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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

Are we kidding ourselves to think we can fix this?

134 replies

Cheryberys · 21/10/2019 19:30

My expartner and I were together, mostly happily, for a long time. I was devoted to him, and would do anything for him, and always felt it was reciprocated. Whilst no relationship is perfect, there was a lot of mutual support, meeting of minds etc. He wasn't entirely happy with our sex life (in retrospect nor was I), but we struggled to discuss these problems (although we'd resolved other issues as they arose this one was one we found hard to discuss) and eventually we split up. For the last few months of the relationship he began fucking someone else, a woman he met online where he went looking for sex (at this point we had effectively stopped having sex). This carried on for a few months after our split but he refused to commit to a relationship with her (because in his words he just saw her as someone to have sex with), and eventually contacted me to ask if we could try again.

As of yet, a few months on, I haven't agreed so whilst we are in contact we are not in a relationship. I have a LOT of concerns. As does he. I wasn't always particularly kind or nice, and in the process of us splitting up I sent some very negative and quite personal messages. That said had I known he was fucking someone else I would have said worse.

My view is that we both behaved badly and that whilst 2 wrongs don't make a right of we want to start again we wipe the slate clean.

However he wants to analyse all my comments while dismissing his infidelity on the basis we weren't having sex. He is also still in contact with the woman he was fucking and I know she is dripping poison in his ear about me (as she has told me directly that she thinks she should be with him as she is better in bed than me - but because I am significantly more attractive in all respects he doesn't want her if he can have me) He says she means nothing to him and I do believe it but she is a shit stirrer and for that reason I think he needs to cut contact.

I don't fall into that trap of just blaming her. I know both are at fault. But she is the one who has repeatedly contacted me to 'put me in the picture' and make a number of spiteful and hurtful comments like telling me I'm shit in bed, or how they used to laugh at me and take the piss behind my back. She knew of my existence all along and even after he contacted me to try and get me back, she called me to tell me everything and then immediately after called him and offered him sex. She is jealous of me clearly; I try to just think she is pathetic and no threat but frankly I would prefer her to be out of the way entirely rather than sending him messages like how if he stays with me I'll never give him sex and nothing will change and he'll regret it!

I do think things can change and she clearly is no oracle. I've suggested seeing a counsellor which he is willing to do. I think he also should cut this woman out as she has an agenda which is deeply anti me.

OP posts:
Interestedwoman · 21/10/2019 23:13

'dismissing his infidelity on the basis we weren't having sex.'

So, as he sees that as not having done anything wrong, there is nothing, nothing to stop him doing it again unless you constantly do everything he wants in the bedroom when he wants it for the rest of your life.

'He is also still in contact with the woman he was fucking'

You go on about this woman a lot, but why is he in touch with her or talking to her at all? You know the answer, he's made it clear he views her solely as someone he can use for sex. How strange that he insists on keeping in touch with someone he can use for sex when he wants it, despite knowing their contact can't be something that fills you with joy. Oh I wonder what his motivation could be for keeping in touch. :)

At the very least, it's to keep you on your toes, to ensure if he does get back with you you do most things he wants in the bedroom- or else.

RitmoRatmo · 21/10/2019 23:16

He sounds grim, she sounds grim, and to be honest, you are sounding pretty grim in your blame of another woman who by your own admission had “deeper feelings” for your ex than he did for her. You seem to be almost delighting in how he used her for sex. It’s all really odd & dysfunctional.

Chloemol · 21/10/2019 23:16

I think your comment about him wanting to analyse every comment you made,now with him, whilst discussing his own actions is very telling

You say you have grown since you split up. I would continue with that growth, and not get back together. If all he wants to do is pick over what you did, but not him he’s not willing to change and you are wasting your time

Move on from him.

Quartz2208 · 21/10/2019 23:17

She isn’t your problem at all. He is. The fact he is putting all the blame on you and dissecting everything you say. Your willingness to say how bad you were but he isn’t

That is your problem and fundamentally that won’t change

Gingerkittykat · 21/10/2019 23:33

Honestly she isn't attractive. Not just physically but personality too. And she's not that bright. My friends are baffled as to why he would even go near her other than the fact she has literally zero self respect so is constantly available for sex. I suppose it's a perfect example of not looking at the fire place when you're poking the fire

Wow, you both sound really nasty.

