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Relationships

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Is it worth continuing?

7 replies

user2312 · 01/09/2024 22:28

How long would you date someone for who hadn't asked you to be there girlfriend even if they knew you wanted to be? Just said it's exclusive dating as such 🙄
Have been in a previous relationship with each other that ended and rekindled a few months later. His choice to end. Any signs he's just not that into it that I should look for?
TIA x

OP posts:
ElleintheWoods · 01/09/2024 23:20

What do you mean, asked you to be their girlfriend? In all my adult life nobody has ever asked me that, it’s just implied once it becomes a proper relationship. How would it actually work? Genuinely curious!

I’d be more interested in his friends/ family, eg do you spend time with them? Do they know about you? How much time do you spend together? Do you hang out freely in each other’s houses/ sleep over? Go out in public? Do you feel secure, loved/wanted and cared about?

Answers to these questions would help me figure out if I’m someone’s girlfriend or not after 3 months or so! If we both want to spend as much time together as possible, nothing feels forced and we’re not in the closet from everyone, I’d probably call them my boyfriend.

Aquamarine1029 · 01/09/2024 23:23

How long would you date someone for who hadn't asked you to be there girlfriend even if they knew you wanted to be?

Adults don't do this. Agreeing to be exclusive is the more mature way of broaching the subject.

user2312 · 01/09/2024 23:43

ElleintheWoods · 01/09/2024 23:20

What do you mean, asked you to be their girlfriend? In all my adult life nobody has ever asked me that, it’s just implied once it becomes a proper relationship. How would it actually work? Genuinely curious!

I’d be more interested in his friends/ family, eg do you spend time with them? Do they know about you? How much time do you spend together? Do you hang out freely in each other’s houses/ sleep over? Go out in public? Do you feel secure, loved/wanted and cared about?

Answers to these questions would help me figure out if I’m someone’s girlfriend or not after 3 months or so! If we both want to spend as much time together as possible, nothing feels forced and we’re not in the closet from everyone, I’d probably call them my boyfriend.

I agree, you do know if your together or not however his made it clear we aren't in a relationship and I don't understand why not. Most people around me know about him spend time with him etc & his family know about me. Not all or his children know since we've rekindled. We don't hide it in public etc. both more cautious of over sharing and more private second time round to protect ourselves. suppose I'm second guessing myself as rekindling hasn't been easy. Promised me the world when winning me back but now it seems to have gone back to old ways and I put most effort in I feel to plan or do nice things. We do spend time together a couple of times a week but both have busy jobs children etc so not always easy.

OP posts:
ProvincialLady2024 · 02/09/2024 00:11

I'd say that if you don't feel certain in the beginning - bin him off. Don't settle for a selfish toddler man, it will end in tears or worse.

CryptoFascist · 02/09/2024 01:57

If he's already ended it with you once, and this time around he's made it clear you aren't in a relationship - then he's not that into you. Sorry.

smallsilvercloud · 02/09/2024 07:37

You've been demoted to casual girlfriend, I dont think that can always work when you've already been in a relationship before and he's no longer taking you seriously.
It's now been a few months and nothing is progressing, he's not that into you.

ElleintheWoods · 02/09/2024 09:49

Well, based on what you've said, sounds like you are his girlfriend by most people's definition, if his family know about you etc. However he seems to make it clear that he doesn't want the commitment and expectations that come with a relationship, and the label.

Honestly it doesn't sound great and like you'll get the life/ relationship you want with this person. Do you really really love him and that's why you put up with it/ hope things will change?

I have an ex that doesn't sound too dissimilar in some ways. We had a very detached relationship that made me sad even though we loved each other so eventually I just ended it, and in my head was finally ready to move on. He then went on a charm offensive, gifts, contacting me daily, proper open vulnerable conversations about his feelings, offering things that were off-limits before. I was single so gave him the benefit of the doubt while emotionally detached from it all.

Guess what? Past the first few weeks of bonding and amazing sex, nothing had changed.

He may well have feelings for you, but he wants a casual relationship with the occasional emotional and physical echange that comes with it, he wants someone in his life that's there for him with low effort, almost like a low maintenance house plant. And rekindling with an ex is the easiest way to achieve this.

You on the other hand want a proper loving relationship with all the bells and whistles, and it sounds like you won't get there with him. You want someone that tells you they love them, not someone that says 'you're not my girlfriend'. IME people don't change quite as dramatically, especially if he has already promised you the world and gone back on it after you said yes.

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