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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

Would these things give you the ick?

66 replies

afroqueen83 · 05/05/2024 10:53

Bit of background here;

I'm a divorcee and have been single almost 3 years. I have children who I am primary parent to so meeting people has been tricky.

A friend of mine, for some time, was telling me about a friend of her DH who was in a similar situation and was super lovely. After some encouragement we went on a date. First couple of dates he was lovely (and still is tbh!) date 4, as we live quite far from one another, we decided to book a hotel in between both of our homes so we could spend a longer period of time together. There was no expectation around sex or anything, during the day we went for lunch and drinks in the city where we were staying.

After that we headed to the hotel room to get showered and changed to go out for the evening. We ended up having sex and it was fine (first times are often a little strange so it was ok!). It was what has happened after, and since, which has perturbed me somewhat...

I took a shower first as I needed to get my make up done.

After I came out of the shower, he went in to the toilet and did a "sitting down wee" with the door open... felt a little... over familiar as I could see everything from where I was doing my make up! I said I didn't need to see that and shut the door!

We went out for dinner and drinks, both tired so came back to the hotel room not too late. It had been hot in the restaurant so I had another shower, when I came out to the bedroom, he was sat on his phone scrolling the football and watching some kids film on the TV. I'm not saying I expected him to pounce on me, but it felt like something ex-DH would have done after 15 years of marriage, not someone I'm spending a first night with! I'm wondering if this guy just wants a wife replacement who he's super comfortable with, but I want to enjoy the dating period!

Due to schedules (mainly mine!) we aren't able to see each other until next weekend and he's booked us a restaurant that he slipped up and said that he and his ex-w used to go to all of the time... odd right??

Another thing, every single time, without fail, that he goes out with his friends (never when he has his DD in fairness) he goes out and gets totally wasted. Last weekend I had a recount of how he'd acquainted himself with the toilet for 2 hours when he got home! I love a good drink, maybe every 6 weeks or so with friends, but with him it's every single week and never seems to be anything but being totally bladdered. It's all a bit boring and I don't find it impressive! He's a little older than me (46!) so I find it surprising.

I'd also shared something quite personal to me (after a drink!) relating to my DM. I mentioned that the situation had gotten worse the other day, over text, and he just glossed over it. I wasn't going expecting a big emotional outpouring, but he literally responded like I hadn't said anything!

Am I being picky? Or is this was dating is these days? He messages frequently, is kind, sweet, but it's these things that are putting me off.

OP posts:
EndoEnd · 05/05/2024 11:13

I would say in this situation, trust your own feelings. If you feel put off by it then it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.

I personally hate the whole being "picky" thing, it just suggests that it's better settling for someone who is just okay, rather than be on your own! Honestly OP I think you're worth a whole lot more than a man who is already making you second guess. 💪🏻

category12 · 05/05/2024 11:19

Yeah, I wouldn't bother further with this one.

BigButtons · 05/05/2024 11:21

Doesn’t matter what puts others off. If it bothers you then it bothers you.

Lookingforunicorns · 05/05/2024 11:24

The toilet thing wouldn't bother me but the getting blind drunk, and ignoring what you said about your DM would bother me because it shows you who he is, and what he prioritises.
How much older is he?

Cbljgdpk · 05/05/2024 11:25

How do you feel about seeing him again? Looking forward to it or not really bothered? If you’re not bothered then I’d leave it now. The wee thing is ick but people have different boundaries so I could move on from that if he didn’t do it again. The drinking thing would bother me more as imo past late twenties is too old to be getting off your face and finding it funny but that’s my opinion on it. I’m sure there are others who don’t mind or do the same.

ZaraWebsiteGivingMeTheDoubleRage · 05/05/2024 11:28

Why does he think you're interested in the after effects of him being so drunk?

Why does he want you to see him having a sit down wee?

Why did he ignore the thing you shared?

Why did he mention his ex wife when booking the restaurant?

Why did he prefer football and a children's film over making you feel important/there/relevant?

category12 · 05/05/2024 11:28

It's the first night together spent on his phone and watching tv that would give me the ick. 😂

I'd be expecting some enthusiasm for shagging.

hoonicorn · 05/05/2024 11:31

It was the sitting down wee for me.

category12 · 05/05/2024 11:33

hoonicorn · 05/05/2024 11:31

It was the sitting down wee for me.

It's all pretty rubbish, isn't it?

