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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

Utterly heartbroken

285 replies

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 20:37

I don’t know where to turn. I’ve no friends anymore and am so lonely and my long term partner told me this weekend that he doesn’t think staying together is right for us. It’s very complicated, he is going through a divorce and he has trust issues as have I.

On paper it sounds doomed but only last week he was saying he still wants to build a life with me irrespective of our differences and the past hurt. This weekend after much conflict around his divorce - conflict between him and I, he reached the conclusion it won’t work and we would be miserable given the challenges of different histories and lifestyles. He maintains after a blow out last week that he’s come to the realisation that whilst we are still deeply in love certain challenges are too big.

He has also said he will consider meeting up if after some time of reflection I still want to meet but he feels he can’t change how he feels because of all the past hurt and things I shared which has given him an impression that my values are not what I say they are, so meeting isn’t the right thing but he’ll still do it if I want to but I need to seriously think if it’s the right thing.
When we met I’d come out of an abusive relationship with my Dcs dad and thought I was in a good place but in hindsight I wasn’t ready. He was as he’s older and has been ‘single’ for years.

He’s messaged after our discussions to say thank you for a thoughtful message I sent outlying I understood why we are here and he loves me and I said I’d think about meeting and whether it was in reality the right thing to do and sent him a long message outlining my concerns and if I still think it’s the right decision to meet. I’ve not committed to meeting just yet either way. He won’t read it tonight as emotions are still running high and he is tired from work and needs time.

He’s says he still loves me and wants to save our relationship but as of now doesn’t think it’s possible or the right thing as he doesn’t think he can change his uncomfortable feelings about things I shared about my previous lifestyle. I used to go out a lot and party and he thinks that lifestyle is incompatible with a relationship. I don’t go out anymore as I’m far too old and just am not interested but he struggles to believe this.

Is there still hope considering he will still meet and hasn’t stopped communication. We are still kind towards each other there is no aggression but a lot of hurt.

He is sensitive and takes time to process things but a lot has happened including his divorce is in year two. When we met I had a close platonic friend whom he thinks was more - it wasn’t but he was a close childhood friend and he can’t get past the fact I was so close and that it was inappropriate considering our new relationship and how much I said I loved him. I was spending time with this friend but in a group and at the time he was still spending time with his family and didn’t disclose this as I’d get the wrong impression. This friend did have feelings for me but at the same time he was still dissolving his marriage. I was not the OW. All this happens years ago but for some reason it’s all come to a head.

We spent all weekend talking after an enormous argument and it was terribly sad but we were still very loving and kind and there is still intimacy which under the circumstances wasn’t smart.

I want to save the relationship but he is so conflicted doesn’t know what to do and veers between he’s thinks it’s doomed to not being sure what to do and will consider all I have said. Last week it was entirely the other way around I said I couldn’t do it anymore as the divorce was dragging and we do have challenges. I’m so sad but know I can’t change his mind he has to come to conclusions on his own life I’ve done. Just when I get to a place where I want to save things he doesn’t.

This is very jumbled but im struggling to gather my thoughts.

What can I do to save things.

OP posts:
Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:36

This has all happened over this weekend. I am not ignoring posters but it’s a lot to take in especially after being told he is abusive as I don’t think I agree

OP posts:
Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:39

He is absolutely divorcing that’s not the issue. The issue is the 100% about face all of a sudden and all the reasons cited. I guess I need to take on board what the everyone is saying as I can’t see what’s happening as I’m too close to it. I don’t think I am codependent but could be wrong.

OP posts:
Kat6901 · 12/04/2021 23:39

He is trying to end it op. I know it’s hard but it’s time to grieve for the fantasy future and let go. The hole in your life you will temporarily feel is the drama not him.

Happinessevaded · 12/04/2021 23:41

@Kat6901 I thought I could accept that yestrday but it’s all hit home tonight

OP posts:
bluelemming · 12/04/2021 23:45

A relationship that is this much effort is never ever going to work out in the long term.

Onthedunes · 12/04/2021 23:46

I think he's pushed and pulled you so much you can't think staight, my instincts are that he is spinning you a web of lies.

SeaShoreGalore · 12/04/2021 23:52

It comes across like you’re both into the idea of yourselves as star crossed lovers, rather than just incompatible.

pilotsprincess · 13/04/2021 00:09

Would you not rather have a nice stress free life with someone?
I mean who can be bothered with all this?!

EmeraldShamrock · 13/04/2021 00:22

Your not a fool, he is a playing, he wants he cake and trimmings, brush yourself off it could have got much worse.
It takes years to get over an abusive relationship, and many men are ready to restart the manipulation. I'm 40 my experience is through mistakes.
It is okay. Take pleasure informing him you won't be waiting on his answer it's over. You'll get there

May I ask what is the age difference?

sadie9 · 13/04/2021 00:26

The whole thing sounds like a nightmare. He's happy enough to get a shag off you when it suits him, but then when you demand his attention he says oh he's not sure and oh his ex needs him.
The stuff he is saying about your past.. he's using this to undermine your confidence. We all have a past. We all got drunk and partied and had one night stands in our youth, so who gives a shit.
It sounds like he's suiting himself and bamboozling you with all these discussions that are about you and your behaviour. That is handy distraction tactic to stop you asking about him and his divorce, isn't it?
I bet he does that a lot. Makes it about you to stop you asking about his part in your relationship.

