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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

Really scares of hurting new guy, some icks

160 replies

elainey87 · 27/11/2023 19:43

Hi ladies.

Changed username for this one.

I'm really hoping aome of you ladies will give me some honest thoughts / feedback on this situation, sorry in advance for the word vomit.

I'm 36 single, OLD at the moment. Long story short met a guy for a first date in early October. I wasn't super physically attracted to him at the outset but not unattracted either if that makes sense. I really really liked his personality and manner around me so agreed to a second date. We've been on a good few dates since and had 3 sleepovers but there are some issues that I'm just not sure about or that are holding me back I guess and would love to hear what you think.

Totally aware that i probably sound like a complete bitch so open to hearing that too. He has been very straight with me that he is very interested in me and keen to pursue a relationship. I guess I have my reservations but going along trying to get to know him but really don't want to hurt him either

I'm 36, he's 31 so a bit of an age gap. I have a pretty decent career going after years of hard work but not earning 6 figures either if that gives context. He didn't go to uni, nothing wrong with that, kind of floated in his 20s working dead end jobs and living week to week from talking to him, and is now embarking on a degree part time over the next 4 years which is v admirable and working full time in a related line of work while he does this. He earns half of what I do - don't mind this but I worry that it could become problematic but nothing we can't figure out. I would see myself as quite ambitious and driven so I like that he is determined to make a go of things for himself.

He lives at home with his parents which while not ideal is not a deal breaker. He moved home recently while starting to study part time so at least there's a reason for this. He does pay quite a significant amount of rent to them approx 400 per month.

I know this sounds so so mean but I really don't like how he dresses. He's a big guy, fairly overweight so not my usual type tbh but the size doesn't matter to me, its that his arse crack is constantly showing and I'm genuinely embarrassed by it. Iv said once or twice oh your pants have come down etc but I don't think he cares but I do find it inappropriate and genuinely just cringe. Yesterday we were out having lunch and I came back from the loo and saw half his arse exposed from the back of the chair. T genuinely makes me uncomfortable but I don't want to be mean about it either. I know this can be sorted but I just think I'd be mortified introducing him in those clothes to family or friends. It's not really the clothes but the exposed arse is a deal breaker as petty as it might sound. I dont ant to hurt his confidence either and make him self conscious.

Two more concerns I guess I have. He's very small in the penis department. I was quite shocked the first time but genuinely trying to overlook it now because I really do like him in lots of other ways. Penetrative sex is not great and he says he does lose his erection from time to time which I suggested very gently he could go to GP about or maybe it might help mpw that he is exercising and trying to get fitter. He is receptive to both. He does satisfy me in other ways too. Iv noticed that he does go to gym but seems very uneducated on basic nutrition in some ways etc.

Last thing and probably the biggest concern is that he confided in me that he made a suicide attempt just over a year ago. I'm so grateful that he told me this but I also cried for hours when he left after we had that conversation as it honestly scared the living daylights out of me. It seemed to stem for after a bad break up and he was in a dead end job at the time etc but it shook me to my core hearing about it. He has done therapy etc and was on antidepressants for a number of months after and assures me he is doing great now and that it shocks him that he did that but I am genuinely terrified that something might happen if we were to ever end things etc and just s bit concerned about his mindset overall i guess. I'm not saying that it would be over me but it profoundly shocked me.

Anyway, I know iv done nothing hut complain and sound like horribly selfish in ways but I do really like this man at the same time. He has a lot of redeeming qualities and we get on great and i enjoy his company. He's treated me much better than a lot of men in my life but I do wonder if there is too much to overlook etc. I'm worried about how to approach things i guess. I do see potential with him in some ways and in other ways I think God what are you doing, he's so not your type of for you etc. I also don't want to try to change all these aspects of a man or make him feel not good enough.

All advice welcome please and thank you so much if you've read my essay.

OP posts:
Weddingblues23 · 27/11/2023 20:58

OhComeOnFFS · 27/11/2023 20:53

Let's take his tiny penis out of the equation. That's not his fault.

However, everything else you've told us, tells us you and he are not suited. I wonder whether he told you about the suicide attempt in a calculated way (I know how horrible this sounds) because it means you would have to think more than once about dumping him.

