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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 right to find this behaviour a bit off?

22 replies

WhateverhappenedtoGaryCooper · 17/03/2024 23:55

My ex and I split up a few months ago but recently there have started to be hints thay getting back together may be possible. It's a very uncertain position and if it does happen is going to require a lot of work over a few months. For now we have agreed to meet casually as friends whilst we work on our personal issues and see what happens without putting pressure on the outcome.

The current issue I have is the fact that my ex still wants to meet up with others for casual sex. To her mind it is completely fine as we're not together and it's not cheating (she has no issue with me doing it apparently, but I have refused). To my mind it's more complicated. She was sleeping with people back when it seemed we were completely done and although I have found that very painful I acknowledge she was well within her rights to do so.

Now though it doesn't seem so clear. We haven't actually agreed to start trying again, with the situation being that my ex has said she might want to but wants to get things clear in her head first and this will take a while yet. So here it would seem like I cannot argue what she does. But I find this a bit off. She knows how painful I am finding her sleeping with other people and that I want to avoid her if she is doing this, but she is insisting on spending time together as friends as she says she misses my company. I have told her that if she continues then I probably won't be able to get past this and any chance of getting back together successfully would be sunk, so have asked that either she tells me she is continuing so I can cease contact and start processing that the relationship is truly done, or that she stops sleeping with others, at least whilst she makes up her mind about me. I also feel that her doing stuff with others is just going to cloud her judgement for now and so she should also stop on that basis, but perhaps I am talking rubbish there. Perhaps it will actually help her to make up her mind (which is something she has sort of suggested).

What she appears to have decided following what I told her is that she is going to continue to seek out other men but lie to me about it and continue to want to meet up as friends. I don't know for sure and she swears she has stopped but we've known each other long enough for me to be 95% sure when she is lying. I will add that our break up was not down to me being unfaithful so it's not like she is giving me a taste of my own medicine or anything there.

It's up for me to decide whether this behaviour is a dealbreaker for me so this is not what I am asking. My question is more whether her behaviour is okay or whether I am right to feel aggrieved about it. To emphasise again, at this stage she is having very fleeting thoughts of getting back together. Rather than thinking that she might want to, it's more like she thinks there is a chance that she might want to be in a position where she starts thinking about wanting me back. If that makes sense. So no sense of being together or any form of commitment or anything. She is very big on fate and thinks that if we are destined to get back together then it will happen, seemingly not mattering what she does now. For what it's worth, I think there is a good chance this would work out eventually if we don't do anything now to add to our list of issues to work on.

Do I push further or accept that in this situation I don't really have any right to? Even if she won't stop I at least want her to tell me so I can make an informed decision on whether I am willing to stick around as friends to see what happens whilst she is doing this sort of thing. It's very clear that she thinks her behaviour is absolutely fine given the current situation, although I am not sure why she is lying about it. It's probably either as she knows I will stop seeing her if she tells the truth, and/or she fears me having a strong negative reaction and doesn't want to hurt me.

Also, to me, and I won't go into details as to why but again we've known each other long enough, everything is suggesting that the next person she wants to sleep with isn't just some random person for sex as the previous guys were but someone who is particularly physically blessed, shall we say, which is why she's so keen to pursue it despite what I have said. And that makes it even more difficult for me to get past but that's a whole other story.

Apologies if I rambled - my brain tends to dissolve into mush when I think about this.

OP posts:
Oncetwicethreetimesalady · 18/03/2024 00:01

Sorry but I think she’s just not that into you and you really should move on. I don’t think this has much chance of working out. If someone wants to be with you, they choose to be with you.
honestly, don’t torture yourself by existing in limbo waiting for her to be ready to start thinking about whether she wants you. Start fresh for yourself, maybe find someone who really does want to be with you, or be happier without her on your own.

AllrightNowBaby · 18/03/2024 00:07

She thinks she might want to get back together with you but while she’s making her mind up she’s been having sex with other men and is now searching for someone who is particularly physically blessed?
This has to be a joke but if it’s actually true, then you need to tell her that you’ve made your mind up and you don’t want her any more.
Then find yourself someone else.

