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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 thread 180 - Deep thoughts on attachment styles, psychology and love bombing. (Oh my!)

999 replies

PerfectPretender · 10/01/2020 18:43

The Rules:

  1. The first rule about the dating thread is don't talk about it with people you're dating.
  2. Develop a thick skin.
  3. Do not invest emotionally too soon.
  4. It's all BS until it actually happens.
  5. Trust your gut instinct.
  6. People vanishing, lying & being generally weird is not your fault.
  7. Know your worth.
  8. If it's not fun, stop.
  9. Loo update is mandatory.
10. No dating the thread. 11. Treat others as you'd like to be treated 12. Any relationship you have that could get ruined by having a conversation about your feelings, standards and/or expectations wasn't really stable enough to begin with 13. The things you choose to ignore/ tolerate now are the reasons you will break up in the future

Link to Info on Dating Websites & Apps www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3514717-List-of-Dating-Site-Info-Dating-Thread

**

Optional: Please give your irons (potential dates you are talking to) nicknames like Mr Scottish. Initials are allowed (Mr S) when you are an item.

OP posts:
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5
bangheadhere40 · 13/01/2020 07:12

I'm home and all fine, will update later x

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 07:16

@menora @supercali77

There are things that make me know he isn't likely seeing anyone but can't share because it is too identifying. It's unlikely but you never know who is reading.

My life on paper looks good. A colleague said I was "killing it" at life lately. Doing really well at work, just had a great long haul holiday with friends, have lots of hobbies but very few real friends.

I'm aware time is running out for me to find happiness.

It is weird sometimes it is me retreating from him and then he cracks out a sob story to keep him.on the hook.

Other times it is him retreating but then he turns ok again.

At the moment he is retreating. He starts his new job this week though. He asked me the other night about me and my work and how it is all going.

I don't know if I should just give up on it or at least just stop talking to him.

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 07:19

We haven't slept together.

He said he wanted to take me out and take me for champagne and court me first.

He said he isnt a superficial man and he isn't into the whole casual thing.

I suppose that is one thing. A lesser man would be in and out of my life and sleeping with me too.

supercali77 · 13/01/2020 07:27

But has he....taken you out for champagne and courted you? If not these are just words on a screen and empty promises. If you made a list of how many empty promises hes made I'm imagining it's pretty long.

Menora · 13/01/2020 07:31

When I first read your post I wanted to think he was catfishing you although I know you have met now.

In all honesty this man has some serious issues. Why doesn’t he want to shag you silly and drink the champagne out of your belly button, take you to nice places and make you laugh? Instead you are being his Misery Wife, always on the end of a text to cheer him up after yet another crap day

LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn · 13/01/2020 07:35

@MyuMe I know I'd cut him loose but that's just me.

Is it just me who doesn't like the idea of a guy who wants to take you for champagne and courting before having sex? Champagne and courting is relatively easy tbf. What would really mean something to me if a guy wanted it to be more than sex would be if he said 'I really care about you and want you to know how I feel before we sleep together'. Not that that ever happens 😂

LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn · 13/01/2020 07:36

What I mean is what he is promising (and not following through on) is still relatively easy. It's not a way to show how you feel, not in my book.

supercali77 · 13/01/2020 07:38

I know I'm being harsh here but the script (besides distance) is uncannily similar.

Are you connected on social media?

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 07:38

@supercali77

Yes he has quite literally done exactly that. It was amazing. He spent alot of money taking me out that time following through with exactly where he originally said he would take me. But he was so lovely it was his company I enjoyed. I didnt care where he took me but it was lovely that he had meant what he said and actually took me there.

The next 2 dates were also lovely.

He told me on text how amazing it was to meet me and be with me.

He had a rough time at work over the next week and got a bit miserable again. I didnt handle it all that well as I feared a back slide to his misery

He said he was being open and honest about his moods with me.

Then he had a break down a bit later. But went to therapy and tried to deal with it and apologised to me for it.

Menora · 13/01/2020 07:39

But it was all virtual. He didn't meet me early on because he was away for a few weeks but when he came back he was supposed to meet me. so he let you down early on

Only he didn't. To cut it short: that was the first stage of him moving 100+ miles away for a minimum of 6-9 months. He hadn't told me this because he was scared I wouldn't talk to him any more. I was not impressed and said so and he really apologised said he liked me and that it would have to be long distance for the first few months but he still very much wanted to meet me. he lied to you. This is a BIG DEAL.

He was only 2 hours away so I agreed. We continued to talk and got on well. 2 hours is not long distance. It would take you about an hour or maybe 2 to see him. This is another excuse

Trying to cut it short he had a habit of not being so talkative and being flirty and vanishing. not the way you treat someone you say you like

Then it came out He had been unhappy in his career for a couple of years. again, hiding something from you or making something up?

