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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

Should I bin this?

17 replies

peachypeachy999 · 19/10/2019 22:41

For background:
I was happily married for 20+ years until I discovered an affair that devastated me and after tremendous efforts to save the marriage, we divorced.

Then I met someone, quite unexpectedly, through a good friend.
We embarked on a very passionate relationship, fun, lovely.
He was not yet divorced but had been living separately for a year and regularly had his 2 kids aged 12 and 14.
He took me abroad to meet his family and I met and spent time with his children.
Everything was great, we fell very much in love. We have been together a year now.
My children have not met him as they have said they weren’t ready until recently.

However he is currently, I think, on the brink of having some kind of breakdown.
He suffers a lot with stress.
He runs his own company and in a year he has had ups and downs with too little/too much work.
He doesn’t cope with it very well at all and
When I visit I spend hours counselling him, largely about his business. I used to run my own business and I’m very practical and organised so I feel I’m really helpful.

He sometimes takes cocaine and drinks to try and cope. It isn’t to excess and it’s not often.
At the moment though he is literally on the brink, I contacted him last weekend after very little contact and he apologised and said he was under a lot of pressure and had to work.
I hadn’t heard anything from him all week until we spoke yesterday and he said the next few weeks would be work work work.

I spoke to the friend who introduced us and he said he’d bumped into him and said he’d never seen him so stressed and was worried, he’d tried contacting him since and no reply.

I got a new job 3 months ago that’s very demanding, I have a lengthy commute and it’s very pressured. I’m stressed myself and I’m finding my visits to him are adding more stress on me.
I was ill recently and my ex husband dropped everything to care for me, called my boss, filled the fridge, cooked dinners etc.
My boyfriend did nothing, the next time I visited him he had bought himself a big bouquet of flowers for his house ( he likes flowers) and I felt quite hurt.

He also has lots of personal issues, he was sent to boarding school aged 4 and had terrible experiences that have damaged him. I have counselled him a lot about this . I also encouraged him to attend a school reunion recently that helped heal some wounds. He also had a lot of resentment towards his parents for sending him away and they were quite drunk and violent etc,
We talked all this through on our visit to them and lot of wounds were healed there.

I feel I have done a lot to help this guy.
I found him a beautiful house, helped furnish it, made it homely.
I love and support him. I leave little love notes everywhere and fill his fridge with food so that he eats well.
I’m great with his kids. I’m attractive, fit and successful. I’m fun and funny. I love sex and literally can’t get enough.
I’d date me 😂

I know one of the reasons he split with his wife was his work/ stress. She had an affair because she felt so neglected.
I guess he hasn’t learned. He’s a great father so he is capable of prioritising outside work. I guess I’m just much further down his list ☹️

I am having a hard time calling this a day though, when it’s good it’s amazing.
Should I continue trying to help this guy or move on? I do love him but it’s hard work.

For background:
I was happily married for 20+ years until I discovered an affair that devastated me and after tremendous efforts to save the marriage, we divorced.

Then I met someone, quite unexpectedly, through a good friend.
We embarked on a very passionate relationship, fun, lovely.
He was not yet divorced but had been living separately for a year and regularly had his 2 kids aged 12 and 14.
He took me abroad to meet his family and I met and spent time with his children.
Everything was great, we fell very much in love. We have been together a year now.
My children have not met him as they have said they weren’t ready until recently.

However he is currently, I think, on the brink of having some kind of breakdown.
He suffers a lot with stress.
He runs his own company and in a year he has had ups and downs with too little/too much work.
He doesn’t cope with it very well at all and
Recently whenever I visit I spend hours counselling him, largely about his business. I used to run my own business and I’m very practical and organised so I feel I’m really helpful.

He sometimes takes cocaine and drinks to try and cope. It isn’t to excess and it’s not often.
At the moment though he is literally on the brink, I contacted him last weekend after very little contact and he apologised and said he was under a lot of pressure and had to work.
I hadn’t heard anything from him all week until we spoke yesterday and he said the next few weeks would be work work work.

I spoke to the friend who introduced us and he said he’d bumped into him and said he’d never seen him so stressed and was worried, he’d tried contacting him since and no reply.

I got a new job 3 months ago that’s very demanding, I have a lengthy commute and it’s very pressured. I’m stressed myself and I’m finding my visits to him are adding more stress on me.
I was ill recently and my ex husband dropped everything to care for me, called my boss, filled the fridge, cooked dinners etc.
My boyfriend did nothing, the next time I visited him he had bought himself a big bouquet of flowers for his house ( he likes flowers) and I felt quite hurt.

He also has lots of personal issues, he was sent to boarding school aged 4 and had terrible experiences that have damaged him. I have counselled him a lot about this . I also encouraged him to attend a school reunion recently that helped heal some wounds. He also had a lot of resentment towards his parents for sending him away and they were quite drunk and violent etc,
We talked all this through on our visit to them and lot of wounds were healed there.

