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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

Struggling to get over a date

78 replies

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 09:20

So, I've been with my OH for 3 years. Back in 2023 we had an argument and split for approx 2 weeks. Last year I found out in those 2 weeks we were apart he was on a dating site and went on a date with someone.
It was just one date but quite a lot of messages between them. The woman he went on this date with found me on social media last year (a year after the date) and sent me ALL of the messages between them, a pic of the flowers he sent her just after the date (it was her birthday). She said they were arranging another date then he just vanished, ghosted her and blocked her on everything.
I did confront him, he said he felt worthless after our argument and put himself on the dating site to feel better and blocked her when we got back together. I agreed to try and put it behind us and move forward but 10 month on from me finding out about her I'm still struggling. It hurt reading the messages he sent her. He told her he felt a connection with her, that he couldn't stop thinking about her. He said he didn't mean any of that and was just saying it.
She told me he lovebombed her and it affected her mental health when he ghosted her. Sex wasn't involved, she said it was a bit handholding and a peck on the check.
I can't stop obsessing about it!

OP posts:
altmember · 05/03/2025 15:22

Isn't it a bit controlling to split up with someone and then take issue with them dating other people?

TwistedWonder · 05/03/2025 15:32

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:08

@VimesandhisCardboardBoots he did use her, he said he used her to make himself feel better. I didn't say he did anything wrong, I said I'm struggling with it after she sent me the messages between them. Any idea how that felt. We'd argued and split just days before they started messaging and yeah that made me feel shit

I find that pathetic tbh that he used a random person to boost his own fragile ego and make himself feel better.

He absolutely love bombed her for attention and probably had no real interest in her, it was all about him.

This wasn’t a random person he met in a pub, by joining a dating app, he was actively seeking out someone to boost himself. Is he really that immature and insecure that he couldn’t go a few days without female attention?

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:38

altmember · 05/03/2025 15:22

Isn't it a bit controlling to split up with someone and then take issue with them dating other people?

We argued, he was messaging someone else within 2 days. Yeah it made me feel like shit that he could move on so quickly. Hardly controlling though

OP posts:
Mumlaplomb · 05/03/2025 15:45

OP to be honest I’d try and move past it. Yes it’s a bit sad he had to go straight to dating apps but he went on one date.

She sounds not all the ticket and frankly like she’s harassing you. Block her and if she keeps trying to add you as a fake profile tell her to stop harasssing you or you will call the police.

Dont let this ruin your relationship now if it’s otherwise ok.

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:46

@TwistedWonder what you said was pretty similar to what I said to him myself when I found out. He admitted he only done it because he felt pretty low and wanted to feel wanted and when she started to message him he jumped on it. No excuse though, what he did was a pretty shitty thing to do.

OP posts:
LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:56

Mumlaplomb · 05/03/2025 15:45

OP to be honest I’d try and move past it. Yes it’s a bit sad he had to go straight to dating apps but he went on one date.

She sounds not all the ticket and frankly like she’s harassing you. Block her and if she keeps trying to add you as a fake profile tell her to stop harasssing you or you will call the police.

Dont let this ruin your relationship now if it’s otherwise ok.

I do want to try and move on from this. We do have a good relationship, and don't want this to spoil it.
I think I could have moved on if she hadn't sent me the messages between them, it's those messages that I keep thinking of. It was nearly two year ago he sent them, we'd had a falling out, as soon as I went back he cut all contact with her, and I think that's what I need to try and remember. It was just so difficult having to read them and think whilst I was missing him he was busy messaging someone else

OP posts:
IEatSauerkrautBeforeItWasCool · 05/03/2025 16:02

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:46

@TwistedWonder what you said was pretty similar to what I said to him myself when I found out. He admitted he only done it because he felt pretty low and wanted to feel wanted and when she started to message him he jumped on it. No excuse though, what he did was a pretty shitty thing to do.

This is what many, many men and women do. For their own self esteem hit.

Rebounds are not necessarily about easily just replacing person. I went on rebound the next day after one relationship...

She is quite weird and agree with others about harassing essentially. They went on one date, he was nice, she finds you year later with fake profile and sends you everything?
You it. You saved him from a volatile relationship disaster by talking to him again🤷

Chunkilumptious · 05/03/2025 16:03

I think there are several truths that you need to balance.

One, you were split. He went on a date to try and move on. That's absolutely fine. Not nice to know but fair. You either accept it or you let him go.

Two, this woman sounds vulnerable or intense to still be contacting you. I don't like terms like bunny boiler. It can be disproportionately hurtful to be ghosted after one date with promise but most people would just take it on the chin, or would let the partner know the details and move on if they thought there was one, then move on.