Velvetbee · 18/03/2024 00:08

First post nails it.

Volbeat · 18/03/2024 00:09

Ah op, sorry you're in this situation.

The issues you both need to work on, are they big issues or just small things that can easily be fixed with just a little effort?

In any case, if it was me, I would hate to hang around. I'd like to be someone's choice not their option. It may be best to take a break from her for a while to gather your strength and mental space back. I know it's her life but I don't think she's being fair to you to keep you hanging.

Opentooffers · 18/03/2024 00:09

She's keeping you hanging, you are her backup plan. If she falls for one of these guys, you won't see her for dust. You're hanging in there on feint hope, she doesn't respect you, probably because you don't respect yourself, otherwise you wouldn't be such a doormat. The problems you had, most likely still remain.
Time on your own to suss out what you want from a relationship would be good for you, as you seem to accept crumbs too easily.

WhateverhappenedtoGaryCooper · 18/03/2024 00:21

Thank you all for your responses. @AllrightNowBaby Sadly this isn't a joke as much as I wish it were :-(

@Volbeat A lot of them aren't that big or have already been successfully worked on. The problem is, and this is what makes it harder for me to accept what other posters have suggested and move on, is that she is currently having mental health difficulties (which in part contributed to the break up) and is undergoing counselling for past trauma. So when she says she might want to get back to together but isn't sure what she wants, it's because her head is a mess rather than, I believe, keeping me hanging on whilst seeing who else is out there. She has a while to go in her counselling (she's currently at the point I think where dredging up her past trauma has made things worse before they get better).

I do think that if she can get her head straight here then we have a good chance on being able to successfully work on the issues between us that contributed to the break up. So I am willing to wait over her counselling (looking at probably several more months tbh) because I don't think she's in any position to make a sensible decision right now. I think her head being such a mess is also partly why she is continuing to pursue other men but I don't think that excuses it.

OP posts:
Oncetwicethreetimesalady · 18/03/2024 00:31

Seeing her ex as a friend for emotional support whilst sleeping with other people is not going to help her mental health difficulties and the mixed up situation can only cause you both pain.
Gently disconnect and give her some compassionate space to work on herself while you concentrate on your own life for a bit.

Fortitudinal · 18/03/2024 00:36

Oh god. It’s a no. Stop hurting yourself like this. This will not end well for you. Sorry @WhateverhappenedtoGaryCooper

Detach and tell her the truth - that it hurts too much to be friends while she sleeps with other people and agonises over whether she could maybe possibly love you or not, depending on how she feels, having shopped around to her hearts content…

She is using you or can’t find the clarity or strength to do the right thing and end it properly with you.

I hope you can move ahead with your own life. Good luck, I know these things can hurt like hell.

MrsDoubtfire24 · 18/03/2024 01:56

So she’s hinted about getting back together, but in the meantime is seeing other people, and tells you she wants to fuck someone with a big dick.

Gross. Cut her off. Block her. It’s weird, entitled and cruel. It’s not normal. Get some counselling yourself to examine why you’re emotionally supporting someone who is hurting you.

Yoe · 18/03/2024 02:05

You know what you deserve better much better . Pull the rug and move on fast .. some exs love love the drama around a break up and being in some sort of emotional control of others tbh and I know it hurts it’s toxic and you as a beautiful person as said before deserve much better . Best of luck only you can deside what to do

SunflowerTed · 18/03/2024 03:50

You sound like decent guy. You are her little puppet and I would not play the ‘pick me dance’! She sounds massively into casual sex and is also a liar - would you ever trust her if you get back together? In the nicest way monogamy isn’t going to work for her! Are these the sort of traits that you want to in a long term partner? If she was desperate to get back with you she would respect your wishes but she isn’t. I’m sure she does like your company - you are letting her have her cake and eat it. Move on to somebody who has the same morals and expectations as you do

Okeydokedeva · 18/03/2024 04:05

OP many many years ago I had a man I loved. I was his first serious girlfriend. He broke up with me because he liked me but he wanted to have sex with other people but maybe also have sex with me too. It properly messed me up for a good year or two. Normal loving people don’t use people in this way. Don’t be a doormat like I was. Don’t risk your own mental health. You sound like a kind and loving person, find someone who honours that. Every time I saw him it set me back to the start and I really lost it for a bit as a result. Please don’t be me. Happily married 20 years on, it will pass - it feels massive now but you will look back and think what the hell was I doing with that person?

