus on youtube along the way though, Meredith Miller, Ross Rosenberg, Lisa ROmano, Allan Robarge. Loads more, learnt a lot about myself over the last decade and although I'm heading for 50 next year, I no longer care if I'm single for ever, I'm brave enough,it'll be fine, all the evidence from my own life so far shows that it might even be better.

Don't worry about your body. If somebody asks you out twice presume that your body is not putting them off! I know men are visual blah blah blah but it's definitely the dynamic between the two of you that makes them interested, properly genuinely interested. People on mumsnet hate advice to wait a while before sleeping with them but I learnt this the hard way. I was sleeping with people just because we'd gone on 6 dates and I'd heard all the right things. I hadn't let enough time pass to see if their words and actions were authentic or incongruous. I think a few minor incidents that test their true intentions first would have been a good thing.

Good luck

kayvade · 12/05/2019 09:16

I can identify with that sentiment ohio, I sometimes wonder if I tried to construct the perfect life 'ie, one with a committed partner' in it at the expense of my relationships with my young teens. I have left them too much. Now that i'm feeling brave and I know that I can do whatever I want to do with or without a relationship I see that there were times where I didn't value my relationship with them highly enough so I could go out on dates. I wasn't like relentlessly dating for a decade! but you know when you're a working single parent and you have some friendships as well, just going out with some guy even twice a week can impact upon your household massively. You end up falling behind on washing and shopping and your kids are feeling a bit neglected and then they start pushing back. There were periods in my life years ago where I felt anger that I had them all the time and I felt resentment that I wasn't free to date! I had two lovely kids and I wanted to be free to date assholes on line.
I still want more freedom but I look back on some of the decisions I made when they were a bit younger.......... and I think omg KayVade... I lied to them, left them with bored babysitters who sat on their phones all night, I made up so many bullshitty excuses about where I was and who I was with.

OhioOhioOhio · 12/05/2019 11:13

That is such a lot of information. Thank you so much. It all feels very intimidating. I can't be bothered at all with being messed around. Not sure I have the energy for it.

OP posts:
crappyday2018 · 12/05/2019 11:36

Hi OP, you're not alone in feeling scared about it all. when you have been with the same person for a long time and they are used to you, its frightening to think of a new person looking at your body.
However, confidence is everything and this is as attractive as a nice body.
One of my best mates has 2 young kids. She does have a nice figure but her weight can fluctuate and she has really bad cellulite all over her legs but she doesn't care and wears skirts and dresses and oozes confidence and I think men love that. I have no cellulite but am too paranoid about wearing skirts and short cos I have a few thread veins on one of my legs.

OhioOhioOhio · 12/05/2019 14:23

crappyday

I can do the confidence. I guess I just don't have enough extra to cope with the dating part. Not without feeling as though I'm letting my children down. My marriage was awful, for almost all of it. I yearn for a caring partner and that spark.

OP posts:
Moffa · 16/07/2019 14:18

@Ohio how are you getting on? Any dates yet? X

Needhelp101 · 16/07/2019 15:18

May I suggest you go for the, ahem, younger man? They're a lot of non-judgemental fun ;)

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