There is a confluence with three. You've become aware of an unpleasant side of your partner. Love bombing this woman to satisfy his own emotional needs, going way over the top and leaving her hanging. False promises, flowers, all sorts. Not a good look. He could have at least let her know 'really sorry it's been lovely meeting you but my ex and I have decided to give it another go'. She would have most likely been able to manage that. But he didn't. Cowardly and dishonest.

She's responded strongly hence you being made aware of you wouldn't have known about this side. But you do. Now what? I would be questioning what sort of man he was. It's not the going on a date, it's how far he went with someone's emotions for his own ends then just dropped them.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 05/03/2025 16:03

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:56

I do want to try and move on from this. We do have a good relationship, and don't want this to spoil it.
I think I could have moved on if she hadn't sent me the messages between them, it's those messages that I keep thinking of. It was nearly two year ago he sent them, we'd had a falling out, as soon as I went back he cut all contact with her, and I think that's what I need to try and remember. It was just so difficult having to read them and think whilst I was missing him he was busy messaging someone else

This is where I think you're looking at it wrong though. You're assuming that just because he went out with someone else, he cared about you and the relationship less.

Different situation, but when my Mum died a few years ago, the next day I buggered off and spent the day pissing around on rollercoasters all day. Lots of people want to sit at home and wallow when they're grieving, whether its for a person or a relationship. They need time to come to terms with the hole thats left in their lives. Instead I wanted to take my mind off that hole, to do something that would enable me to ignore it completely. I think I'd do the same if I were suddenly single. I'd want to go out, have fun. That wouldn't mean that the relationship or my previous partner meant nothing to me, quite the opposite.

commonsense61 · 05/03/2025 16:08

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

LatteLady · 05/03/2025 16:33

The only question you have to ask yourself is, "Do I want to be with him?" I would suggest that as you have reconciled the answer is, "Yes". Next, stop giving this woman permission to live in your head... you have two choices, to pick at this scab and create an unsightly scar or to let it heal with little or no damage. We all do stupid things in the heat of the moment, he realised it was not right for him and stopped it... In truth, you could not have asked for anything else in the circumstances. She is neither your friend nor responsibility... so, eyes straight ahead and move on to happier times.

Jade520 · 05/03/2025 16:53

Your problem is her tbh, what a stalker! Keeping on making new fb profiles to contact you over a date she had a year ago and saying horrible things - she's clearly desperate to try to split you up. This isn't the behaviour of someone who is emotionally stable.

I can't even see that much of an issue with the ghosting in this situation - they went on one fricking date and they didn't even have sex! You don't owe anything to someone you've only met once IMO. It's not the nicest thing but it was one date with someone she met on a dating site - she really needs to get over it.

And IMO so do you.

LouiseMadetheBestBroccoliPasta · 05/03/2025 20:40

Chunkilumptious · 05/03/2025 16:03

I think there are several truths that you need to balance.

One, you were split. He went on a date to try and move on. That's absolutely fine. Not nice to know but fair. You either accept it or you let him go.

Two, this woman sounds vulnerable or intense to still be contacting you. I don't like terms like bunny boiler. It can be disproportionately hurtful to be ghosted after one date with promise but most people would just take it on the chin, or would let the partner know the details and move on if they thought there was one, then move on.

There is a confluence with three. You've become aware of an unpleasant side of your partner. Love bombing this woman to satisfy his own emotional needs, going way over the top and leaving her hanging. False promises, flowers, all sorts. Not a good look. He could have at least let her know 'really sorry it's been lovely meeting you but my ex and I have decided to give it another go'. She would have most likely been able to manage that. But he didn't. Cowardly and dishonest.

She's responded strongly hence you being made aware of you wouldn't have known about this side. But you do. Now what? I would be questioning what sort of man he was. It's not the going on a date, it's how far he went with someone's emotions for his own ends then just dropped them.

"I would be questioning what sort of man he was. It's not the going on a date, it's how far he went with someone's emotions for his own ends then just dropped them."

Yes, if he could do it to her, he could do it to you.

It is something that would make me feel untrusting. Once trust is cracked, that crack will always be there.

H12345 · 06/03/2025 05:55

You were on a break.

I understand it must hurt he was messaging someone and went on a date, I would feel the same BUT he probably only done that as he was heartbroken. The fact he ended this instantly means everything.

i find the other ladies behaviour very odd, waiting a year then creating multiple profiles to contact you is very bizarre. Please don’t let her get in your head as that’s what she is trying to do.

if your happy be happy

Mrspatmoresapprentice · 06/03/2025 06:30

The only thing he has done wrong here is ghosting her. Yes, he should have said to her that you’d got back together but they’d had ONE date. I’d be far more concerned if he’d kept stringing her along after you’d got back together, but he didn’t.
She is harassing you, the sending of the messages and the making new fb profiles is frankly unhinged and absolutely designed to hurt you and damage your relationship. Block her everywhere and move on.