He thinks it's ok to use an insecure woman for a shag, you think it's ok for him to do so as long as you are not seeing him at the same time.

In the meantime he has got the pair of you bitching and fighting with each other.

Walk away unless you have as little self respect as his fuck buddy.

MyKingdomForBrie · 21/10/2019 23:35

He sounds like a dick but you're not doing yourself any favours talking about her like that. Women are not on a fucking sliding scale to be judged as greater or lesser therefore more worthy of being with/shagging.

This relationship is dead in the water.

rvby · 21/10/2019 23:48

How can you find such a revolting person attractive?

Seriously, does the way he talks not make your vag crawl back into your body to hide.

If you can manage to shag someone so cringey, I guess go for it, use your "high self esteem" to shore you up while you wait for him to pick you as his favoured lady Hmm

Innishh · 21/10/2019 23:51

You did really well to separate and move on from someone you were not sexually compatible with. You have done really well to spend the time since working on yourself.

He has behaved despicably and disrespectfully at the end of your long relationship to you, afterwards to another vulnerable woman and still now to you both.
He really is a disgusting man - how dare he sit there sniggering about your sexual prowess with some random, how dare he allow this random to harass, hound and torment you.
You were both unable to do communicate effectively with each other about sex and now he is bringing his seedy sexual encounters to your door and wants to justify it all. The language you use to describe her is v traumatised - and should be directed at him.

Don’t put yourself through this act of self harm - the sex will be shocking, the discussions painful - for what - to accommodate this creep.

You indeed are significantly more attractive than he deserves. Value yourself. You deserve much more than this.

HellonHeels · 22/10/2019 00:03

What on earth? Why are you doing this to yourself?

Dont waste time.and brainspace on this man - counselling would be good - individual counselling to help you move.on from this shitshow. .

wheretonow123 · 22/10/2019 00:18

Don't automatically assume that he will be able to stay with you if you get back together and that he`ll stay away from her.

There are many examples of guys choosing the woman that's better in bed over the outwardly prettier one,

He seems to have been directed by his d!ck so far and may not be able to help it again in the future.

Sable4 · 22/10/2019 00:28

I would be looking to move on with your life. The whole situation sounds dysfunctional. You could get back together and the old problems will start bubbling up. As somebody else has said cut your losses and move on. If he was meeting up with somebody else for sex who says he won’t do that again if you hit a dry spell?

Cheryberys · 22/10/2019 00:42

I'm being completely honest about her. Leaving aside his behaviour which is a significant but separate issue she has set out to be deliberately and calculated nasty and spiteful to me. For absolutely no reason.

Many years ago I found myself in the role of OW with a man I was involved with. I was contacted once by his wife. I lied and said nothing went on. I certainly never tried to hurt her and when he decided to go back to his wife I never tried to contact him again. And I certainly never contacted her. I was wrong but I never felt the urge to twist the knife like this woman has with me.

She also isn't physically attractive. I'm no model but I am someone that people generally would describe as pretty, glamorous etc. Perhaps ironically my ex was one of few men I've ever met who valued me for more than my looks - he appreciated my intelligence, personality and career. Which is why I still can't understand why he'd involve himself with a woman with no qualifications and no proper job, plus her awful behaviour.

Whilst I don't agree with all the replies what is clear is that it is not in any way unreasonable for me to say he should cut contact with her, and if he refuses, it will be very difficult to see how we can move forward in any way.

OP posts:
Cheryberys · 22/10/2019 00:48

The whole sex thing is bizarre anyway because I have always been more interested in sex than him. However he also refused to do certaIn things - he used to say I was 'too good' for them and that I couldn't enjoy it. Even though I wanted to, indeed asked. Repeatedly.

OP posts:
SpinneyHill · 22/10/2019 00:48

Do you really want him back or do you want to win him back?

