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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

What to do?!

22 replies

supermadre78 · 09/04/2021 18:49

Been with DP for about 6 years, it's a long distance relationship (70 miles distance). We worked together at first but then he moved away about six months into our relationship as his ex wife moved to be closer to her parents and he wanted to be near the children and couldn't see them in the week if he stayed here! He'd been planning to move when we got together. I know that sounds weird but he has no ties here (apart from me). Why did I even agree to remain in a relationship with him you may ask but I had been ill with breast cancer and wasn't thinking straight and couldn't cope with us breaking up at that moment in time and didn't have the emotional resources so I agreed to a long distance relationship. He begged me to stay with him, said he loved me, we'd make it work etc. At first he rented and then he says he's going to buy a house near his children for security and financial reasons so that he's not just renting and I even help him find a house. Then he wants me to move up there when my children have finished school but I start to feel a bit stronger and say that there's no way I'm moving up there (where he lives is really horrible anyway and he has no friends there) and he'll have to move back down here. I'm not going to compromise for someone who can't compromise for me. My friends, family and job are here. He agrees that he'll move back here but doesn't exactly say when!! He says to start with he'll get a job half way and share time between his house and mine. However, his children are younger than mine - 9 and 12 and mine are 16 and 18. He doesn't show any signs of looking for a job, it's not the right time!! I'm being taken for a mug aren't I? He hardly has his children either! Every other weekend Saturday 10am to Sunday 5pm and every Wednesday evening from 4.30 to 6pm. The rest of the time he's on his own and moans that he's lonely and that I don't talk enough on the phone (I work full time and have two children and am, for all intent and purposes a single mother). I speak to him on my way to work, way back and once before I go to bed!! I don't actually have that many things to say.

I have my life here and don't see why I should throw everything away to move somewhere I don't like, where he's just moved to be near his children (10 mins from ex wife). Also, he's my support bubble but we only see each other every other weekend when we don't have the children. He thinks I should not see friends on the weekend we don't have any children as that's a compromise I should make to be with him. As we don't get much time to spend together, I should spend that time with him, which I did at first. Apparently, I can't see my friends on those weekends. I'm stupid aren't I? But he loves me so much, apparently!! I did really love him, or so I thought, and put up with this because I thought he was being a good dad but I'm not sure if I'm unreasonable or he is. It could be years before we're together. Am I wasting my time. Will he say he's prepared to move and then when it comes to it back out. If a man moves to be closer to his children, somewhere where he knows nobody, there's no way he's moving back here away from there is there? Can't believe I'm actually writing this, it sounds ridiculous. Also, I've been with him for 6 years and when I ask my friends or family what they think, they say they don't really know him. He doesn't give anything away. I'm not sure if he's socially awkward, shy or just doesn't want people to know him. He says that I'm the only person he's been so open with!! Sorry for the ramblings.

OP posts:
candlemasbells · 09/04/2021 18:53

If your are happy living apart fine, if you're not say move back or it's over.
Its fine for you to have been ok with the long distance and now not be ok with it. Talk to him

BigFatLiar · 09/04/2021 18:54

If you don't want to continue with the relationship end it, don't keep him dangling.

It's a problem being in a relationship with someone with children. He may not see them much, perhaps he's hoping to see them more. Do you want him to choose you over his children?

supermadre78 · 09/04/2021 18:57

I don't want him to choose me over his children. I'd like him to be honest and if he can't do it, then to say so.

OP posts:
Justmuddlingalong · 09/04/2021 18:57

5 and a half years in a ldr is fine if you're both happy. You don't sound happy about the lack of progression.

supermadre78 · 09/04/2021 18:58

I've told him to see if he can see them more so he doesn't feel miserable when he can't see me or them but he won't ask for more time. I don't understand why he doesn't ask. In the end, I think maybe he doesn't actually want to see them more.

OP posts:
supermadre78 · 09/04/2021 19:00

I feel like my life is on hold as every free moment I have is with him. I'd like a life together where we see people and have a social life and see our own friends but I'm not sure that's going to happen.

OP posts:
Justmuddlingalong · 09/04/2021 19:00

It's not all about what he wants. What do you want?

osbertthesyrianhamster · 09/04/2021 19:04

You're not happy and you have good reason not to be. It's all him, him, him. You stay put, it would be utter folly to uproot anything for this man when all he's shown you is that it's his way or no way.

Don't you think you deserve better?

The relationship's run its course. Why not free yourself to find something better?

