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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

He has disappeared. What do I do?

77 replies

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 08:54

I have been dating a guy for 6 months. I went on a few dates last year and kept in contact via texting for a little while then met in November and since dated alot.
We seemed to get along very quickly. We went on some nice dates, I went to his and we cooked together. After about 4 months, he came to mine and met my dd's (19 and 17). He has 2 sons the same age. The more you spend time with someone, the more you get to know someone and their lifestyle etc. To see if your values and hopes for the future match. They appeared to. I noticed if we weren't meeting, he would go to the pub. Or his son and sons friends would go to his house and he would drink with them until early hours. I explained that I wasn't a big drinker and enjoyed going out occasionally but much prefer food out, a few drinks. Cooking at home and watching a movie. Walks and days out. I explained my dd's were older and more independent and would like to take weekend trips. He said this is what he wanted too. In the week, I'd drive to him a couple of times. That became a habit and time for just the 2 of us. Weekends he was always quite heightened and he would make plans and I'd just fit into them. I explained it would be nice to make a plan and then on the alternative day, he could do whatever he wanted (this was mainly out drinking with his son or son and friends over). I tried to adapt to his lifestyle as I know for the past 2 years this is what he has done. It made me feel a bit unsettled as I never knew if he would forget or randomly change the plan. His choices did scream man child but I thought maybe he did this as he didn't have anything else.
I stopped going to his on a weekend as his both sons would have their friends around drinking (the one son, not always but if he wanted that. His dad would let him. The older son, it was every weekend. If not friends, his gf. They would just lay on the sofa all day). Its only a one bed house. At the beginning, I think he would ask his son for some privacy for me to visit. He came to me. We cooked a couple of times. It always felt he was itching to go out. Hed stay a littlewhile but leave. Or hed say right im leaving you to get on im meeting a friend at the pub. Hed make it look like he didn'twant to impose. I said on a few occasions, maybe I'm a bit to boring for you. I started to feel embarrassed saying I wanted to potter in the garden, cook or watch a film. However he was adamant this is what he wanted. I started to notice he would spend and spend at weekends on beers and food out (for him, his one son and the gf). I thought this is none of my business but then started to think that if he has no money, when do we do anything. We kept talking about a weekend away. (after weeks of him saying it). We decided to go. He paid for the hotel and I drove, paid for the meal out, took alcohol and food, so it was fair.
The weekends are still unsettling but he tried to make a plan and we would stick to it for a few weekends. I kept telling myself he is adapting to my lifestyle too. I also think it's important he has time with his sons as I like time with my dd's.
A few weekends ago, we went to watch a band and he phoned his son to join us. He got drunk and called me his wife's name. Obviously I was shocked and a little embarrassed in front of his son, but it was the end of the night so I left and he disappeared the whole of the next day, switching his phone off. I had no clue what was happening. The following day, he apologised and said he shut himself off as he thought he had upset me and couldn't face it. We had a big conversation on the importance of communication and he promised to never do this again. Bank Holiday weekend I did the race for life. He was supposed to come but his son asked him to go watch his final rugby match. I said I'd see him later. I picked him up as he'd been drinking. We went for a drink and he wanted to go back to the rugby. I agreed as he said there were bands. There wasn't. It was full of young people, drunk. I said let's go to a nice beer garden. He agreed. He was a bit drunk so I told him I'd go (9pm). The next day we had arranged to watch a band in the evening. We both drove. I could tell he had a few drinks and he was driving home. This didn't sit well but he said he was ok to drive. I left with my dd to get food at 7pm. He stayed out with his son. He then messaged the next day saying he'd spent too much money and we would be chilling for the next few weekends. Roll on the 1st weekend. He planned to work over time but said he would see me Saturday evening and Sunday until work at 5pm. He said he had to pick his mum up from a pub and drop his son to a match sunday. Saturday evening he came to mine and I went to get food. He stayed an hour and said he had to pick his mum up from a pub. This was 6.30pm. I said ok, see you tomorrow. The next morning he messaged and said he was picking his umbrella up from my car, if I go out leave it out. I was a bit taken back as I didn't realise he was staying at the match. I thought to myself. Ok plans have changed again. I will do something myself. He said I was welcome to go, this was an hour before leaving. If I'd known this was the plan, I could have arranged this. Anyway, I told him ok and have a nice day. He said he'd be home at 5. I got myself dressed and took the dog out. He messaged and said what is wrong with you. I questioned this. He said, you told me to have a good day and no mention of seeing him later. In my head, I was thinking. I didn't feel he wanted to spend the time with he hence leaving Saturday and planning his day Sunday so felt uneasy even asking. I just answered saying nothing is wrong, I told you to have a nice day. He didn't message for the rest of the day. Then yesterday still nothing. I had an mri appointment yesterday that I was nervous about attending. No messages. I honestly have no clue what I have done.
He constantly tells me he is lucky to have met me and he wants this life. Obviously I have feelings for him.
Just to explain his last 2 years. He met an older lady. She had her nephew living with her who was a drug dealer. Weekends were spent at hers drinking and the son and his gf would also go there. She would give him money and paid for a holiday abroad last year. He kept telling me this lady was just his friend. The more conversations we have, they were definitely more but he said he could never see a future with her.
I haven't messaged him since Sunday. Is that it then? Is that how people end relationships these days? He has just disappeared.