Washingtofold · 13/04/2021 03:18

This sounds like a ridiculous you’d amount of drama . How old is this guy ? And you ?

Happinessevaded · 13/04/2021 07:15

There is a 22 year age different I’m mid 40s
It does seem like far too much effort at this point

OP posts:
Tempusfudgeit · 13/04/2021 07:23

Your poor children. They've experienced an abusive relationship with their father, and now all this drama. Your modelling doesn't bode well for their future happiness. Sort it out. Life doesn't have to be this hard. Let this one go, for pity's sake.

CrazyHorse · 13/04/2021 07:25

This sounds messy and miserable.

He obviously doesn't want to continue the relationship but continues to string it out. It seems he did the same thing with his marriage.

The best thing you could do for yourself is firmly end the relationship and move on. It's not making you happy, and it's not going to make you happy because he's not going to 100% commit.

heyday · 13/04/2021 08:09

Sounds like you are both quite messed up.....take a long break from each other, sort your head out and maybe think about speaking to each other again a long way down the line. But in all honesty it sounds as if this relationship has run its course. If you continue to be on/off then having intimacy in between then the mess and confusion will only increase. You may well care for each other but there is just too much baggage in this relationship to ever allow it to be a happy straightforward one.

Noodles4Me · 13/04/2021 08:31

So he's an old, over dramatic, gaslighting bore who has stopped you seeing friends, isn't honest about his "divorce" and doesn't want to be with you but shags are okay?

Please, I know you'll ignore this, stay away from him. Focus on your poor children. Stay single till you can spot these very obvious red flags.

XiCi · 13/04/2021 08:38

He sounds an absolutely vile, manipulative piece of work and that is the picture you're painting through your rose tinted glasses so I can only imagine what a horror he is in reality. You've just moved from one abusive relationship to another, take some time out to reflect on why that is and why you can't recognise what is so glaringly obvious, for yours and your children's sake.

BTW, what is this thing that he can't get over? Because it sounds like its just you going out and getting wasted a lot when you were younger. You realise virtually every single person in the world does this right?

Happinessevaded · 13/04/2021 09:12

@xici yes and he thinks this is disgraceful behaviour from a partner. He is actually very kind and generous in real life

@Noodles4Me he can present like this yes, but maybe have have just ignored it all because of how I feel and how well he used to treat me

@heyday I’d love to do this

OP posts:
rosabug · 13/04/2021 09:17

All that complexity, longing, excuses, reasoning, bargaining and knots are (unconsciously) self imposed. I think you would be better re-focusing your attention on yourself. At the moment you are deflecting this emotional energy onto this dramatic 'narrative' that you and this man have whipped up together.

He's as incapable of a relationship as you - hence being "single for some time". I would also suggest that's exactly the way it will stay with this man - except he will be trailing a collection of frustrated 'partners' behind him.

Forgive me but your post reads like someone with an addictive personality and perhaps you might benefit from reading "Women who love too much". And also do some research into attachment styles within relationships. Sounds like you're "preoccupied anxious" and he's "avoidant". The two tend to go together.

The truth that what is going on here (IMO) is not romantic or real - It's the dance of co-dependancy and disfunction.

I say this, because I know first hand the territory. Here are 3 rules I wish I could have applied when younger:

1/ You can't change someones mind.
2/ Take people at face value, accept what they say in the words that they say it.
3/ Understand that by refusing to apply rules 1 and 2 you are simply avoiding the terrible pain of loss and sadness. But we all have to go there. You have to accept it and walk through it. You can't change it. You can't avoid it - because you will only have to face it again down the line.

CoopsMalloops · 13/04/2021 09:21

Morning OP,

I hope you are feeling better this morning. Sometimes it’s worse at night and heartbreak can feel out of control and the anxiety of chemical changes to the brain when you start withdrawing from someone.

You don’t deserve this, your DC deserve a mom who is plugged in and present. If you carry on with this man it’s just going to be more of this and maybe a nervous breakdown. Speaking from experience, just save yourself now. Seriously- drop him, the “whys” don’t really matter. You’re in your 40’s turning yourself inside out over this man, he’s not worth it.

CoopsMalloops · 13/04/2021 09:22

Your friend telling you to “give hime time” a nice way of them telling you to back of hoping you see the light.

AdelaideK · 13/04/2021 09:24

Hes late 60's and carrying on like this? What a bell end.

Seriously give up on all this drama. You don't need it.

tara66 · 13/04/2021 09:42

Perhaps you both over analyse everything and then have to discuss that analysis and/or also have an unnecessary and illogical urge to spill the beans about things in your past? Why?

stoopider · 13/04/2021 09:43

This is too much drama

BigButtons · 13/04/2021 09:44

He doesn’t want a serious committed relationship with you. He probably wants a shag every now and again and a bit of company when he feels like it.
You are refusing to admit this and refusing to acknowledge what most people are saying to you. You just pick a couple of posters to latch on to. When it suits your narrative.
He is treating you badly. He is using you. He is not a good man or prospective long term partner.
This is not what love is.