As for don't see your friends for him, sounds like one of those arseholes who want to isolate a woman from everyone so then they can get you in place to dominate and bully you. Nope.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 09/04/2021 19:05

@supermadre78

I feel like my life is on hold as every free moment I have is with him. I'd like a life together where we see people and have a social life and see our own friends but I'm not sure that's going to happen.
It's not going to happen with him because it's all his way or no way. You're a survivor, you deserve so much more.
Justmuddlingalong · 09/04/2021 19:11

I agree. You're missing out on time with your friends, trying to keep the relationship afloat. Sadly, it sounds like the relationship is sinking. I'd end it and book a get together with your friends.

Shaz786o · 09/04/2021 19:27

Sounds like such a half life op after 6 years. I would walk away but obviously easy for me to say and I know how hard it can be to be logical.

Ohpulltheotherone · 09/04/2021 19:37

It sounds like a “shit or get off the pot” moment.
He either agrees to move forward with looking for a new job and trying to merge your lives a little more or you have to face the facts that you just don’t want the same things.

If you were both happy with the ldr set up I would say it really doesn’t matter if it’s 6 mths or 6 years - Just do what works for you as a couple. But your post sounds like you’re over it all tbh.
And if you’re not quite over it yet you will be soon, there’s nothing quite as good as resentment to kill a relationship.

Aprilshowersandhail · 09/04/2021 19:39

He wants a great life delivered on a platter but has no intentions of going and sorting one out. You need to Ltb.

Shaz786o · 09/04/2021 19:40

Also seems on his terms, are you happy?

BigFatLiar · 09/04/2021 20:05

A lesson for all (male or female)... don't get involved with someone with children.

supermadre78 · 10/04/2021 10:19

Sorry if this is all a bit confusing but I'm trying to work it out in my mind. I guess as I'm now stronger and better I'm struggling to understand how somebody would move away when the person they supposedly want to be with has just recovered from a major illness or should I understand because they want to be near their children. But not only do they move away but think that the relationship will be OK and I'll find a new job by them, sell my house and move once my children have finished school even though they live somewhere I would never move to and they have no social life or friends. I guess lockdown has prolonged things in a way as we've been in limbo. I guess I like seeing him still but have realised that everything has been on his terms and if I bring it up he'll have an answer for everything.

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 10/04/2021 10:21

@BigFatLiar

A lesson for all (male or female)... don't get involved with someone with children.
Yep! When I was single and childfree, his having kids was a dealbreaker. I cut off immediately, no more getting involved and developing feelings. Now I've got teens, I don't bother anymore as don't want to deal with someone else's kids.
osbertthesyrianhamster · 10/04/2021 10:23

@supermadre78

Sorry if this is all a bit confusing but I'm trying to work it out in my mind. I guess as I'm now stronger and better I'm struggling to understand how somebody would move away when the person they supposedly want to be with has just recovered from a major illness or should I understand because they want to be near their children. But not only do they move away but think that the relationship will be OK and I'll find a new job by them, sell my house and move once my children have finished school even though they live somewhere I would never move to and they have no social life or friends. I guess lockdown has prolonged things in a way as we've been in limbo. I guess I like seeing him still but have realised that everything has been on his terms and if I bring it up he'll have an answer for everything.
Because he's a fundamentally selfish and entitled person, super. You're only in limbo because he's fine coasting along wasting your time. This is who he is. And you deserve better than this.
Dontletitbeyou · 10/04/2021 10:39

It’s obviously not working for you and you’re not happy so id call it a day .
I dont think he’s going to suddenly be happy to move away from his kids , and to be honest there’s no reason why he should , they should come first , but he should be honest about that , not lead you to believe his move there is a temporary one .

ChristmasFluff · 10/04/2021 11:47

For a LDR to work, there HAS to be a date when it ceases to be long-distance, otherwise what is the point?

Having said that, I wouldn't really see 70 miles as being long-distance, as it's pretty easy to travel that distance to see eachother, and I never want to live with a partner anyway. But it sounds like you do, so to you it feels long-distance.

Of course he would put his children over you, even if you were ill, and you are putting your friends and family over him, so neither of you are willing to move. If what you have already isn't enough, then end it, because nothing is going to change.

happyjack12 · 10/04/2021 12:38

I don't think either of you are necessarily wrong, the relationship just doesn't work well enough to make you both happy.
Time to move on....?

updownroundandround · 10/04/2021 13:03

@supermadre78

I don't want him to choose me over his children. I'd like him to be honest and if he can't do it, then to say so.

How about you being honest with him ?

Why are you waiting for him to dictate your bloody future ? Hmm

If you've finally realised that the whole bloody relationship has been on his terms, then why aren't you taking back control of your own life ? Hmm

You've already admitted that you 'don't really have much to say' to him and you already know you don't want to move where he is, so why not just say ''this isn't working for me anymore'' and end the relationship ?

It's simply become a 'habit', not a pleasure anymore, so break free from the ''it's all up to him'' and the ''He gets to tell me when/how we see each other'' show, and actually start enjoying your own life again.

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