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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

Red flags? New man

192 replies

whoknew1 · 19/10/2020 18:48

OK, it will be a long one, so thanks for reading and responding.
After 5 years of being divorced and (mostly) single, I finally met a guy I like, who seemed normal, down to earth and I was thinking it might actually go somewhere. I was attracted to him, we did not rush things and only DTD on date 6/7.
But rather unsure about him and it all atm.
We’ve been dating for ca 2 months, met 7 times, mostly pubs, dinners, walks etc and eventually went for a weekend away. I generally I enjoyed being there, spending time together and chatting to him... but after nearly 2 days together I just couldn’t wait for him to go home.

I don't know what to do tbf because he seems really into me and is already planning to meet me/go away again but I think (fear) for me it's not gonna work. But I feel bad for saying anything and hurting him, as he is definitely not a bad type and seems rather soft. So here is why...

-He seems really preoccupied with his interests and not really into finding out a lot about me. So he would talk quite a lot about his various passions, but does not really ask me about mine. He did ask a bit about foods I like and some relationships views, and he does listen sorta carefully when I am talking about my stuff, but I had an impression he did it more out of politeness than genuine interest.

-Food. He eats a lot and talks about food a lot, too. Which I initially liked as I thought at least I can enjoy food around him but now I see why he is slightly overweight. It's all pubs or take aways or shop bought ready stuff what he eats, and it’s lots of food, like really lots… even for me, and I am chubby myself and can eat a lot! He admitted he started using food as a bit of a comfort for himself after spitting with an ex, but that was last year, he lost some weight since then. It is an issue for me as I struggle with weight myself and have been making bad food choices when around him, even though I planned to lose some weight by Christmas after losing over 3 stones in the last months.

On Sunday I haven't even recovered after eating full English brekkie and 2-3 hrs later he was talking about lunch already. We went on a walk in the country park in the meantime and he seemed more tired than me, he eventually went to the loo and confessed when he left that he had done no. 2 and feels so much lighter and better now. In my head I was like wtf. That is stuff for stable relationships, no?

  • Sex. A bit selfish. Sorry for tmi but I will just say it.
Lots of kissing from date 2 but then, when we had sex on this weekend away, it was a bit disappointing. He came 2x but I haven't come even once. In the morning when we had sex 2nd time, I suggested changing positions from missionary to doggy (which I like) but he didn't want it as it was 'too early' and I think he ‘didn't have enough energy’. No oral for me. I gave him 2 bjs as for me it's a natural part of sex. He didn't even attempt returning it. We didn't use condoms... I know. I asked him if he bought them and he said yes but then when I asked him to wear it, he said he doesn't need it 'yet'. But then he never put it on and later explained it sort of 'spoils the moment'. And he came in me once . I feel bad about it, I should have demanded it but I was a bit drunk and just got on with it. Almost no proper foreplay or kissing below my neck. Some stroking but he didn't kiss or touch my breasts, he didn't grab or squeeze my bum, just very very basic stuff seemed to be missing and it was just not enough for what I like. I need to add that I never had an issue with sex with anyone before, I was lucky to always enjoy it with previous partners and I don’t think I am hard to please in bed.
  • Money
He doesn't pay money for his daughter, he just gives her pocket money every week and gives his sister, who is the main carer, some money extra every now and then for extra clothing etc but not regular maintenance. He said sister gets child benefit and tax credits for her. His daughter’s mum is not involved in her bringing up so she lives with his sis, while he lives in London in houseshare. This is weird for me, that he does not pay money for her and is not a main carer either… but I appreciate that sometimes these things are complicated, so trying not to judge him on that, but it stll plays in my mind a bit. Money situation is weird in general. I earn half of what he does, I am a single parent myself. I am happy to pay for myself whenever we go out,, which I told him before but he seemed to pick it up willingly, so we basically either pay separately, go halves or take turns. So for example for this weekend, he came to mine and then we went away together in my car. We both spend about 80 each, which was the hotel, dinner, parking, lunches and breakfast. I paid for petrol as drive us 2hrs each way to the place we were visiting, and I also bought a bottle of wine, soft drinks and cake, for us to take, and gave him various snacks for his journey back home (1hr away). It all seems very even money wise and I don't mind that but I feel a bit weird he didn't ask about sharing petrol cost or came here empty handed. If I went somewhere with a new person/date/bf or visited them, I would always bring something - so I did buy wine and cake and he hasn't contributed in any way.

-He never commented that I look nice or has never said any hot words during sex or afterwards. He wants to kiss a lot and cuddle but that is it, it sort of bores me now and seems repetitive. He wanted to kiss in the morning without brushing his teeth and tbf I started getting irritated by his body smell later on. Which never happened to me before with any previous guy.
He seems to make less effort now than on initial dates, so crumpled shirts, jeans that you can tell were not washed. he didn’t wash his hair after a night in the hotel, He doesn’t smell or is dirty but just definitely cares less about it now.
I have a suspicion that he might not be fully attracted to me physically, he complemented my face many times but not my body, and while all the previous men couldn’t keep their hands off me, he does very little apart from kissing and this ‘basic’ sex.. He had said he does not like skinny women at all but he also talks quite a lot about himself not being slim and happy with how he looks, so a part of me thinks that in his head he is ‘settling’ for me, as he feel bad about himself and cannot currently count on a better looking woman.

