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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:
jillandhersprite · 23/10/2019 09:57

OP - I have just read all your posts in one go.
The way you focus on the OW and him tells me that despite your protestations you are far from happy internally. When you fix that, without any man on the scene, then you will then have the strength and self respect for yourself and will see that he was a complete arsehole and you are so much better without him.
In the meantime if you keep going round and round in circles with the 'he said', 'she said' narrative and are focusing on that you will just lose sight of the big picture - to heal yourself and start anew.
Its pretty shit while you're in it and feeling heartbroken - but sometimes you just have to do it. I am a big believer in 'fake it till you make it' - yes you feel like shit but make the decision to start from today.

Cheryberys · 23/10/2019 10:03

Oh I'm hugely angry and disappointed with him too, my anger isn't reserved for her by any means. I think she's quite pathetic and he is either sociopathic or having a complete breakdown. Especially given some other info he shared with me about activities he has recently participated in which is v identifying and I will not share here but which are the actions of someone hugely dysfunctional. Whether this is how he's always been and has concealed it from past partners me included or whether it is some kind of crisis I don't know and frankly that's not my problem.

I am angry with him for throwing away our lives and plans for nothing. And because despite the fact I know how much he loves me (or at least loved me...even 3 weeks ago he referred to us as partners for life) he has behaved like this and continues to do so.

OP posts:
Lweji · 23/10/2019 10:04

You'll feel better when you start seeing him for what he is and stop focusing on her. You're not losing anything.
You are gaining a new life, twat free.

snowbear66 · 23/10/2019 10:05

So he was hoping that he could have you both, they were his terms, he sounds utterly delusional and selfish.
You just know that within a year he’ll be bored stiff of the ‘amazing sex’ don’t you.

Lweji · 23/10/2019 10:05

And because despite the fact I know how much he loves me (or at least loved me...even 3 weeks ago he referred to us as partners for life) he has behaved like this and continues to do so.
Do you still believe what he said?!

Cheryberys · 23/10/2019 11:09

I do believe he loved me and saw us as partners. But he clearly doesn't see how utterly dysfunctional all this is, and how you don't treat someone you love in this way and with so little respect.

OP posts:
category12 · 23/10/2019 11:18

He doesn't love you. Or at least if he does, his version of love is utterly worthless.

You've got to stop believing all the crap he told you.

Lweji · 23/10/2019 11:25

I think it's wishful thinking on your part.
How do you define love? It's not just words. Words are easy to say, particularly for those who don't care about other people and their feelings, like your ex partner.

Cheryberys · 23/10/2019 13:51

I define love in the same way most people do, and in the past when we were in a relationship I never doubted his love indeed I saw frequent evidence of it. Even recently he has done various things to demonstrate this BUT crucially all of this other stuff shows that whilst he may love me in some way, it isn't right, it isn't enough and the current situation is very definitely not what I want. Hence why I am not in that situation any more.

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