I would let things cool off and tell him you don't really want a long term relationship with anyone.

It doesn't matter whether it's his fault or not - it still needs to be taken into consideration (as does the ED).

samestyle · 27/11/2023 21:03

At 31 he should still be in his prime, think how he'll be in 5-10-15 years it will only get worse, if you aren't gushing about a guy this early on then it's like self punishment to keep yourself in this situation and not fair on him either to pretend.

easilydistracted1 · 27/11/2023 21:06

You don't fancy him, it's very early days and your lifestyles are incompatible. You only don't want to dump him as you feel bad and worried about how he will manage. He lives with his parents so he's got someone to get support from. Finish with him nicely. There's probably a lovely lady for him that wears her low rises too low and is at a similar life stage. This isn't really a dilemma

PurpleSubmarine · 27/11/2023 21:06

AhBiscuits · 27/11/2023 20:37

  • dead end job
  • lives with his parents
  • fat
  • shows his arse crack
  • tiny penis

Come on OP, set your bar a little higher.

This list 😂

Devonshiregal · 27/11/2023 21:09

I do see potential with him in some ways and in other ways I think God what are you doing

You’re very lukewarm - you see potential.

The asscrack is a case of buying extra extra large boxers so nothing can be revealed - otherwise, yes, restyle him with braces (which is a great look and I’m sad men don’t wear them more nowadays).

Honestly you aren’t into him. Why are you trying to force this? Do you have a habit of going for bad boys and you’re trying a good one for a change or something??

Even if this is not the case I will caution you against this relationship…based purely on my own experience of dating unattractive men:

I dated a guy who was SO lovely. But I didn’t fancy him at first at all (I fancied his mate who was super hot and I did get with him too in the end but that’s another story)

anyway so I forced myself to focus on this guy’s good physical bits - but that quickly wore off and in the end I was just like forcing myself to like him. He too had a small penis. Which wouldn’t be an issue if I really liked the rest of him but it just meant that there was yet another body part that was a bit meh.

That’s not to say you can’t date and love an unattractive guy, just that you have to be ok with their looks from day dot.

for example, I also dated another guy who I was not typically attractive but I just found him gorgeous. Like I could seeee he wasn’t attractive in normal terms, I just really liked his looks.

i guess what I’m trying to say is that you don’t not fancy him because he’s unattractive… you don’t fancy him because YOU don’t fancy him. No point forcing the issue.

don’t do it babe. Two years down the line you’ll be stuck with him and be like how the fuck did I get myself into this.

Prince Potential is not Prince Charming

Blueskiesforecast · 27/11/2023 21:10

He really sounds like a friend and not a romantic partner. Clothes problems can be fixed, the rest is harder. You’d have to really love him to support him through getting fit, getting libido sorted etc. being there if he has depression again.

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 27/11/2023 21:12

Good God. Any one of those things would have me ending the relationship but the big ick-fest that he is would have me running fir the hills after politely telling him it's not working for you and you wish him the best yada yada.

Circumferences · 27/11/2023 21:12

Oh wow.
Everything in your post screams "I'm not into him"!!

Why put yourself through the torment of future dates? Just ditch him. He'll survive.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 27/11/2023 21:12

I didn't even get to the end of the OP,he's not for you,move on.

Notamum12345577 · 27/11/2023 21:13

Brexile · 27/11/2023 20:16

I think the small penis is worse than the butt crack. So many icks to choose from!

Not like he can do anything about that though!

AMuser · 27/11/2023 21:16

Men are not projects or doer uppers. Why do women feel the need to take on the ones that are?

Ok - no one is perfect but you should feel that they are pretty amazing to start with. To take you through the hard times that are ahead.

NOTHING about this suggests you truly fancy or respect this man.

Schmusimausi73 · 27/11/2023 21:17

Honestly, it sounded like you were trying to talk yourself into liking him.

GreekDogRescue · 27/11/2023 21:19

Living with his parents, the bum crack and the small penis….it’s just too much.

penjil · 27/11/2023 21:21

You will end up despising him.

