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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 a widower

129 replies

clpsmum · 29/06/2019 08:43

Been dating a widower for just over a year. Today is the anniversary of his wife's passing and I'm struggling as I don't know how to act with him. I struggle with anxiety and this is making me anxious however I realise that today is about him and he needs my support I just don't know what to do to support him. Any advice?

OP posts:
ballsdeep · 29/06/2019 20:19

No, user is not right. You are entitled to feel this way. He is still devoted and in lvoe with his dead wife. There's nothing wrong with that, but he needs to let you go and not write about how juch he misses her Al over fb

clpsmum · 29/06/2019 20:49

@ballsdeep thank you xx

OP posts:
Whereissummerthisyear · 29/06/2019 21:13

You’ve been with him over a year. I think you’re entitled to feel this way too.

Widowodiw · 29/06/2019 21:19

You are assuming that on the anniversary he will be upset it will
Be difficult? It was my husbands one year anniversary last week and I felt nothing more than I feel
Every other day. You can’t just turn on grief because it’s an anniversary. He may be actually fine and just want to see you like he says. Id go with the flow
And don’t overthink.

Richik · 29/06/2019 21:23

There's only 2 states someone can be in, dead or alive. If he's wishing her to be alive & not have died at a young age then I don't see the problem. The only other option is wishing her dead.

If he'd put he wished she was still alive so he could still be with her then that would be a problem.

VictoriaBun · 29/06/2019 21:24

You have him 364 days of the year, let him have her for 1 day at least.

Widowodiw · 29/06/2019 21:31

It’s not disrespectful for him to wish she was still here. I can’t believe that this upset you. He didn’t end what he had with her it would have been torn away from him. It’s not like he’s wishing he could be with an ex and there’s a chance they could bump into one another.

Innersmellbow · 29/06/2019 21:47

My brother died less than a year after he got married and his widow is always talking about how wonderful he was - how amazing their love was - but the thing is - she never really had the chance to know the real him.

He was infuriatingly disorganised & irresponsible but she'll never know that.

It's so easy to idolise people once they've died when the truth is that they are normal with faults and flaws just like the rest of us.

Mary1935 · 29/06/2019 22:10

Hi OP how often do you see him - is it just once a week.
I’m not sure you are coping with the relationship actually.
Had he dated anyone else - how long has she been dead.
I’d find it difficult and if it’s calling you this much angst I’d leave it.

SausageSimon · 29/06/2019 22:29

This is really difficult, I can see it from both sides. She's always going to be a huge part of their lives, that will never change but that doesn't have to mean you aren't important to him too.

I'd say leave it a few weeks and have a good think about it, then maybe have a chat with him about things. Emotions are running high at this time for all of you.

PP's comment really resonated with about you having him for 364 days a year, let him have her for 1. It's a small sacrifice if the relationship is great otherwise

Rosemary46 · 29/06/2019 22:47

You are allowed to have your feelings, just as he is. Yours are just as valid.

Do you think that you often try to push your feelings aside and concentrate on him? I don’t mean today or other difficult dates, I mean at normal times.

How are things when it IS about you, like your birthday ? Or when you are going through a tough time ?

PurpleCrowbar · 29/06/2019 22:54

I'm a widow.

When I met my second husband, 2 years later, it was always understood that there would be photos of dh1 about, that I was still in touch with family members, & that, frankly, I'd rather he hadn't bloody died.

But I wouldn't have posted a 'wish you were still here' message on SM where my new partner could see it.

I think there's a gap here between 'Dc & I miss you'- fine - & 'I wish you were here' - implies new partner is 2nd best.

He may just not have thought that one through, but I think I'd be taking a step back. Not sure he's quite ready to move on Confused.

MsDogLady · 29/06/2019 23:13

Sometimes it would be nice to feel like I was important too though.

I have tried to be just as understanding and supportive as I know how to be I just feel like I’m not given any consideration.

OP, I took the statements above to mean that, in general, you do not feel highly valued by him and that the relationship is imbalanced. Is this correct?

How often do you see him? To not have a photo of you or of you both together is odd.

Itsallpointless · 30/06/2019 08:00

In death, people can become sanctified, this is quite common. I’m sure this is not what is happening with this young woman who lost her life. What I do think is that he’s maybe not ready to move on.

I think you need to look at yourself and the way this makes you feel, and base your decision on that. You will not know if he’s moved on, you will only know your feelings towards it.

She will always be part of their lives, and I myself would find that difficult, sure it would get easier, but that takes time and communication. I’d speak to him about your feelings OP before you do anything.

Flowers
Itsallpointless · 30/06/2019 08:01

Oh, and you’re neither spoilt nor self centred OP, contrary to some of the spiteful comments on here.

