Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

AIBU to be sick of hearing about his exes?

31 replies

missmatch23 · 25/09/2023 18:35

I've been seeing someone on and off for a while now. Started off as nothing, became something, he messed up and now I see him when I can be bothered. I don't have a great deal of spare time, and would much rather spend my free time with my DS, so it works ok.

When we first met, we got on like a house on fire; would spend hours speaking about all kinds of random, interesting things. We both love music so would speak about that. We both exchanged experiences from past relationships etc. When we did get serious, his most recent ex of whom he'd been separated from over two years, and who is the mum of his youngest child, decided she didn't like he was moving on and caused a lot of grief. Above all else, her feelings were always placed over mine. When I questioned why we had to be so considerate of her feelings, I was told it was because she was the mum of his child.

Moving on, things were never the same after all the trouble caused, simply because I was targeted and never really defended. I would listen to him complain about her and be supportive when she stopped contact with their LO, and as soon as they were friends again, nothing against her could be said. It was during this time I think I fell out of love with him. I understand he was in a difficult position, but didn't appreciate the hurt and turmoil I'd be put through for no good reason. I decided to call it a day.

We've been back in touch around two months now, things died down when she heard I was off the scene and we decided to just go with the flow and see what happened. The problem is, whenever we're together (we can go a couple of weeks not seeing each other), literally all he talks about is his most recent ex, complaining about how unfair she has been towards him, how she's lied about him etc, but for the past month or so also, he has begun going on about his ex before her, who he separated from 8 years ago and has older teen children with. We literally sit together with him going on about how badly done to he is and was, for hours and hours on end. I try to move the discussion on to something else, but it literally returns back to his ex partners.

The last time I seen him, I tried to talk about something else. When I started a new topic, he tried to take the conversation back and I simply stated "that is all in the distant past now. Let's look to the future", and he just carried on, for another two hours or so. I find myself just sitting there listening to him nodding and drifting off in my mind. I feel awful for saying that, we all need support and an ear, but when it's literally the only topic of conversation, for hours on end when we've not seen each other for weeks, AIBU to just not want to hear anymore of it?

OP posts:
fiddlesticksandotherwords · 25/09/2023 21:03

The relationships with his exes might be in the distant past, but his children are still very much in the present, so he necessarily has to have contact with the exes.

Bit difficult to gain closure when you are still having constant reminders.

Perhaps he's just not in the right place for a relationship right now.

Comtesse · 25/09/2023 21:14

Boring AND lots of baggage?? Next!!

category12 · 25/09/2023 21:23

missmatch23 · 25/09/2023 19:31

Just to clarify, I wasn't asking or saying how difficult it is to dump him. I was asking if I'm being an out and out bitch for being sick of hearing about the same thing for hours on end.

Thanks.

Of course you're not.

You're supposed to be his girlfriend, not his emotional waste-bin.
He's supposed to have some interest in you.

You're not wrong for being pig-sick of it.

Stop taking on that role of emotional toilet for him - you're not actually doing him any good. If he's this distraught about it all, he needs an actual therapist and to do the work.

Daffodilwoman · 25/09/2023 21:38

Yanbu.
I have no idea how you can stomach listening to him.

Thisisworsethananticpated · 26/09/2023 07:35

Well as it’s on and off … keep it off !
he’s def using you as a therapist

clearly sees you as a friendly supportive one too

the good thing is you don’t like him and can walk away ?

determinedtomakethiswork · 26/09/2023 11:04

Tell him that you are ending it, but if he wants to continue to talk to you, it's £50 an hour.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page