I am not sure if I have valid points here or maybe expect too much? Like I said, this is my first potential ‘boyfriend’ to be after 5 years of having 3 ‘situationships’ that hadn’t worked out… and initially I felt better with this guy than the other men, but now I don’t. But I am not sure if I maybe expect god knows what or maybe I am secretly scared about commitment myself and self-sabotage, or I am somehow unable to assess it and him as a person well. I think he is a genuinely nice guy in many aspects, maybe just a bit too geeky and a bit like an old bachelor. He isn’t cocky or anything, but seems a bit of an odd ball the more I get to know him, and various little things he says or does just make me wonder about him and if there is a point to invest in it.

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 20/10/2020 06:13

Sex without a condom is bad enough. Minus another point because you asked him to wear one and he fobbed you off.

Fair enough, many of us have taken stupid risks, but having unprotected sex where you are 0:2 orgasms down, was it really worth the risk?

He shows only cursory interest in you and things that interest you but is happy to talk at length about his own interests.

He is glad to have found someone who appears to be content with so little.

Are you?

Please consider that your low self esteem now may be because you are not treating yourself very well. You are trying to tell yourself that he will do even when there are all those red flags.

Try treating yourself really well and see how you get on. What do you want for yourself? Not in terms of an other person, but for you, yourself. Good luck n

emilybrontescorsett · 20/10/2020 06:13

Bin him.

FippertyGibbett · 20/10/2020 06:14

You seriously need to set boundaries.
Sex with a man you’ve known for 2 months with no condom.
Giving him blow job’s when he hasn’t been the slightest bit attentive to you.
You need to decide what is acceptable to you before you even get into a relationship, and stick to it.
He sounds like a lazy slob who got very lucky with a woman who is desperate for a relationship, any relationship. Please set yourself some standards.

dublingirl66 · 20/10/2020 06:30

He is dreadful

I felt sick as you were describing him

What he has done to his DD is not Ok at all

Why you making so many excuses

DO. NOT LET THIS THURD AROUND YOUR CHILD 😳😳😳

whoknew1 · 20/10/2020 06:31

No, I will not settle for this. It's not fair on any of us.
I composed a text, hopefully kind and clear enough, to send to him when he finishes work this week. I know he is busy so will wait till Friday as don't want to upset him when he has stuff at work.
Also will say I am happy to speak if he wants to, feeling like I do owe him at leaat a decent explanation, should he want one.

Hate this but feeling a relief already... so obviously a right thing to do.

OP posts:
Thesheerrelief · 20/10/2020 07:33

Definitely the right thing to end it. You are clearly trying really really hard to see the good in him, but the bad MASSIVELY outweighs that! And this is the start, it'll get worse from hereon in if you keep seeing him. He's not right for you and it's okay to try it and realise you aren't compatible

BorderlineHappy · 20/10/2020 07:39

Just send the text and get it out of the way.Otherwise it's just hanging over you.

FurTeacup · 20/10/2020 08:05

@BorderlineHappy

Just send the text and get it out of the way.Otherwise it's just hanging over you.
Yes, exactly. I don’t see where you’re getting this characterisation of him as an easily-upset softy who needs to be managed gently out of the relationship in case his work is interrupted — just dump him, clearly, now, and stop giving his all-important feelings headspace.
CodenameVillanelle · 20/10/2020 08:06

It's not kind to him or to you to wait to end it when you've already decided.
I get that you're scared of the response when you break up with him and that's a natural feeling but it doesn't mean you shouldn't just bite the bullet and do it.

Sssloou · 20/10/2020 10:05

Put YOURSELF and your feelings first for once. He doesn’t sound like some delicate whimpering soul who needs gentle handling - he sounds like an entitled disgusting oaf and your text will just be like water off a ducks back.

Get it done and enjoy feeling the relief. You don’t owe him any subtle or complex explanations after 8 dates other than - “its not working for me / we are not compatible” don’t be drawn any further.

You have done well to track your feelings, to be observant and analytical of his behaviours and to know that they clash with your values and have gone on to seek advice, listen to it and make decisions.

Those are big steps for you and will mean that your senses are working!

AfterSchoolWorry · 20/10/2020 10:09

Ugh God no.

Talks about food, nothing more boring.

Skit on the sack, no second chances given there.

FurTeacup · 20/10/2020 10:19

@AfterSchoolWorry

Ugh God no.

Talks about food, nothing more boring.

Skit on the sack, no second chances given there.

