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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

need advice about my new man

136 replies

datingdilema1 · 11/04/2023 17:52

I've been with my new man for 4 months. I've been a single mum for around 2 years now and have 2 children who are 5 and 9.
My new man is honestly the kindest guy I've ever met and most loving. He showers me with compliments constantly and is very affectionate. He is keen to meet my kids. Examples of his kindness include being v helpful in my house and fixing some things, cooking for me, being very available and reliable, giving me small gifts and always asking how I am etc. He also looked after my pet for me when I was away and lent me his car when mine broke down.
My situation is that I don't have much money but I'm on 50k and have a mortgage and some financial help from ex £100-300 a month. Because of cost of living this covers me, the kids and I have some money to go out, book cheap trips, but that's it.
Now my new man is very sweet and generous, but he lives in a council house, has his own business which doesn't make much money atm and is on income support.
He pays very small maintenance for his kids, but seems happy in his situation mainly.
He used to have a difficult past and is turning his life around for last 3-4 years it seems, looking after himself and building his life.
What it means though is that when I plan trips, I've already been slightly subsidising him, which I'm worried will drag me down financially long term... Also I feel that he would be happy to live with me long term, but how would this work.. Even if his business gets better, he doesn't seem to think that it would bring him much. He doesn't want to go back to his previous work, as I think he enjoys working for himself and what he does. He lacks confidence in trying to expand his business or try to increase his profits.
Second dilemma is about our differences in political beliefs and general knowledge. He says himself that he just was never curious about current affairs so his knowledge is based on what he hears from his family, who take their knowledge from the Sun. They are all very sweet people, but that means things like 'Britain is full', 'jobs should be kept for people in the uk' etc. This is problematic for me as I have a diverse background and take these kind of beliefs to heart as a personal insult almost. When we talk about this he feels guilty for not educating himself more in the past. But then I really went into dating thinking that I'm not going to get myself a project as I've done it before with my ex where I helped him and taught him loads and was left with not much.
Sex is fine, but also there was some ED from time to time, but seems to be improving.

We are both 40 something. Is it normal to have doubts? I feel that I love him and maybe just need to keep getting to know him. We've had lots of fun together with really fun activities, some of them initiated by him, but a lot of them initiated and paid by me, although he pays for drinks etc. He also takes me out for cheaper things which I guess is fair enough as there is a difference in income, but I'm also aware I'm spending money I should be perhaps saving in my situation. I'm also aware my ex used me financially so don't want to repeat the pattern..

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 11/04/2023 17:55

You have doubts because there are so many red flags.
Time to Chuck him back.

Exhibity · 11/04/2023 17:57

There's a few red flags there, wanting to meet your children being one of them , also love bombing.
You obviously have doubts so I would listen to them before you end up with him living off of you.

Landndialamrhf · 11/04/2023 18:00

NO
he pays little for his existing kids but is ‘keen’ to be involved with more kids? Why?
does he parent his existing children? If he’s not doing 50/50 with them he’s hardly in a position to be taking on any sort of relationship or responsibility with more.

he doesn’t want to do the work to expand his own business or go back to his old job (where he presumably made more money?) but IS happy to take your money. That’s handy isn’t it.

and he is happy to declare that he has no thoughts or interests in a topic, but still willing to give his opinion as though it’s fact. That’s a red flag for stupidity if nothing else, which I personally couldn’t abide by. Nevermind the issues that come with what he’s actually saying.

MMmomDD · 11/04/2023 18:01

Tough one.
In one way - nice guy, treats you well, etc. But - one with no ambition to improve his circumstances? And paying min to his own kids - screams lazy to me.

I don’t think I could last long term a I’d end up resenting him.

Darby3785 · 11/04/2023 18:02

Maybe after a few months you have realised you are not compatible. This is normal. Dating is about getting to know people and finding out if you are compatible.
If you feel he is too different for you, and will complicate your life rather than compliment it then it is time to call it quits.

MMmomDD · 11/04/2023 18:03

And - forgot to mention - the primitive nationalistic outlook at life - for me would be the absolute turn off.

Even if he were well-off.

2bazookas · 11/04/2023 18:04

I'm on 50k and have a mortgage and some financial help from ex £100-300 a month.

Well, that explains why a guy who qualified for income support is love bombing you with kindness and compliments and wants to live with you and two total strangers he hasn't even met.

workshy46 · 11/04/2023 18:09

Sorry but he sounds like a bit of a loser. You don't at all, you seriously need to work on your self esteem before you even think of dating again if you think a lazy , workshy, ignorantly, intermittedly impotent potential cock lodger is someone "you could love"
No no no.. dump and run.

Monty27 · 11/04/2023 18:14

You should resent him. You've children to look after. They're sharing your finances with him. That's unfair to them in my book. That's how I viewed the cocklodger I had once. And it gave me the strength to dump him. It was hard at first but I have zero regrets. Good luck.

