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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

Am I doing the wrong thing here by going back again?!

107 replies

TooManyPlates645 · 12/11/2025 11:36

I’ll try and keep this as short as possible - I’ve been dating a guy on and off since December. We were pretty much together from March until September - in September he had a family death, he broke up with me 3 times after becoming convinced I was cheating on him - totally untrue! I was just snowed under with work - and the final time I said enough, I wasn’t going back, he blocked me on all platforms and went abroad for 3 weeks, as soon as his plane landed back home he turned up at my doorstep to check I was ok, which then led to us meeting up for a walk and he then ended up staying over, he apologised and blamed his previous behaviour on grief, says he knows I wasn’t cheating. We spent the rest of that weekend together and then on the Tuesday he flew out to Bali for a month on a retreat, to get over the grief of his Mum passing and to become a better person (blah, blah, blah) he said we’d have no contact while he was away but he has contacted me every day.

Some red flags are popping up and I’m not sure if I’m reading too much into it or not.
Firstly he was talking about how he never wants to be away from me and when he’s back he wants us to be together all the time - I have very much made it clear that I will not be ready to live with anyone until my children are older, maybe 4-6 years time as I like living alone with my children and they wouldn’t like it.
Second, I’ve always told him right from the start that turning up at my house unannounced is not ok for me, I had an ex who did it to check up on me. He’s done it twice now when we’ve been fighting and when we FaceTimed the other day, he told me he’s going to show up unannounced all the time to bring flowers and cook me dinner.
He has been messaging me about how he can’t wait to live with me and have children (I’m almost 40 and have made it very clear I will not be having any more children!)
He has also been bombarding me with massive paragraphs about how much he loves me and about our love being a true love - I did have to ask him to stop these as I was finding them emotionally draining, which he has done to a certain extent.
I was annoyed with him for leaving for a whole month after we’d already gone 6 weeks without seeing each other and I’ve been unwell also, when I got upset and emotional he told me that it wasn’t fair to do that to him while he was so far and dealing with his own stuff. I texted to apologise for getting upset and said I won’t share my feelings again while he’s away, to which he agreed. He also told me that he wouldn’t have been in Bali if I’d have supported him better after losing his Mum.
He doesn’t sound like he’s changing does he? I think I know the answer but I just need someone to tell me that I’m right here and not making another mistake by putting a final stop to all of this nonsense!

OP posts:
BadgernTheGarden · 12/11/2025 12:32

Do you actually like him? I'm getting no impression that you like anything about him, or is it just the sex is amazing. You both sound like hard work really.

JudgeBread · 12/11/2025 12:38

I'm sorry "some" red flags? Woman, this man is an entire ass red flag so big and luminous it can be seen from space.

Your bar is so low the devil is using it for limbo practice.

TooManyPlates645 · 12/11/2025 12:39

BadgernTheGarden · 12/11/2025 12:32

Do you actually like him? I'm getting no impression that you like anything about him, or is it just the sex is amazing. You both sound like hard work really.

Yes, I did really like him and still do really like him. He has some amazing qualities and is amazing in so many ways. After the breaking up with me and the way he treated me, spoke to me during that time, I’m having a hard time forgetting about it. All the things that were a problem for me, don’t seem to be getting resolved, they seem to be shelved for a while and then return.
when I told him my feelings and got upset on the phone the other day the first thing he said was that it was over between us, I don’t know if I can deal with walking on eggshells for fear that if I mention having any emotions that aren’t what he wants to hear he ends things between us, he’s mid 40’s and this kind of behaviour is very immature.

OP posts:
Icybird7 · 12/11/2025 12:42

Don't subject your kids to him ,
I'm sure you are keeping them away from him ,but if he's going to be turning up at your door to cook ,they will be there sometimes .
He sounds looney tunes to me ..sounds like he's trying to put all his love and feelings from his mum on to you .
He needs therapy
I worry you may have difficulty getting rid of him ,it wouldn't surprise me if he turned nasty or refuses to accept the relationship is over when you say it is
Maybe have a friend on stand by you can call if he turns up and won't leave

Bonjamin · 12/11/2025 12:57

In the words of that great philosopher 2Unlimited, No no. No no no no. No no no no.