Throw him back, OP.

littlebopeepp234 · 05/05/2024 11:38

I’ve been with my bf for over 2 years now and the toilet thing would still not be ok! Not only that, why does he think it’s ok for him to do it, let alone for you to see him doing it!

Watching some kid’s film and scrolling through his phone would not be my idea of a romantic night away either. Imagine what he would be like if it was 15 years down the line and you was married to him - would probably feel like I was in a bed at the morgue!

EBearhug · 05/05/2024 11:46

It doesn't matter if it gives anyone else the ick, because it is giving you the ick.

A sitting down wee wouldn't bother me, though I'd expect to be a few more dates in before finding out.

I would struggle with getting completely wasted, as my mother was an alcoholic. A one-off is fair enough, but not as a regular thing.

I would expect more enthusiasm about being with me. In a new liaison, I like them to find it difficult to keep their eyes off me. They shobld be besotted to start with, especially after we've been to bed. I completely understand some phone calls may be necessary, especially if they have children, but otherwise, attention should be prioritising me for the first couple of dates.

Robinkitty · 05/05/2024 12:01

If you liked him then the toilet thing wouldn’t give you the ick the rest is more worrying.. no one is perfect but if your getting the ick it’s a warning sign and ignore at your peril

InBedBy10 · 05/05/2024 12:02

It sounds like you're both 'just not that into' each other.

He's far too comfortable too early. At this stage he should be all over you but is more interested in his phone.

And you already have the ick.

Time to knock it on the head.

MuttsNutts · 05/05/2024 12:07

This is going nowhere. Unless you want to settle for this? If this is him so early on, how bad do you think it’s going to get later on?

He’s not that interested in you. Or this is as interested as he ever gets. Either way it’s not enough for you or you wouldn’t be asking.

And him telling me about going out getting pissed every week with his mates at the age of 46 would really get on my nerves.

He really isn’t my idea of “lovely”.

WhenWillTheSunShineIWonder · 05/05/2024 12:17

Oooh no, run. Getting wasted at that would be a 100% no from me - he’s clearly got an unhealthy relationship with drink. It also sounds like he is going to put zero effort into what should be the heady days of a new relationship - doesn’t bode well at all.

Sparkletastic · 05/05/2024 12:24

He's not the one for you or for anyone else

FictionalCharacter · 05/05/2024 12:27

He sounds extremely immature for a man in his 40s, and quite odd. I'd find it very strange for a man to be watching a kids' film, let alone in a hotel room when he's with a date.
Maybe some women would find all this completely normal, but I wouldn't.

SamW98 · 05/05/2024 12:32

Yep there wouldn’t be a next date for me after that.

BrummieCahoots · 05/05/2024 12:35

I think if things are giving you the ick at this point better to move on.

afroqueen83 · 05/05/2024 12:38

Thanks all for your comments! I agree with many of them.

Without sounding too big headed I think he's into me... but not me, if that makes sense? As in I don't think it's me as a person, I think he just likes the idea of me (I'm reasonably attractive, have my life in order, our mutual friends equally have told him I'm a catch etc).

Something else when we were talking about our dating history was he said he was seeing a woman last year but wasn't that into her. I asked why he kept seeing her if he wasn't into her and he said "because she was hot". It did ring some alarm bells for me as it sounds like something one of my sons friends would say!!

But the big thing for me is the drinking purely to get drunk. I'm not tee total at all, but I like people who have self control and the constant boasting about it feels like something boys were doing when I was dating in my 20's!

How do I call things off?!

OP posts:
afroqueen83 · 05/05/2024 12:40

@Lookingforunicorns he's 7 years older than me!

@ZaraWebsiteGivingMeTheDoubleRage off topic but I love your username!

OP posts:
DoAWheelie · 05/05/2024 12:41

None of that would bother me much really. Late OH and I were at that level of comfort with each other by the end of our first weekend together.

But if it's not working for you then break it off. Everyone wants different things and the point of dating is to find someone who matches what you want. No relationship is right or wrong, just right or wrong for specific people. Sounds like he is wrong for you

Smittenkitchen · 05/05/2024 12:41

Back in the sea!

Lookingforunicorns · 05/05/2024 12:42

He's punching way above his weight with you, in every respect possible.Urghh
Throw him back

Dontbeabitterlemon · 05/05/2024 13:04

I think the weeing with door open would give me ick

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