EmilyGilmoreenergy · 18/03/2024 04:18

You don't need permission or strangers on the internet to decide if this is ok or not, you need personal boundaries and for you this oversteps many and is therefore not ok.
She is showing total disregard and disrespect to you and you are allowing it.
End it, build your self esteem and self respect and a happy future without her.

Asshewheelsherwheelbarrow · 18/03/2024 04:24

Op you have to draw a boundary and protect yourself. Mh issue or no mh issue, she has shown you who she is and sorry but huge red flags are being waved in your face and yet you are not running for the hills? Why is this?

It’s obviously very hard for you to face this but no one who is serious about working on a broken relationship sleeps with other people at the same time. And no one tells the person they are supposedly reconciling with about the physical attributes of the next person they want to sleep with! This behaviour is so disrespectful, not to mention odd and erratic.

Said kindly, I can’t understand why you need to even ask the question about what you should do next? You know what to do! You need to cut yourself off completely from this drama and go and seek some therapy from a licensed psychologist about why you are allowing yourself to be treated so badly. And once you have worked on yourself for a while, hopefully you will meet someone lovely who treats you properly like you deserve. Good luck.

Cuckoochanel80 · 18/03/2024 04:32

This is awful, you need to stop thinking this could work. Find someone who actually deserves you. This woman is not going to make you happy.

daisychain01 · 18/03/2024 05:00

Why are you even entertaining the possibility of getting back together when the whole situation is an utter basket case?

you're setting yourself up for failure, when you have a choice to get the hell out and distance yourself.

Eyeroll2024 · 18/03/2024 05:55

Yuck.

DatingDinosaur · 18/03/2024 06:48

No. You're clutching at straws OP. You said this -

"I believe, keeping me hanging on whilst seeing who else is out there."

I believe exactly the same.

She's playing you for a fool and, because you like her so, you're letting her.

At first, you'll find the behaviour a bit off. Then it will upset you. Then it will hurt you. Then it will piss you off. Then you'll get fed up of waiting for her to decide whether you're worthy.

You can't speed this process up or change her behaviour. You just have to ride with it until such time you decide she's not the one for you. Until then, you'll live in hope that she'll pick you.

Volbeat · 18/03/2024 06:53

You sound lovely OP. Too good for this woman. Its not fair that she's suffered trauma but I think you've supported her as much as you can and you're getting caught in the cross fire.

Disentangle yourself from her life, she will only screw you up on her journey. I wish you luck

PrinceLouisWeirdFinger · 18/03/2024 06:55

If she really wanted you she’d be with you, and only you. She knows what you want and she doesn’t want the same. Pick your self esteem out of the gutter and go and find someone who deserves you, rather than running round begging for scraps from this girls table.

sammylady37 · 18/03/2024 06:57

She can ‘insist’ on meeting up with you all she likes, you don’t have to agree to it. You’re not passive here, you have agency in the situation. Just cut ties. She’s messing you around.

(I am normally of the belief that anyone who is single can have sex with as many or as few others as they wish, and I believe she can and you don’t get to dictate otherwise, but it’s shitty behaviour to be stringing you along saying she is considering getting back with you while giving you all the gory details about her sex life at the same time)

Rania78 · 18/03/2024 07:58

OP, why are you doing this to yourself? I think you really need to work on your issues. How on earth do you want to be with such a person. What do you get from this relationship?
Please go out, date and meet new girls. Honestly you are setting up yourself for disappointment and hurt. She is keeping you there as a back up plan in case everything else doesn’t work out. Why do you accept this behavior? Love? What is it that you love in this person?
Get some help to build your self-esteem please and do not talk again to this person! Ever!

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