It won't be a good match if you're ambitious. Would you be okay with having him at your side at a corporate do?

VelvetVoice · 27/11/2023 21:25

Sorry OP but I can picture him having bad hygiene on top of everything else (maybe because of the ass crack thing) is it true?

My BF has ED but he is amazing in every other single way and dresses very well and appropriately, is super driven, good earner / provider minded and completely independent.

Please don't settle

CorvusPurpureus · 27/11/2023 21:25

You're dating my ex husband. Please run away before he starts telling you about his hobbies.

Seriously, you have the ick with his chubby bum crack & ropey fashion sense & small penis.

Game. Over.

You might find him likeable - although tbh he doesn't sound much fun - but you don't fancy him. At all.

Chuck him back, he's not the one.

& he might absolutely tick someone else's boxes, so there's that - set him free!

Milkybarsareonmeeeee · 27/11/2023 21:31

The study and work and living with parents temp sounds ok. He’s working to better himself . By the time he is your age now he should be doing good .

The arse out I can’t do . Been there done that and finished it as I became a nag about it .
If he doesn’t care enough to notice then it will never be an issue for him and always abs issue for you .

MolkosTeenageAngst · 27/11/2023 21:40

I didn’t even read all this but my thoughts are if you can write an essay of that length about the negatives of a man you’ve only been seeing a month or so he’s probably not right for you.

Karwomannghia · 27/11/2023 21:48

He’s a sweet guy but you do not fancy him and it’s not your job to make him happy. Finish it now if you care about him.

NightAndShiningArmour · 27/11/2023 22:06

Oh OP.

You’re going to have to hurt him, and do it now.

You don’t owe him a relationship because he’s nice to you.

If he holds the suicide thing over you when you do it, he’s not a nice guy.

If you don’t do it, you’ll sink deeper into a “relationship”. You’ll find it harder and harder to end it because there’s nothing wrong that you can say outloud. And then a tall, sexy man will join your place of work. He’s funny and you have a lot of interests and values in common. And he’s divorced. And you grab a few friendly drinks after works. And then he invites you to some posh client event. And there’s wine. And then you snog the face off each other in the taxi home. And by the time you find it in you to end your relationship, you’ve wasted so much time and he’s going to be even more hurt than if you just ended it ages ago. Or is that just me?

PrinnyPree · 27/11/2023 22:06

Not RTFT but please don't stay with him out of pity OP.

You should be in the honeymoon stage of your relationship and the arse crack thing and incompatibility in the bedroom would be a bit of a deal breaker. It's not really going to get better.

And it is not your responsibility how he emotionally deals with your break up, certainly don't let him blackmail you with suicide, that is abuse and I hope he wasn't trying to lay the groundwork to manipulate you with that story if he thought the writing was on the wall for you ending it.

Obviously be tactful and kind, tell him that you really enjoy his company but the romantic spark isn't happening for you and that he deserves to be with someone who can give him the romantic relationship he deserves.

Maybe blame the age gap thing a bit aswell and just say you maybe want someone a bit more mature and at the same stage of life as you (not that 36 is old in the slightest and 5 years is nothing but making yourself sound old and him youthful might help him deal with the break up 😅)

Olika · 27/11/2023 22:24

Just end it. You cannot be with him just because you don't want your hurt him.

Uurrjb · 27/11/2023 22:30

Despite everything…some people do have a really high bum crack 😵‍💫😆

my husband and one of my sons have one

now that son is a teenager i haven’t seen it for a few years after mentioning it but every so often my husbands appears

it’s literally a high crack!

it’s a a once every 6 month type thing so I can cope and it makes me laugh

Ollifer · 27/11/2023 22:38

AhBiscuits · 27/11/2023 20:37

  • dead end job
  • lives with his parents
  • fat
  • shows his arse crack
  • tiny penis

Come on OP, set your bar a little higher.

I'm sorry I know it's not funny but when it's written out in this list it's just cracked me up

Morewineplease10 · 27/11/2023 22:39

He's not for you op. And it sounds like you're feeling very responsible for him already!

You don't owe him anything, you're not feeling it enough, you don't need to justify that.

I'd get out now before either or both of you get too attached.