There is a difference and jealousy is a bastard for confusing people into doing dumb shit they regret. Do nothing for a few months and see what happens

pallisers · 22/10/2019 00:49

I know he's told her he sees her as no more than an ex fuck buddy.

gosh he is a charmer isn't he.

No idea why you are wasting your time on this unkind man who treats women - you, her, the other women he didn't tell you about - as sex objects.

I'm loving the idea that you see your lies to the wife of the man you were having an affair with as somehow morally superior to being honest.

I think you both might deserve each other tbh.

Butterymuffin · 22/10/2019 00:53

You're making this about her and the kind of person she is, when it should be about him and the kind of person he is. As in:
Leaving aside his behaviour which is a significant but separate issue
It's THE issue. Focus on what he's like. The answer for me would be 'not good enough'.

gamerchick · 22/10/2019 00:59

You don't want him. You just don't want her to have him, so you'll do the pick me dance until you 'win'. Which may not be ever and when things to back to normal... Who knows. You might dump him anyway, or hell string you both along for years or he'll start shagging someone else.

Seriously, 'let her have him'. It's a waste of life.

rvby · 22/10/2019 01:05

@Cheryberys your posts are bizarre. I'll try again: WHY DO YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO BEHAVES LIKE THIS

You say you're pretty and accomplished so why are you mud wrestling an apparent minger for a guy who sounds actively repulsive?

Cheryberys · 22/10/2019 01:06

I don't see him as a prize so it's not about winning. I don't value myself through my success with men but more on what I've achieved in life so far, difficulties I've overcome and I am a winner in those respects.

But this isn't a competition, I don't consider I'm vying for his affections. If I was trying to compete I'd be offering sex on a plate. I'm very much not doing that. I've been quite clear we won't have sex unless we're in a relationship and we won't be in a relationship unless and until we resolve our differences.

OP posts:
rvby · 22/10/2019 01:09

Why do you want someone who behaves like this?

Cheryberys · 22/10/2019 01:22

Before all this we generally had a good, mutually supportive equal relationship. We have similar likes, values and interests, share opinions and beliefs. The only part of the relationship that wasn't brilliant was sex, and even that wasnt bad, more could have been better.

It was the most equal, most supportive, best relationship I've ever had. And thats why I would consider a reconciliation.

His recent behaviour is quite at odds with how he's always been in all the time we were together. His family are appalled, my friends thought he'd had some kind of breakdown. I don't believe this is the real him. He has had a couple of deeply traumatic events in the last couple of years which he's not properly dealt with. I'm not blaming that, he needs to own this, but this isn't really him. If I believed it was, I wouldn't be bothering with any dialogue with him.

OP posts:
rvby · 22/10/2019 01:27

So he used to be nice and you're hoping he will go back to being nice?

Hes humiliated you, cheated on you, and is now haranguing you for not being ok with that, and hes sicced his fuck buddy on you as well. What else does he have to do to put you off? Sounds like hes working hard to get you to fuck off, no?

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/10/2019 01:28

You have said to him that the infidelity is an issue, and he’s told you it’s not.
You have said to him that his friendship with OW is an issue, he has told you it’s not.
You weren’t having sex, and now reveal that you have the higher drive, but he was unwilling to do certain things with you because you are too good for them.

This man clearly has a Madonna/whore complex and is unable to respect who you are.

Watch his actions, they all show someone who plans to cheat again (why not? He’s told you there’s nothing wrong with it) and has real issues with women having desires.

Walk away. It’s not about being incompatible at this point, it’s that he has set up so many unhealthy dynamics in this relationship that it’s beyond dysfunctional. Stop talking to him and find someone who respects you.

SpinneyHill · 22/10/2019 01:28

He's not the prize, he's someone you had a relationship full of issues and a shit sex life with who cheated on you.
The winning is about her comparing/judging her as if you've taken offense he didn't cheat with a supermodel.

You didn't know he was cheating but you split up, what reasons did you think were responsible before you found out he was actively looking to cheat on you?

SpinneyHill · 22/10/2019 01:32

You keep banging on about mutual support and respect he didn't fall into her bed he was looking for women to fuck behind your back
No the relationship was not good or mutually beneficial before this one instance of cheating that he fessed up to.