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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

Was this relationship doomed from the beginning?

7 replies

novali · 20/04/2025 09:07

I don't know whom to talk to, right now I feel kind of lost. We broke up yesterday of two and a half year relationship. This time, there really isn't going back. We broke up one time half year into the relationship, but decided it was too early to give up.

I'm really sad but at the same time, I kind of saw this day coming. I wasn't sure about this relationship in the beginning because of the important values that didn't align. I was also not hundred percent sure what I wanted in a relationship. It started rough. We were already fighting all the time in the beginning. I moved into his place soon after dating. It was very difficult to live with him. I'm not sure if it was OCD, but he wanted things a certain way, every thing has to be very clean. We even implemented cleaning Thursday which worked great but in the beginning, it felt like I was a maid working under him. He would delegate me around, he would come and check if I cleaned "well". Honestly, it was exhausting. I felt like our conversations were not clicking. We didn't talk much about deeper stuff. We had different view of the world. He didn't share as much as I'd like and I felt like he wasn't much interested in what I had to say unless it's something he is interested in.

Maybe you'll ask, then why did you stay? Partly, I kind of like the contrast. He showed me different sides that I would like to explore, I have a naive perspective and it was fresh to see his way of thinking, although I didn't always like it. He was not lazy but he was not ambitious. I thought that was also refreshing too, because although I have constant drive for learning and growth, I was also constantly being harsh on myself, sometimes even burning out. His way of viewing things helped me calmed down my own drive and being nicer to myself. Although with time that maybe killed some of my drive.

I've also been a selfish and stubborn partner. This was both of our relationship. I was having hard time compromising. I was having hard time trusting him. I would often assume that he had bad intentions, I would often try to hold on to myself to not let go of who I am. I would often be defensive and put my guard up to protect myself.

The final thing that probably killed it all was our bedroom. He has very high libido and although I had (what I would say) more normal, it didn't work out. He felt like we were roommates and the bedroom didn't work out. He was not fulfilled. That was the final straw that killed everything. I think it's sad that he was not able to comprise this. I've seen him working hard to change himself for the better, for me. It's hard to see him go. It's hard letting all the good memories go. It's hard to say goodbye to all the experiences. I'm sure we will still see each other very frequently due to circumstances. But I wish I was nicer to him. I wish this could work even though there were so many uncertainty. Or, am I still too naive?

OP posts:
Voyager54 · 20/04/2025 09:13

Difficult time but as they say there are plenty more fish in the sea.

We have all been there, good luck OP.

candycane222 · 20/04/2025 09:15

The relationship may have been doomed from the beginning, but the problems perhaps would not have revealed themselves till you moved in together. It does sound as though as soon as that happened he had you bending yourself out of shape to please him.

That in my eyes meant the relationship was indeed doomed, and it is not surprising you finally broke up.

All relationships involve some compromise, of course, but feeling like a servant? Having your work checked ? 😯😯😯

But for me, biggest of all is alignment of values. If values are not broadly aligned it means you have no common assumptions to make decisions. Very, very hard to build a life together on that basis.

Poisonwood · 20/04/2025 09:21

It may not have been doomed from the start if you hadn’t moved in together so soon, that’s a huge stressor. Why did you?

However, I still feel there are flags that it wasn’t ideal…my DH is my best friend and is interested in everything I say because I’m the one saying it…I’d hate to feel he wasn’t listening to me…and arguments are pretty unnecessary if you communicate - and respect each other - effectively. I would say, I’m very glad I didn’t stay in what I can now see were pretty rubbish relationships before DH.

Dery · 20/04/2025 09:42

“candycane222 · Today 09:15

The relationship may have been doomed from the beginning, but the problems perhaps would not have revealed themselves till you moved in together. It does sound as though as soon as that happened he had you bending yourself out of shape to please him.
That in my eyes meant the relationship was indeed doomed, and it is not surprising you finally broke up.”

This. Also you mention him not having much ambition career-wise but having an extremely high sex-drive and very high cleanliness requirements. Frankly, he sounds pretty limited to me, and a bit tiresome and demanding sexually. Why can’t he funnel some of that drive into ambition on the job/career side? This is not a man for life for anyone, I wouldn’t have thought.

It sounds like ultimately you’ve dodged a bullet, OP, and no doubt you’ve learned some useful life lessons. I think it’s worth examining why you were so keen to stay in such a fraught relationship as the same impulses might make you vulnerable to trying to make an unsatisfactory relationship work next time round also, unless you challenge them. IME (and others’, I think), if a relationship is right for you, it will all feel pretty easy.

SheridansPortSalut · 20/04/2025 09:47

This whole thing was a disaster from the start. You've had a lucky escape.

canthavethatonethen · 20/04/2025 09:48

There's too many fundamental incompatibilities and he didn't view you as an equal either.

Be glad it's over. I know it is tough, but there's no point in trying to make it work.

BrilliantLouse · 20/04/2025 09:55

I don't think naive.. maybe just not good at handling failure and accepting rejection? There were many signs but you chose to ignore him. There were signs for him to break up with you too, he also ignored them. I would say just learn from this experience and don't apportion the blame too much on yourself as it takes 2 in a relationship. In the future, listen to your gut feeling and non negotiables.. in the future if you break up, stay broken up. In the future, be with someone you respect and align with. The refreshing contrast is a novelty factor that might make a work partnership interesting but to be in a long term relationship it's far easier to be aligned than compromise on most things because you'll both end up feeling resentful. There is compromise in all partnerships but if there is too much of it it's just hardwork.

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