Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Is he a douchebag or I screwed up??

106 replies

AstroGirl5 · 29/12/2021 20:31

I need your help please. I think I may have just lost a great guy, and it might be too late. I met this guy online a month and a half ago. We are both in our early 40s, both divorced, both have two kids. His son lives with him. He just finished his divorce, which started a year ago, and is just finishing with property split. We slept together on something like date 7 - so not too early, that was important to me. And he invited me on a romantic trip to Paris for 3 days - where I am now, and he left.

We were talking about this trip for a long time, planning the logistics, he booked a very romantic hotel, we planned where to go together, made a playlist and so on. Before we went on the trip, I told him I had a slight complication - I would have to pick up my son from his father in Germany on the way back. My son was spending Xmas with his dad, but New Years with me, and that was the only way to make it work. So I asked my new guy whether that would be ok with him - he said of course - and then I said that I then needed to introduce my son to him beforehand so that he is not totally surprised when we pick him up together. He said of course, and suggested he comes to my house - where he ended up meeting both my kids, but I introduced him as a friend - and then we went sledging together.

It seemed rushed though and I told him I normally would not have introduced my kids so early on as it's best to get to know each other first, but that was the situation.

Anyway, then when we met in Paris, two days ago, I asked him if he had told anyone he was going here with me. He said he didn't as the whole trip away was a way to see if we work together as a couple. That was upsetting for me to hear, as I did tell my close friends I was going to Paris and that I met a great guy. By this time, we had been dating for a month and a bit. Then in Paris, we actually had an amazing time, laughing, going to a spa, museums, shopping etc. Earlier, he also had invited me to spend New Year's Eve with him, his friends and his brother upon our return. And so today, I asked him about that, who else would be there and just to know what to expect.

He then said he'd introduce me as a friend. I was surprised - and he then asked what I thought about people being friends if a relationship didn't work out. I suddenly sensed something was really off and asked him what he meant - was he talking about us? A serious conversation started - completely out of the blue, we had been laughing and kissing a minute before and spent an amazing half of the day exploring Montmartre. But suddenly, he said that with his divorce just being finalised, with his kids he needs to take care of, and so on he just can't see a relationship. That Paris is nice but we can't just do Paris - we live in Zurich and we both work and have difficult logistical situations. I said that I agreed but that we could try to make it work, without expectations. But he didn't say that he wanted to even try. He asked several times why we were suddenly having this serious conversation and how we got there so early in dating. That made me wonder - yes, it was still early but we had been dating for a month and a half, in contact every single day, and now on a romantic trip where he invited me. I kind of think that it warranted me wondering at least where this was going.

So I don't know if I again did something wrong. I would love to take it slow, without discussing future trips, and just go with the flow. No introductions to kids or even friends for now, just getting to know each other. At the same time, if somehow on this trip he already felt that something was off - I suppose it's not going to work regardless and he's simply not that into me.

What should I do now? Is there any way to still try and remedy this? Should I wait for him to contact me or should I text him and explain that I don't have any expectations, don't want commitment and don't want a relationship right now either - and then with time we just see how it develops? I worry that I may be too late, again.

OP posts:
Excitedforthefuture · 30/12/2021 18:05

@YummyPumpkin

You have no confidence at all in your ability to be in a relationship.

You do a lot of fault finding and you are very inconsistent, ranging from mystical ideas about him being the one, to saying it is doomed for very minor reasons.

You focus on conflict, fear and issues of attachment.

You break common sense rules about healthy relationships.

I think if you've been on your own a while or had bad relationships then you need to actively prepare yourself for a relationship. You need to learn to tolerate uncertainty, communicate better and pace yourself. You need to know where your boundaries are.

Journalling or some guided reflection would be a start.

I don't know if he was an idiot. He sounds like a fairly regular guy but maybe he was.

Please don't tell yourself you're over it yet. It's far too soon. If you listened to your feelings more and tolerated unpleasant ones, you'd make better choices and be happier overall.

This this this

Spot on post

needagoodnightsleep1 · 30/12/2021 19:04

I think you and some people are been a bit to hard on you. You won't be the first person to get carried away with the excitement of a new relationship and enjoying the attention of a man you really like, and you certainly won't be the last. Give yourself a break, learn from the lesson and move on from this bad experience. Although it's a bit rubbish its not the end of the world. Just be a little bit more cautious moving forward x

Eslteacher06 · 30/12/2021 19:43

Yes, that’s for sure. He keeps texting me though. Just random stuff, like ‘I’m now watching Emily in Paris.’ Really?!

Thought you blocked him? Hmm.

Plus you've not posted for a while so I wonder if you've had "the talk" and it's all back on ... for the next rollercoaster ride.

Genuinely...do what you want... more power to you!... ignore all the advice you've asked for if you prefer, just don't be in denial about it.

Yummypumpkin · 30/12/2021 19:56

Yes I sadly do predict a name change and another urgent and overwhelming question in approximately four days.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 30/12/2021 20:01

I thought you blocked him @AstroGirl5 so how is he messaging you?

CharlotteRose90 · 30/12/2021 21:51

If you’ve blocked him he can’t be messaging you. Come on Op don’t start lying.

You’ve come on too clingy and needy and he’s backed off. At 6 weeks and less then 3 dates you aren’t in a relationship and he told you he didn’t want one. I think you need to be alone for a while sorry. Dating is meant to be carefree and you have been stressing over every little thing. Please get help for your anxiety otherwise this will Cary from guy to guy.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page