PleaseBaby · 01/07/2019 08:33

OP, please check Abel Keogh's books or blog. As a widower, he very succinctly discusses the signs that a widower is ready for more, and how being a widower doesn't entitle someone to treat you poorly, or less than.

I'm engaged to a man who was widowed young. We're incredibly happy, but only because he was ready, and able, to move forward.

All the best.

QuickQuestion2019 · 01/07/2019 08:41

I was widowed 5 years ago at 33, two tiny DC. I've had two relationships since. First, he wasn't bothered how much I spoke about DH or how many photos there were as he wasn't in love with me.

Current relationship, it's harder because he really does care for me. I told him I missed him after we'd been away and he later said that was great but I'd never miss him as much as I miss DH. WELL YES BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT DEAD!!

Generally he's extremely considerate and thoughtful around anniversaries etc and just gives me space. He has to tolerate frequent (probably daily) mentions of DH as the DC like to speak of him. I don't have loads of photos - a small collection in living room and 2 in kitchen. DH's stuff is all packed away apart from books.

I don't know if the conditions I set down for being in a relationship with him are reasonable or not, but they are not negotiable. I'm a great partner to have generally so I think it's a small price I ask. I don't need to be in a relationship so I feel confident to set my own terms.

OP - my point is widows can make great partners. We have a depth of feeling and emotion awareness. And we REALLY appreciate what we've got. But if you're not comfortable with the non-negotiables which unfortunately includes our need to behave erratically and awfully around anniversaries then walk away. We're awful that time of year, we really are.

ballsdeep · 06/07/2019 08:18

How are you op?

clpsmum · 06/07/2019 08:32

Sorry realise I probably am be very unreasonable. He's Burt my feeling a few times lately and think we are both at different places in this relationship. I almost feel like I'm I. A relationship with somebody that is t in a relationship with me.

He has a few bits weekends planned for the summer which is fine. Turns out on one of them the wives and girlfriends are going but he didn't ask me. Don't think it even occurred to him.

He's arranged to go out drinking with his wife's best friend tonight. As they always go for a drink at this time of the year.

Think what has upset me about these two things is that he never told me. Unless I'd have asked he wouldn't have mentioned it. I just feel like he doesn't even think of me at all sometimes.

As I say I realise I probably am being over sensitive and unreasonable but my feelings are hurt.

OP posts:
ballsdeep · 06/07/2019 08:47

I don't think you're being unreasonable. Your feelings are yours and you can feel however you want.

Gazelda · 06/07/2019 09:02

To be honest OP, you seem as much hung up on his DW as he is.

You offered to cancel the date on the anniversary twice, no doubt making it seem as though you expected him to be distracted by her. Maybe he would have, but maybe he was planning a bit of a wallow during the day followed by a nice evening with his GF to distract him and to look to the future? You made assumptions about how he would feel on the anniversary, rather than letting him do it in his own way without any expectation from you,

Now you keep questioning who he's with. He's meeting up with old friends, yes, I agree it would be nice to have invited you to the group event. I'd be hurt if I were you. But the wife's best friend catch up is surely him meeting up with and old friend? Isn't he entitled to see people from his past? Surely it'd be stranger and less healthy if he eliminated all links to his wife?

But the screensave would be a no from me.

FWIW, my DM died when I was a baby. My DF apparently adored her, idolised her. But was remarried within 18 months and has lived happily with his second wife for 45 years. No mention of my DM is ever made, no anniversaries are marked, no photos, anecdotes, momentoes.

People mourn differently. Not everyone follows a pattern of grief. If you think you want to continue with him, let him deal with it in his way and respect him if he says he wants to be with you.

clpsmum · 06/07/2019 09:12

@Gazelda I think you're probably right! I am hung up on it a bit because I want to be supportive and not eliminate her from his life but never know if I'm doing the right thing or not.

Yes just meeting a friend. It's not that he's going to meet her that's a problem for me it's the fact he didn't tell me. If I were going out with another man for a drink regardless of who it was I'd mention it to him. I do trust him I just find him very secretive he never offers any Information I always have to ask.

OP posts:
clpsmum · 06/07/2019 12:14

@ballsdeep thank you for asking that is really kind of you. I'm struggling a bit this week tbh. Whilst I don't want to give up on relationship I think we are both at different places. Such mixed messages from Confused

OP posts:
clpsmum · 06/07/2019 15:16

@Gazelda didn't mean to sound like I'm questioning him all the time. I suggested doing something together and he told me he can't he's meeting his wife's friend that how I found out otherwise I wouldn't have known

OP posts:
Innersmellbow · 06/07/2019 19:49

It sounds like it might be worth putting more effort into you rather than him - that way your self esteem would be higher and then you might not be over thinking all the what ifs.

Learn to love yourself the way you deserve first. Everything else will fall into place.

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