I feel I have done a lot to help this guy.
I found him a beautiful house, helped furnish it, made it homely.
I love and support him. I leave little love notes everywhere and fill his fridge with food so that he eats well.
I’m great with his kids. I’m attractive, fit and successful. I’m fun and funny. I love sex and literally can’t get enough.
I’d date me 😂

I know one of the reasons he split with his wife was his work/ stress. She had an affair because she felt so neglected.
I guess he hasn’t learned. He’s a great father so he is capable of prioritising outside work. I guess I’m just much further down his list ☹️

I am having a hard time calling this a day though, when it’s good it’s amazing.
Should I continue trying to help this guy or move on? I do love him but it’s hard work.

OP posts:
Mummybares · 20/10/2019 00:13

For me its easy, id end it because he copes with drugs. Thats a huge no for me.
I dont think he is a bad person for it but i just would not want to be with someone who takes drugs (or drinks for that matter).

He needs to sort himself out, if that work is stressing him he needs to find another work or cope better.

Id just stay single for a few years.

Bluerussian · 20/10/2019 00:35

You can still be friendly with this man but don't have to be so involved and committed to him - certainly don't think of living with him yet.

Friends do help each other with problems and sometimes people overcome their problems but it isn't wise for a person like yourself, with your own home and children, to take up permanently with a man who has so many problems. There would be no escape if you lived with him.

Good luck, you do sound nice.

timshelthechoice · 20/10/2019 00:42

I couldn't be with someone who uses coke. At all. And the rest, he sounds like an emotional vampire who will suck you dry. You're doing all the work here, he's not.

The relationship has run its course and you need to focus on yourself.

WomensRightsAreContraversial · 20/10/2019 00:45

Taking cocaine would be my hard no, too. As would his inaction when you were ill.

Honeyroar · 20/10/2019 02:07

Aside from the cocaine, he did nothing when you were ill and needed some support. What's the point? It will always be good if you're able to do all the little cute touches to the relationship, give him counselling when he needs it, fill the house with food, but if you stopped doing that, nothing would happen. He's not changed. Is going down the same Rd as he did with his ex.

Singlenotsingle · 20/10/2019 02:41

Just drop back. Spend your time and energy on your own work and your kids. Wait for him to come to you. If he doesn't, you know where you stand.

FlyingPenguine · 20/10/2019 02:45

I'd move on. You're giving much more than you're getting and at this early stage he should be much more supportive. Imagine how bad it would be in five years once the honeymoon stage wears off.

rvby · 20/10/2019 02:57

Relationships are meant to add to your life.

This guy is a taker. With a snout full of cocaine to wit.

Bin him, no question.

everytimerickysayscuntIlaugh · 20/10/2019 07:08

End it. He's just someone who brings you down. Who needs that.

surlycurly · 20/10/2019 07:16

I was with someone similar and when it was good it was tremendous but the rest of the time I felt utterly consumed by him. He was exhausting. It turned into a penance . I ended it and I didn't regret it, although I do still miss him occasionally. You will probably find yourself feeling the same. Enjoy some peace in your life and enjoy some time alone. You'll miss him, but his selfishness isn't going anywhere!!!

TheStuffedPenguin · 20/10/2019 07:29

We've all had those when it's good it;s amazing things ........but when its shit , it really is . Drugs for me is a NO added to all the rest . You sound like you have it together - you know the answer.

KatherineJaneway · 20/10/2019 07:30

It sounds like it was great and 50 / 50 but now it's far more him taking from you and not giving the same support back. I'd step back from supporting him and see what happens over the next few weeks. If he makes little effort to see you or support you I'd call it a day. Sounds like he slipped into being a taker and that's not fair on you.

CodenameVillanelle · 20/10/2019 07:32

It jumped out at me that toy said you 'counselled' him twice during your post as well as all the other things you do for him, and the resounding nothing that he seems to do for you.
Relationships shouldn't be this one sided. I think I'd be pulling back if I were you. Don't end it right away but stop giving all the emotional and practical support.

Caramelblonde70 · 20/10/2019 07:45

I dont think it's doing you any good at all being with this man. I have been in a similar relationship myself and I fear this will affect your wellbeing and good sense of judgment (already, it's impacting on your stress levels). Relationships should be about support and compromise as well as all the other fun stuff. Having said that, I dont think it's a good idea to abruptly end it as I think you will suffer. I agree with a previous poster who advised to drop back. I think you need to refocus and prioritise yourself and your children. Make dates with friends and don't cancel them. This man has been too all-consuming and you need to address the balance. I think once you've done this, you will actually realise you dont need someone like him in your life. I cant see what you're getting out of it and you deserve so much more. Good luck with it all 🌸

MrsMozartMkII · 20/10/2019 07:45

I'd back off.

He can do coke (and for that alone I'd ditch him), he can prioritize children (which is of course a plus point) but not you.

No matter how good the good bits are, the bad bits don't sound like it's overall worth it.

QuiteForgetful · 21/10/2019 06:06

I would not want to be with him from the way you describe him. Look for somebody who is more like you, thoughtful and considerate.

Itsallgonewoowoo · 21/10/2019 10:33

You're parenting him, he's not a partner. Move on.

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