Opentooffers · 11/04/2023 18:15

You are being lovebombed because he knows the benefits you can bring. A home to live in, a kept man. Of course he is being nice to you. You are right to be concerned. Dial back the paying for stuff to the same level he is putting in, see how nice he is then. Say you have a personal 'no meeting the DC' rule until a year has passed, see how patient he is then.

Beaverbridge · 11/04/2023 18:17

Don't let him move in, he, ll drag you down, sponge off you.

Oopsiedaisyy · 11/04/2023 18:19

What is slightly annoying you now will become bigger issues as time goes on and you find yourself embarrassed by him

ZekeZeke · 11/04/2023 18:20

Way too many red flags and a cocklodger if there ever was one.

  1. Pays minimal for his current kids.
  2. Love bombs you.
  3. Keen to meet your kids after only 4 months - does he see his own kids?
  4. Difficult past.
  5. You are subsidising him already - taking food out of the mouths of your own blood

And that's only from reading the first paragraph!

Hell121 · 11/04/2023 18:24

If I were you and you want to keep seeing him I’d keep this as a casual arrangement. Lots of red flags, probably sees you as a meal ticket and lets face if he sounds like he would be a project. He isn’t even up to much sexually - id throw this one back and certainly wouldn’t me letting him move in or meet the kids. My cocklodger alert is ringing here.

RaininSummer · 11/04/2023 18:26

4 months is nothing. If you keep seeing him then assess the situation after at least 18 months. He obviously needs to get a job and give up on the useless business and keep him away from your kids for a good time yet. I think he will drive you mad withing 3 months as you have already seen where you are not compatible.

Opentooffers · 11/04/2023 18:27

Showering with complements constantly - not normal. It says as much about your state of mind when you met as it does about him. You might have thought you were over your past relationship, done the work to recover, but your bruised ego has lapped up the compliments instead of them giving you the ick for being too much. Beware of any man who showers compliments, it's really not in a man's nature.

COPPER3 · 11/04/2023 18:28

Please take heed of your intuition. This is why you have posted! You are not sure about this man and you have every reason to be. This man will bring you down over time. You have known him 16 weeks! You are not compatible and he lacks ambition and is work shy. He is also OTT and is love bombing. You should not be subsidising him, he should be getting his act together and getting a job! Put you and your children first and spend your hard earned money on them. Personally, I would really start to resent his 'lack' of money/job/values/views. Good luck. x

COPPER3 · 11/04/2023 18:29

Plus... sex shouldn't be 'fine'...it should be 'amazing'! Not sure what ED means? Please don't settle.

Theonlywayisup1 · 11/04/2023 18:32

I think you could keep seeing him, but try to keep him at a distance for a while, and see if he can improve his situation. I’m all for giving people second chances, and he may be trying to shower you with love because he genuinely likes you and is in awe of you.

I think it’s hard to know what to do when you have a considerable difference in earnings. I have worked incredibly hard on my business and now earn 7 figures a year, so I expect every man to be able to match that, no of course not. I’m in a similar position to you, where I’ve been with someone new for 4 months and he earns a lot less than I do, although he works hard, owns his own home and brings a lot to the relationship that is non monetary.

look after your own and your children’s needs first, but maybe just maybe this chap can turn himself around. With you being a good influence on his work ethic, it could be possible.

samestyle · 11/04/2023 18:33

He wants an easy life just getting by on his own business which isn't making enough as he would if he pushed himself to work, he isn't a great option to settle down with and move in with,

@COPPER3 erectile dysfunction

Crikeyalmightey · 11/04/2023 18:35

What happened in his "difficult past"? Why did he have to turn his life around?

martinisforeveryone · 11/04/2023 18:39

As nice as his good points might be and as much as he's turning his life around, albeit it not trying to progress, I don't think he's a man for you to get overly involved with (certainly not to introduce your children) and more to the point, I don't think you do either, which is why you've posted for other opinions.

pheonixrebirth · 11/04/2023 18:48

Cocklodger wannabe in my view.
I'm also suspicious about his new business, as in did he quit his old job to avoid paying a proper amount of child maintenance?

QueenAstrid · 11/04/2023 18:50

I think even if he sorts himself out financially his lack of knowledge of politics or right wing beliefs could be an issue if the OP is interested in current affairs and has a more balanced view. For me that alone would be a dealbreaker as it shows a fundamental lack of compatibility.

Laurdo · 11/04/2023 18:52

I ran my own buisness for a while but had to give it up after energy prices and rent went through the roof and the buisness was no longer profitable. I loved working for myself and really didn't want to go back into employment however I am a fucking adult with responsibilities, a family to look after and bills to pay so I just had to suck it up.

I'm sure he's a nice guy but the lack of get up and go would seriously turn me off. You deserve someone who can contribute equally and add to your life instead of someone who sponging off you.