In fairness, I think most people would find food more acceptable as a topic of conversation than how much 'lighter and better' their new boyfriend feels after perpetrating a difficult number two.
AfterSchoolWorry · 20/10/2020 10:47

@FurTeacup

Yea, definitely. That's rank.

billy1966 · 20/10/2020 10:50

He no more sounds sensitive.

He sounds like a selfish man whose sole purpose is looking after himself.

holrosea · 20/10/2020 10:59

I second all the PP who said "put yourself and your feelings first". Also, your boundaries are bit soft but WELL DONE YOU for actually expressing these doubts, writing them down and now making the decision to end it. If it takes a bunch of randoms on MN to confirm what you already knew, so be it, just keep on listening to your gut and you'll get stronger.

Honestly, for dating I'd not make myself available to explain why you don't like him enough. A short text to say "We're not compatible, good luck out there!" is perfectly sufficient. He rung so many alarm bells in your head tha you really do not need to give him any more time or energy.

Get yourself and STI check up, remind yourself that your feelings are valid, and give yourself a pat on the back for avoiding a situation that would have shown your daughter that mum's a doormat. I'm rooting for you.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 20/10/2020 11:10

he eventually went to the loo and confessed when he left that he had done no. 2 and feels so much lighter and better now

Grim Envy

I started getting irritated by his body smell

The Ick

but after nearly 2 days together I just couldn’t wait for him to go home

You are wasting your time. Ditch him. I'm shocked you even feel the need to ask! Grin

Sssloou · 20/10/2020 11:11

I think this would be a good opportunity for you to grab to practice being assertive and building up your boundaries. Practice on this character.

Your poor boundaries meant that you hung back for too long with him when your gut was telling you to move on. Your still putting his “needs” first by waiting until the end of the week - he probably doesn’t have this need at all - maybe it’s an avoidance tactic on your behalf.

Push yourself a little - do it now in neutral cheery “not compatible” text. Believe me it won’t be the first time he has heard it. Don’t get drawn on specifics if he comes back at you - just “just not really what I want” rinse and repeat.

Feel victorious by doing something assertive.

Michaelbaubles · 20/10/2020 11:18

You should be asking yourself why you feel it’s so important that his feelings not be hurt and he shouldn’t be upset at work but it’s ok for your feelings to be hurt and for you to be upset all week while you wait to send the text!

YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO YOURSELF THAN HE IS!

Your job is to protect your feelings and yourself, not other people, they’ve got themselves for that.

mytimeonline · 20/10/2020 11:21

He is selfish
Your wondering how will he feel about you being unavailable for 2 weeks?
How about never.
Does he see other women?
One text followed by a blocked Number.
A women has got as much responsibility to make sure a condom is used as a man.
Single for 5 years straight into this
Really?

Ilovetheseventies · 20/10/2020 11:42

He's fat, smelly and sounds mean. What attracted you to him he sounds disgusting. If this is him at the beginning....

LastInTheQueue · 20/10/2020 11:50

Send that text now. You don’t owe him anything, and there is no reason why his possible hurt and upset should trump yours. Make a clean break of it today.

As for the red flags, they were all massive red flags but the one that sticks to me is his DD, who has been abandoned by BOTH parents. There is nothing this man could do or say that would make that right.

SBTLove · 20/10/2020 12:33

Why wait 3 days to save his poor wee feelings, he clearly doesn’t care about yours.
Send the text today and it’ll be over and done with by Friday, stop being so nice 🙄

HoboSexualOnslow · 20/10/2020 12:54

@whoknew1

No, I will not settle for this. It's not fair on any of us. I composed a text, hopefully kind and clear enough, to send to him when he finishes work this week. I know he is busy so will wait till Friday as don't want to upset him when he has stuff at work. Also will say I am happy to speak if he wants to, feeling like I do owe him at leaat a decent explanation, should he want one.

Hate this but feeling a relief already... so obviously a right thing to do.

Do you think he cares about your feelings? That you now have to be inconvenienced and have an STD test because he cared more about his orgasm than you being comfortable and happy? You seem lovely OP but also like a doormat. Put yourself first, you deserve to. I advise you read Florence Given's book and you'll look back in a few weeks and wonder why the fuck you were willing to put up with his shit.
MorrisZapp · 20/10/2020 12:59

Send the text now. Don't string this out. It isn't kind to him or to you to be on the fence, you need to be clear and firm.

If a guy didn't want to be with you any more would you want him to wait until the weekend to tell you? Of course not. By the weekend you can be well into the getting over him part, which won't take long as he's a crap shag and a boring person. Onwards!

FizzyGreenWater · 20/10/2020 13:17

I cannot just block him or tell him to bugger off. I spent lots of time getting to know him and I just cannot 'dump' people like that, like they are disposable.

Your sexual health, your boundaries around consent and simple respect for your wishes were entirely 'disposable' to him when it came to not wanting to 'spoil his moment'

Angry

You need to get rid, and yes I do suggest that you fuck him off entirely.