MrsRaspberry · 06/03/2025 09:02

He's an arse for love bombing her like that within a two week break with a long term partner. I'd wonder why she kept all those messages for a whole year then decided to message you all the screenshots. Is there any possibility that she knew about you and wanted to torment you and bided her time with doing so?I wouldn't believe her that she only spoke to him just during those two weeks you were apart considering how obsessed she seems with him that she'd apparently keep messages for a year to randomly find you to show you the evidence of their date. He could've been messaging her for ages promising to leave you for her and that's why she's decided to show you in the hope you'd dump him and he'd go running to her

IlooklikeNigella · 06/03/2025 09:20

I understand the pain of this OP but while he wasn't brilliant, he really didn't do anything wrong. Instead of thinking he replaced you, try to reframe it that he went looking for comfort elsewhere. As soon as he had a shot at getting you back he grabbed it

I do know how hard it is though. I've just remembered that when DH and I were in our non exclusive early dating days he went on a date with someone else. He hadn't cheated, nothing sexual ended up happening between them but I didn't find out for two years by a complete coincidence.

I was totally gutted! It actually changed my perception of him. But it passed. What's important to realise is that your feelings are not his responsibility. Focus on processing them yourself. It's up to you if you decide to stay or not but if you do then you can't keep punishing him for this.

Rubyrhi123 · 06/03/2025 09:54

He felt shit after your breakup and used another woman to make himself feel better and get some attention. It was all about him trying to feel good about himself, nothing about feelings towards her or lack towards you. He had no feelings for her. He was trying to fill a hold you left behind. She wasn't needed when you got back together.
I wouldn't be bothered by this to be honest. The fact he blocked her straight away shows he didn't actually care. Nasty behaviour from him towards her but It wouldn't be making me question his feelings towards me. It does show a lack of self esteem though

Crunchymum · 06/03/2025 10:01

Did he tell you about the date when you reconnected? Or only after this woman contacted you?

Did she corroborate there was no sex?

jacks11 · 07/03/2025 23:48

YABU, on the whole.

When you break up with someone, you have absolute no say in what they do or a right to be annoyed by it. It is literally nothing to do with you anymore (from the point your relationship ended until the point you got back together). You can’t criticise him because he hasn’t done anything wrong.

He didn’t “replace you”- although, even if he had, it’s not like he betrayed you in any way- he simply went on a date. It’s not like he proposed or suggested moving in with her. It is absolutely fine to go out on a date when newly single (e.g. if you meet someone you like). It can be a bit of a boost to go out and have fun with someone after a difficult break up. And in all honesty, most serious relationships don’t end because of a single argument, the argument might be the final straw or re catalyst, but usually not the sole cause. Perhaps he had begun to move on in his head in some ways already?

Alternatively, sometimes people do things that are somewhat out of character when they are hurt and upset- I have certainly done something on the rebound that I would not normally do. What timeframe would it have been “acceptable” for him to go out on a date?

I suspect you don’t like it because it hurts the ego a bit to realise he wasn’t sitting at home upset and pining for you (maybe you were doing so for him), but had tried to move on quite quickly. Are you worried that he isn’t really as committed to you as you would like him to be? Perhaps seeing his attempt to move on quickly as evidence of this-hence being upset/angry that he went on this date when he was a single man, fully entitled to do so).

I think he was a bit unkind to ghost this woman in the way he did. That said, it was one date, some overly enthusiastic messages and a bunch of flowers. Was it the most honourable way to behave? No. But it’s not like he led her on in order to jump into bed with her and then ghosted her once he had what he wanted. He should have let her know he was no longer interested and left it there.

I also thinks this woman does seem especially intense and hung up on him/what happened. I think it is quite unhealthy, actually- possibly even potentially quite creepy. I wonder if he picked up on an undercurrent of this, and did not know how to end it with her without ruffling feathers or causing drama. He should have just ended things with her, of course, but maybe he worried that she would blow up and contact you or would not take no for an answer/not leave him alone.

She does seem more than a little too interested in him after all this time. Tracking him/you down, sending those messages etc. What was she hoping to achieve? Nothing good, I’d wager. I think you need to consider her motivations too.