His new contract was worse than the last. He was bullied by management. He has had anxiety all his life and he told me he has always been a bit of a wreck. you do not know if any of this is true

He sunk into depression and for the last few months has been partially off work, on medication and having therapy. I let him alone. Occasionally sent a how are you message. you don’t know if this is true and if it is, he isn’t ready for a RS if he is depressed

I was a bit upset as we had established we wanted the same things in life. We're open to a family, have so much in common. you don’t - he’s not trying to make a family happen at all he just says he wants it

I gave him so many outs that he did not take. I said to him does you not meeting me tells me what I need to know. He always said no, for what it is worth he still wants to meet me when he has recovered bit. this is so unfair to keep you hanging around

We finally met after several months when he was doing a bit better and the chemistry was there for real. No awkwardness and we got on so well. Holding hands and flowing conversation.

We on 3 lovely dates and he asked me the right questions as if planning a new future.

He was offered a new permanent job much closer to me. He even said you can commute to your job from here.

Only after being offered the job he had a nervous breakdown and suffering anxiety over starting it. He apologised to me for this.

I asked him if he wanted to meet again and he was noncommittal saying he didn't know what he was doing over Christmas.

I put my cards on the table and said I think you know how I'm going to have to take that.

Bottom line is he really does like me he said but is struggling with anxiety and depression and he backed away as he knows he needs to sort himself out. yes he does, and you can’t fix him

He apologised for upsetting me. again

shitwithsugaron · 13/01/2020 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Menora · 13/01/2020 07:40

I also suspect he’s married or has a partner too

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 07:41

@ @LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn

What would really mean something to me if a guy wanted it to be more than sex would be if he said 'I really care about you and want you to know how I feel before we sleep together

We've already had those discussions a few times. That he really likes me, he cares about me, he loves listening to my thoughts. That we dont just want sex. I told him the same too.

LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn · 13/01/2020 07:46

I should have said as well though that as well as saying those things, seeing him back it up- making the effort to see me lots, being consistent- and not making everything about him or his problems. And it doesn't mean being wined and dined- well not to me. I want someone to show their feelings and back it up with their behaviour, and I don't think he is doing this for you.

shitwithsugaron · 13/01/2020 07:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 08:02

Yes. Well thank you all very much. You have been very kind taking the time.

I'm now feeling a bit teary on the train realising it's yet another person down the drain.

Oh well.

shitwithsugaron · 13/01/2020 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn · 13/01/2020 08:17

@MyuMe 💐 it's a crap feeling. I felt like that with the welsh guy (I'm not calling him FWB anymore)- id spent 5 months sleeping with him, texting all day every day, and desperately hoping for it to turn into an actual relationship and it really really hurt when it was over. It's so rare that someone comes along and makes me feel like that and I still miss him but the things that helped me were-

  1. This thread
  2. The knowledge that someone else I feel like that about WILL come along- welsh guy had helped me after someone else actually
  3. The way I behaved in dealing with it. From his point of view- it would have looked like complete class and dignity and I'm so glad of it
Jane1978xx · 13/01/2020 08:24

@CheesecakeAddict. my Fwb I met online and we went on some dates and were sleeping together but then we both had a discussion that we don’t want a serious relationship and wanted to keep it at that 2nd month of dating level. So we text or speak nearly every days and see each other once or twice a week and do stay over. Talk about big events or issues but don’t over invest. I’m not seeing other people but he maybe is but I don’t ask. I’m not sure you can say it’s a fwb before hand. But then again it’s all labels and if you get on and have great sex it doesn’t matter

@bangheadhere40 glad you are good fill us in later

Jane1978xx · 13/01/2020 08:39

@myume how old are you ? Sorry I may have missed that. Are you looking for a relationship that will develop into long term and kids etc ? In which case you are defo wasting your time ,3 dates in a year you will get nowhere

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 08:39

Just to tie up some of the other queries he is not on social media.

Deleted it 2 years ago and seeing other people have more fun than him and have better lives wasnt good for his mental health.

he also has a problem with alcohol

MyuMe · 13/01/2020 08:44

@LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn I am grateful this never did that though dropped in and out of my life and sleeping with me.

He said he didn't want that and to be with me properly and he needed to recover first.

Jane1978 almost the same as you if that's your dob

Jane1978xx · 13/01/2020 08:46

@myume yes that’s my age.

LeaveBeforeTheLightsComeOn · 13/01/2020 08:48

@MyuMe it definitely made me closer to him- I think the main reasons why it never turned into a proper relationship was the fact we didn't live near eachother and he was 22- I'm 31 with two DC. So I never expected it to go anywhere but you can't help who you like.

If you say he's got alcohol issues there's red flags all over this tbh. You really are better off finding someone more stable.

Menora · 13/01/2020 08:48

My this is not intended to make you feel bad or stupid
This man just isn’t going to give you what you do deserve and I just want you to feel like you are free and independent to meet someone who doesn’t have these issues