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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

Why lead me on?

4 replies

Ksqordssvimy · 31/05/2024 19:28

Hello!
Ex was smitten initially but dumped me at 11 months for what I thought was no reason. Didn't hear from him again. 40. Until that point, saw him daily, went on holiday, met the family, we had tickets booked etc.

I was heartbroken - especially since he started dating a woman 2 months later (I was still crying!) and at 11 months I've just learned she has moved in (friends of friends, he was blocked pronto).
I don't want him back, I've moved on etc but I'm left reeling.
I suspect I'm a bit stung by 'why her?' but that's irrelevant - maybe they're more compatible.
The thing is, I don't think she was the OW. But reflecting on our relationship I read it all wrong. He was king of mixed messages. He looks murderous in pix of us together (how did I not see it?!), he would be critical of me randomly for what was fundamentally my personality, but also he did all these nice things.
This started at about 4 months into our relationship so - and this is a serious Q - why not just end things?
I know you need time to get to know someone, but what was his game? I had him pegged as a committementphobe but apparently he's not.
Do other people do this? Spend seven months at 40 with someone they never really had any intention of pursuing something with, only to fast-track the next relationship? It makes me a bit stressed.

TIA!

OP posts:
PashaMinaMio · 31/05/2024 19:35

I’ve heard men will hang in there however bad the relationship is (not saying yours was bad) until they find someone else to be with.
This is often evidenced on Mumsnet posts.

Women on the other hand will bale out much faster, new man to go to or not.

As far as “fast tracking” is concerned, in some cases a widower married xx years will soon be in a replacement relationship hook line and sinker. It’s just the way men are.

samestyle · 31/05/2024 19:40

Has he ever managed to be in a long term commitment? sometimes there're just addicted to a new romance, get bored, rinse and repeat with someone else, I had an ex like that. Possibly he had his eye on her and that's why he broke up with you, there's no point torturing yourself why he chose her, it may not even last who knows.
All you can do for next time is be more wary, if they show mixed signals, be the one to break free.

Ksqordssvimy · 31/05/2024 19:42

Thanks @PashaMinaMio - I think the thing is he thought it was bad (but didn't say anything and gave me very few clues, interspersed with positive things) and I didn't. When we were dating, I honestly would have said "oh yes, things are going well". It is only in retrospect I can see a slight see-change which suggested he wasn't as invested as me.

OP posts:
Ksqordssvimy · 31/05/2024 19:45

I thanked you @samestyle because you're correct re torturing. He has but at uni and pre-30 and never lived together. I was surprised they'd moved in but we wouldn't have worked. I'm intrigued partly. I wouldn't fuck about with someone I knew I wasn't really into. And the mixed signals is a fucker... you're critical of me but also did this really nice thing.... 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
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