I don’t think any of us are perfect, we all make mistakes or poor choices, and do things we regret. Have you always behaved impeccably in every situation or relationship? I think that, whilst I would agree that he did not conduct himself perfectly towards this woman, it wasn’t a particularly significant misdemeanour either. He has not done anything wrong as far as your relationship goes- he didn’t cheat on you or betray you in any way. He acted like a single man at a time when he was, in fact, single. Ultimately, I think that unless you have other reasons to call his character into question, or given you other cause to doubt his sincerity or commitment to you, then I think you need to put it to bed and move forward. Or, if you don’t trust him or believe he is a good person- end the relationship and have done with it.

jacks11 · 08/03/2025 00:39

LR188890 · 05/03/2025 15:08

@VimesandhisCardboardBoots he did use her, he said he used her to make himself feel better. I didn't say he did anything wrong, I said I'm struggling with it after she sent me the messages between them. Any idea how that felt. We'd argued and split just days before they started messaging and yeah that made me feel shit

@LR188890

I think you are being unfair, if I’m honest. He went in a date. One date. Sent some enthusiastic messages and sent a bunch of flowers. I think you are blowing it way out of proportion and all about you/how you feel. Have you thought about why he might have gone on that date? He said to make himself feel better, I think that is probably absolutely the case.

Very shortly after a quite a messy, and upsetting, break up of a fairly long -term relationship, I had a very brief but intense fling which was most definitely on the rebound. It happened because I wanted to feel close to someone, to feel cared for and appreciated, attractive, interesting etc. I didn’t do it to “replace” my ex, I acted the way I did as a reaction to the hurt I felt and the way it made me feel about me, iyswim. It had literally nothing to do with how I felt about my ex, it was totally about how I felt and not wanting to feel that way. I absolutely knew that this fling was never going to last, as did he. But some of our messages etc might well have made anyone reading them think differently. I guess I did “use” this man to feel better. Though I don’t believe I gave him the impression that it was ever going to be more than it was. I don’t regret that fling one bit. It worked for me, at the time.

Am I “lesser” than someone who behaves differently? Should I be viewed negatively because I didn’t stay single for a “suitable” (whatever arbitrary number that is deemed to be) period in order to have “time to heal”? Why is it so terrible to move on quickly- or attempt to? Though I think one date is hardly offering long-term commitment immediately. I don’t think it’s fair to expect everyone to behave in the way that works for you. I think it highly problematic to assume that the way you would chose to deal with the ending of t
a relationship is the only correct way to do so.

And not following your preferred timeframe makes you think less of him because “he just couldn’t be alone”? Who are you to decide what he should have done with regards to dating/relationships when he was no longer in a relationship with you anymore?

I think if someone gets so hung up on another person after one date and some messages- even quite enthusiastic ones- that after being ghosted (admittedly not the nicest) they are stalking that person online, creating fake profiles and bombarding their current partner with messages and so on- the issue is definitely with them and not your partner. I imagine she was not in the most stable frame of mind to start with, given her totally over the top reaction.

So, I guess you are entitled to feel upset if that’s how you feel, but I think you need to look beyond the knock to the ego caused by him “moving on too quickly” for your liking. He hasn’t done anything wrong by going on a date when newly single, I really don’t understand why you think less of him because if it? Also, whilst I agree ghosting this woman wasn’t the most honourable way to behave, taken on it’s own (assuming he is normally a good person) I think it unfair to read too much into it and condemn him. We all get things wrong it make mistakes.

Teanbiscuits33 · 08/03/2025 06:25

It’s not great that he was dating so soon after you had an argument, nor the fact that he apparently led the woman on for a short period of time knowing that he wasn’t over you. (I consider it a red flag if a man hasn’t long been single on OLD), but it is how some people deal with breakups I suppose.

The main issue is the woman he dated seems quite unhinged to still have been even thinking about it a year later, never mind tracking you down and sending their messages to you. Bizarre behaviour! He definitely dodged a bullet. If everything else is good I’d let it go and make sure you both block her!

LunaNorth · 08/03/2025 06:31

Is his name Ross?

You were on a break!

Blackbird84 · 08/03/2025 21:16

You had split up. His dating life, as a newly single man, is none of your business.

MissJoGrant · 26/05/2025 10:05

MrsRaspberry · 06/03/2025 09:02

He's an arse for love bombing her like that within a two week break with a long term partner. I'd wonder why she kept all those messages for a whole year then decided to message you all the screenshots. Is there any possibility that she knew about you and wanted to torment you and bided her time with doing so?I wouldn't believe her that she only spoke to him just during those two weeks you were apart considering how obsessed she seems with him that she'd apparently keep messages for a year to randomly find you to show you the evidence of their date. He could've been messaging her for ages promising to leave you for her and that's why she's decided to show you in the hope you'd dump him and he'd go running to her

Are we just making stuff up now?