OP posts:
PaminaMozart · 14/05/2024 09:36

Do read Women who love too much by Robin Norwood.

I was just about to make the same suggestion. A very useful book that has stood the test of time.

You might also want to invest in some counselling, @Nursemammato3 - to explore why you put up with such behaviour and put your own needs last.

Berlinlover · 14/05/2024 09:36

Your post was too difficult to read due to lack of paragraphs but I read about three quarters of it. It’s clear you are both incompatible and it’s time to move on.

Upinthenightagain · 14/05/2024 09:38

Ffs you’ve wasted a whole lot of energy and time on this. Driving yourself to him like take out, pandering to him when you’re an option not a priority. Block and move on

BlastedPimples · 14/05/2024 09:46

What a totally boring man whose life revolves around alcohol.

On the other hand, op, you sound interesting, balanced and caring.

Don't waste yourself and your time on this loser.

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 09:48

I am really grateful for all of your responses. I am questioning why I couldn't see what you all see or if I did, why I accepted it.

Can I just say, he wasn't all bad. He would buy food and cook at mine, buy us wine, he was good to my girls and I know he loves his boys and would do anything for them. We played board games, watched movies. We have tickets for a concert in Aug. We spoke about a trip for my birthday. He helped me in the garden mo e a few heavy bits. He was very tactile and complimentary.

OP posts:
May2024 · 14/05/2024 10:02

Nobody is all bad, that's why some people put up with all kinds of shit, because of the rare "good" times.

Sadly you see it all the time here on mumsnet.

I'm not psychologist but did your parents have a good relationship or alcohol problems? Because I'm not sure you know what a good relationship looks like. It sounds like you still can't see any issues in his behaviour. Sorry if that is coming across a bit mean, maybe someone can reword it better.

BMW6 · 14/05/2024 10:13

OP he's a raging alcoholic. His life is entirely focused on drinking.

The older lady "friend" is being used by him to fund his addiction, and you were being lined up for the same.

You've had a lucky escape and in future you need to be more critical in your assessments of new people in your life. Don't go by what they say but by what they do.

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 10:15

May2024 I'm open to trying to understand myself. It's not mean. I appreciate reading here. I actually don't know what a good relationship looks like. I tell myself nobody is perfect. I am actually sat here thinking why don't I see the bad here. I was concerned more about why he disappeared.

OP posts:
MsPavlichenko · 14/05/2024 10:17

He may well be pleasant in many ways. He may be kind and generous sometimes. That’s not the point. As I said previously his priority is alcohol. Not you, not his DC ( though he drinks with them). It’s pointless speculating the whys and wherefores.

Upinthenightagain · 14/05/2024 10:30

How many dates have you actually gone on? Sofa dates really don’t figure. They’re just cheap, low effort dates near the bedroom. You need to raise the bar considerably because the way you are going about dating is just a time wasting exercise

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 10:31

Thankyou all. I can't believe how blinded I have been. I actually feel a bit ridiculous. I started to pushy foot around expressing my wants and needs as I thought I'd come across as a nag. That's why I just left him to it on the weekend. I knew I wasn't first thoughts. I couldn't even say as I couldn't rock the boat.
If ever I'd mention something he would say 'I'm with my son'. As if this was the problem. It never was. I was open to the fact that meeting a man who values time spent with his children is a good thing. I knew if I'd said anything about the weekend he would say 'it's my mum or its my son'. It wasn't about that. It was the changing plans again.

