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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

Am I Second Best? older couple with history

33 replies

Goldilocks3110 · 11/10/2023 12:07

I was sat next to my boyfriend of two years at a family meal for his 60th birthday. As a party of 14 we were all around the table having a lovely time. His eldest son asked him what had been some of his hi lights of the last 60 years - without hesitation he reeled off the date he got marrying his late first wife - Nothing further was said, It would have been nice if there had been a little nod to our relationship, but no just crickets and a few sympathetic looks from a few of his family members. AIBU to feel hurt and slightly humiliated by this public display of who comes first in his eyes. He says he loves me (never publicly) we both agree we dont want marriage and for the most part we’re happy. We are both 60 and I feel lucky to have met such a lovely bloke this late in life. I too have been married and have grown up children. This isn’t the first time he’s made me feel this way, but it was probably the most public. For context My boyfriend’s first wife died 15 years ago, their children were teenagers at the time. He married again a few years later and that marriage ended in divorce.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=572463874&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB853GB853&hl=en-GB&sxsrf=AM9HkKlcr3VE-S13iF9N9A6Gzd3KQr96Iw:1697018151061&q=I+was+sat+next+to+my+bf+of+two+years+at+a+family+restaurant+meal+for+his+60th+birthday.+As+a+party+of+10+we+were+all+sat+around+the+table+having+a+lovely+fun+time.+bf+opened+his+and+his+eldest+son+asked+him+what+had+been+some+of+his+hi+lights+of+the+last+60+years+-+without+hesitation+he+reeled+off+the+date+he+got+marrying+his+late+first+wife+-+Nothing+further+was+said+it+would+have+been+nice+if+meeting+me+had+been+a+little+add+on+or+any+slight+nod+to+our+relationship,+no+just+crickets+and+a+few+sympathetic+looks.+AIBU+to+feel+hurt+and+slightly+humiliated+by+this+public+dis)play+of+who+comes+first+in+his+eyes.+He+says+he+loves+me,+we+both+agree+we+dont+want+marriage+and+for+the+most+part+are+very+happy.+For+context+his+first+wife+died+15+years+ago,+their+children+were+teenagers+at+the+time.+He+married+again+a+few+years+later,+that+marriage+ended+in+divorce.%C2%A0&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjL3Mig3e2BAxULSEEAHRJ0C3AQBSgAegQIBxAB&biw=1024&bih=641&dpr=2

OP posts:
caringcarer · 11/10/2023 23:36

My sister's first DH died of a massive heart attack at 41. He was her childhood sweetheart and first love. They adored each other. Eight years later she remarried. She loves her DH of now 20 years but she has never forgotten her first DH and father of her DC. I think if she was being entirely honest she would rate her first marriage day as the happiest day of her life.

OnAir · 12/10/2023 05:03

She's dead it's not like he's going to get back with her.

PaminaMozart · 12/10/2023 05:12

What he said was inconsiderate, hurtful and tactless. However, I'd be more concerned about the fact that....
This isn’t the first time he’s made me feel this way, but it was probably the most public

Are you sure this relationship meets your needs? Or are you mostly with him because you cannot face being alone?

Lonesomefetter · 12/10/2023 05:39

Can you imagine the horrified looks if he had announced meeting you as the highlight of his life? My vote is for get a grip.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 12/10/2023 05:59

PaminaMozart · 12/10/2023 05:12

What he said was inconsiderate, hurtful and tactless. However, I'd be more concerned about the fact that....
This isn’t the first time he’s made me feel this way, but it was probably the most public

Are you sure this relationship meets your needs? Or are you mostly with him because you cannot face being alone?

I agree with this. If he's not making you feel good, and important to him, then perhaps think about whether you want to continue.

Goldilocks3110 · 12/10/2023 09:56

Somanycats · 11/10/2023 23:22

After a two year (only) relationship with a man you describe as a boyfriend, not even a partner, can you honestly think the relationship you two have is going to compare with the much longer one he had with the mother of his children?

Of course our two year relationship doesn’t compare to a marriage with children! Also I didn’t realise “partner” was an upgrade to “boyfriend” lol We’re happy, we love each other, we enjoy each other’s company. Whatever that is called.
I’m so glad I posted my message on here ALL of the comments have been truly helpful to me, and helped me get my head around “The remark” that caused me hurt. You are a wise lot! Thank you x

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 13/10/2023 00:04

I have seen the reverse to be honest- at my FILs partner of 11 years funeral , when he did a eulogy saying she was the love of his life- my H and brother were pretty upset as their mum had died 3 years before he got together with his new partner -- and he had been married to their mum for 43 years before she died

SunflowerTed · 13/10/2023 00:17

It comes with the territory of being with a widower. My now husband used to say things that hurt me about his late wife (mother of my stepson). He didn’t mean to be insensitive but dead spouses tend to be on a pedestal and so they should be if it was a happy marriage. Give it time and you and he will make more memories and become a long term relationship. It does get easier but just be yourself and embrace the late wife x

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