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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

Very complicated Situation - FWB/ Friend/ Ex - Need advice please!

215 replies

sheryl77 · 22/05/2019 14:43

I’ve been ‘seeing’ a guy since last August who was my ex 17 years ago (we were together for four years). We meet every few weeks for sex (he’s in between two countries) and both agreed it would be fun, no commitment (I’m just in the process of getting divorced and he’s been recently hurt).

When we are together, its amazing..great sex, we talk, he confides, he spends the night (he asks to stay), we are literally on the floor laughing when we are together. When we are not having sex, he’s always initiating cuddles in bed at night and in the morning randomly holding my head up to kiss me like a boyfriend (albeit, he’s not). He’s asked me out for brunch the last time we meet and I declined as wasn’t ready to ‘step outside’ with him.

As it’s casual, I am guessing he is seeing other people (I am not as have no time and not one to shag multiple men). Anyway, he uses a condom on and off…I ask him everytime and I know it takes two, but last time he didn’t use one at all despite me asking… (Yes, I know I should respect my body and I should of insisted!).

I sent him a text a week after we met saying I think he’s seeing other woman and to please respect me by wearing a condom. Also be good to know if he has a girlfriend as I don’t want problems! He texted back saying ‘Can’t be acting like your boyfriend, I’m not! (with the nickname he calls me). I responded asking him if he thinks I think of him as a boyfriend (!?) and that I just asked him to practise safe sex that’s all and this feels like its becoming complicated and if this was not fun anymore, we’d better say goodbye….He hasn’t responded in 3 days…

He’s done this awful ‘silent treatment’ before and we end up meeting again…we kind of go through stages where we feel we shouldn’t see each other anymore (I think its because we both freak out we’re getting close or maybe I’m reading too much into things?).

He’s very complicated and I know from being with him previously, when he fears being hurt, he shuts down.

I’m giving him space and won’t contact him again, but can anyone fathom why he’s acted like this? Perhaps he didn’t want to be honest and say he had so deflecting it back on me? I started seeing him when I was having a marriage breakdown and I was always honest with him but if seems he can’t give me the same respect!!

I think I know the answer but I think I need to let this guy go? I don’t need any pain, but the sex is amazing and I do like him as a person (but defo not for long term). I know he likes me as a person, so I don’t know why he acts like this. He told me before he shuts down as its like a self defence thing.

What do you think? Please be gentle as don’t think I can take harsh words on this.

Anyone have similar experiences? Is this a fuck buddy/ friends with benefits or just too bloody complicated?

Thank you x

OP posts:
ThatCurlyGirl · 23/05/2019 23:09

And if your self esteem is very low then maybe sometime when you've made the break, you could start a thread asking for tips and mental exercises to change this, you'll have a group of mumsnetters rallying around you with an amazing amount of collective experience between them x

sheryl77 · 23/05/2019 23:12

Hey :-)

This sounds very familiar....I need to look at deeper issues and realise that I’ve been attracted to men of this nature. I’ve always endured either physical or emotional abuse (more the latter!) so it’s ripped me apart.

I have a pattern of going for men that are not as emotionally available as I’d like them to be and also men that whilst are not as educated as me or intelligent have always tried to pull me down.

I will def look into counselling and the programme. I realise I need some help with moving forward (I know this post has been about my ex but I’ve had a heck of a year and it’s all just come to a head with this).

x

OP posts:
Erythronium · 23/05/2019 23:39

It's good to hear that you're going to block him. That is properly moving on, making sure there's no possibility of him contacting you. It's showing yourself self respect and self care which is so important.

I'm very sorry to hear about the experiences you've had. Unfortunately they can make you vulnerable to men like this. Counselling would probably help a lot if you can get a good counsellor.

sheryl77 · 24/05/2019 07:14

I will def see a counsellor. It’s very hard for me to know he gets to think I wanted him as a boyfriend again. He gets an ego boost and I feel like shit as I can’t even explain myself. I shouldn’t care what he thinks I know.

Before anyone jumps on my back about this, I’m not lying to anyone about what I wanted. I think someone is allowed to care about their ex and have feelings of nostalgia.

He’s unemployed, on benefits, dishonest and a man who doesn’t consider people. Not someone that’s now attractive to me.

OP posts:
Huskylover1 · 24/05/2019 14:55

I couldn't shag someone who was not working. I just wouldn't find that attractive. He's 45, why hasn't he got a job? Not good. You can do so much better than this knob end.

sheryl77 · 24/05/2019 17:27

Yes I know, not attractive is it. He had an accident so classed as ‘disabled’ but he’s fine now...He’s so not my type at all. Maybe that was the attraction...

OP posts:
P999 · 17/01/2020 23:14

Hi OP, I've read this thread and recognised lot of myself in it? How are you now?Flowers

justilou1 · 17/01/2020 23:17

When someone tells you things like “I am selfish”, BELIEVE THEM. Move on....

sheryl77 · 19/01/2020 18:27

@P999 Hi and thanks for your message. This guy is no longer, albeit he keeps sniffing around. Had a similar situation with another FWB recently ☹️ I’m basically done with men for now! X

OP posts:
sheryl77 · 19/01/2020 18:27

@justilou1 agree!

OP posts:
Interestedwoman · 19/01/2020 19:03

'I ask him everytime and I know it takes two, but last time he didn’t use one at all despite me asking… (Yes, I know I should respect my body and I should of insisted!).'

You know, this is technically rape, or virtually. Sex without a condom when you only consented to it with one is now legally rape, as you didn't consent to what he did. At the very least, it's sexual coercion, because you didn't initially want sex without one.

'I started seeing him when I was having a marriage breakdown and I was always honest with him but if seems he can’t give me the same respect!!'

Has he been unclear in any way? Obviously we don't know all the communications, but in the bit about not being your boyfriend etc I think he made it quite clear that he was just interested in sex rather than a relationship, and that he thinks he has a perfect right to shag other women too.

He doesn't seem very respectful. I would dump him, you deserve to be treated better even by a FWB. xx

He's

Interestedwoman · 19/01/2020 19:04

sorry, IDK what the 'He's' was doing at the end there lol

Interestedwoman · 19/01/2020 19:07

Sorry, just spotted it's an old thread. Glad to hear you're done with men :) Perhaps you could join the 'Happy Singletons' thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3789560-The-Happy-Singleton-All-welcome

Tubdoi · 19/01/2020 19:11

He’s a complete twat . I doubt he is romantically interested in you .

I would meet someone else and get rid of this one

Tubdoi · 19/01/2020 19:11

Good plan well done

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