OP posts:
crackofdoom · 14/05/2024 10:34

I can't help wondering how much time he'd spend with his son if his son stopped drinking. Sounds like he's fucking the poor kid up big time.

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 10:39

That's another thing. For the last year his son has spent weekends drinking with his dad and friends. He stayed at his dad's every weekend as he was allowed his gf to stay too. About 6 weeks ago he asked to live with his dad because he had fallen out with his mum. It turns out his mum has just asked him to do chores and he's refusing. So now he sleeps on his dads sofa. He no longer has to do chores. In fact he has found a new hobby and visits the neighbour for a smoke. I tried to gently tell him that this might not be a good idea but he didn't listen. The son does as he wishes and the gf too. It was none of my business but I could see it wasn't a good thing.

OP posts:
frecklejuice · 14/05/2024 10:41

You seem really chilled about the amount of t he drinks. He is unreliable, uncaring and seems to have a bit of a drink problem, block him, move on and aim higher.

frecklejuice · 14/05/2024 10:42

Not sure what happened there but should say the amount of alcohol he drinks!

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 10:57

It's not that I'm chilled. I have noticed. At first I thought it was as he had nothing else to do. He was adamant he wanted the lifestyle I expressed I wanted. I knew time would tell. Its why I have questioned it. Reading here has made me think and reflect and I was blinded to how much he put it first.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 14/05/2024 11:16

He sounds awful.

I'm sure he has his good points but do they outweigh the drinking and the flakiness, or are you settling because you think he's better than being alone?

rwa818 · 14/05/2024 11:25

Don't waste your time on him, it just sounds like you want different things and aren't going to be compatible long term. I think you can definitely do better!

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 11:33

I have dated over the years and not found anyone compatible. It gets harder as we get older. Now my dd's are older, I would like to settle down. I don't particularly want to be on my own. I have been divorced 13 years.

OP posts:
therejustbarely · 14/05/2024 11:51

So firstly, don't go chasing after this man. He will almost certainly pop back up again at some point soon, so you need to decide now how you will deal with that situation. Consider the different possibilities of how he may behave, and how you would want to respond. This is a helpful thought exercise that means you won't get surprised by future events. You'll be prepared.

You say you don't know what a good relationship looks like. Therapy can help you explore this. It is a sound investment in your future, so pause dating and spend date-night money on yourself. Go on weekends away with your daughters, live your life to the fullest.

I keep getting the sense that you make yourself small when relating to other people. As if your feelings, needs, and wants should always come last. There are people out there who will notice this about you and take full advantage. Something else to think about?

Dating can be fun, but you do need to have firm boundaries and the ability to sniff out liars, future fakers, and users.

Patienceisntvirtuous · 14/05/2024 11:59

Regardless of the drinking he sounds unreliable, irresponsible and a bit of a lout, OP.
I have no room to talk, I am in the same position really after a crappy relationship.
Of the book others have mentioned, is it very hetero-normative? I have read a lot of books about relationships but none of them were very helpful for me as they seemed to heavily concentrate on the dynamics of men and women.
Sorry for thread derail!

BlastedPimples · 14/05/2024 12:32

Far better to be alone than with this loser. Far far better.

Nursemammato3 · 14/05/2024 12:41

Yes, I'm starting to think so. It's just you develop feelings and hopes for the future.
Yes, I don't know why I put me last. I have always questioned if I am asking too much in a relationship. Nobody is perfect. It takes alot of adjusting.
He does sound all those things. I was probably concentrating too much on the good and what could be!

OP posts:
OssieShowman · 14/05/2024 13:57

It’s not supposed to be this difficult. It’s time for you to move on.
leave him to his drink and sons. Nothing will ever change.
you deserve better.

PaminaMozart · 14/05/2024 14:10

I have always questioned if I am asking too much in a relationship...

Read that book, @Nursemammato3 - it'll help you.