Subwaystop · 12/11/2025 12:58

Besides for being just an awful man, watch out:

  • how this affects your kids as he steps into your private space (showing up unannounced to your door) which is affecting the kids
  • cocklodger alert, as he seems to eye your home as free housing and you may end up in trouble with a resident from hell.
  • man addiction - he’s inconsistent. Sometimes punishing, withholding, blocking, then giving and rewarding and being nice… it can cause you to be caught in an addictive cycle of seeking to be in his favor.

You should be so careful.

wfhwfh · 12/11/2025 13:03

Youve already identified he’s emotionally immature. He’s also manipulative and disrespectful.

I suspect part of the reason he’s putting pressure on you is he wants to move in with you as he knows he’s going to be struggling for money.

You know he would be a damaging influence on your children. You sound hardworking and straightforward - dont let him drag you down. I think he could make your life an absolute misery. You deserve a stable man with his own home who is happy to have a relationship without living together.

Badbadbunny · 12/11/2025 13:04

Run for the hills. Block him everywhere. The "relationship" is going nowhere. He's not respecting your wishes by turning up randomly etc. You BOTH need a REAL break apart of a few months. It MAY be that he's struggling due to the bereavement, in which case, a proper break of a few months may give him breathing space to get his head back together. As it stands, he's not behaving in a steady/controlled manner with all the changing his mind, clearing off abroad etc. You really don't want to be around him or have anything to do with him at the moment. As I say, maybe worth meeting up in a few months' time to see if he's got his head back screwed on, but even then, even before the bereavement he sounds a bit unhinged and unpredictable. You really don't want that, especially as you have young children. If he turns up on your doorstep you really have to tell him to go away, likewise refuse to engage with him by phone, email, text, etc for the time being at least.

Screwyousimon · 12/11/2025 13:04

On what planet can you even be questioning having a relationship with this loser? Come on OP give your head a shake and wake up, how can you even want to have sex with such a man is beyond me!!

Harrysmummy246 · 12/11/2025 13:06

Get rid. Now. So many red flags, it might as well be bunting

Linenpickle · 12/11/2025 13:08

Leave and never go back

JusR · 12/11/2025 13:09

Ye, you are right.

anytipswelcome · 12/11/2025 13:10

Subwaystop · 12/11/2025 12:58

Besides for being just an awful man, watch out:

  • how this affects your kids as he steps into your private space (showing up unannounced to your door) which is affecting the kids
  • cocklodger alert, as he seems to eye your home as free housing and you may end up in trouble with a resident from hell.
  • man addiction - he’s inconsistent. Sometimes punishing, withholding, blocking, then giving and rewarding and being nice… it can cause you to be caught in an addictive cycle of seeking to be in his favor.

You should be so careful.

Agreed.

You have children OP.

Continuing to speak to this man is so far outside of their best interests that I’m struggling to understand why you’re even considering it, but I guess he has behaved in a way that’s kept you confused and anxious which is exactly where he wants you.

He is not a healthy, positive, stable influence in your life. You have children - put them first and stop contact with someone keen to invade your safe space unannounced when literally told not to.

Don’t teach your children that being anxious and confused in a relationship is normal. You deserve more than that, as do they.

Pjdaysese · 12/11/2025 13:11

Bloody hell OP, wake up.
You have children and you are allowing this waster within 300 miles of you and your home.

He's a user loser and you shouldn't allow him near your life.

Unbelievable that you cannot see this.
He's playing you like a fiddle.
Your poor children.
You need to do the www.freedomprogramme.co.uk to safeguard yourself and them against totally manipulative tossers.

FinallyHere · 12/11/2025 13:11

More red flags than a red flag factory

might be worth thinking about why you place such a low value on yourself. You deserve so much more.

CitizenofMoronia · 12/11/2025 13:11

Hes lovebombing you. run...

Endofyear · 12/11/2025 13:12

Oh god no, you need to end this. You really don't need this chaotic, needy messed up man in your life! For your own peace & safety, please end it now for good.

Newsenmum · 12/11/2025 13:12

I stopped with him repeatedly accusing you of cheating. That’s dodgy af. Single is definitely better.

Jammington · 12/11/2025 13:13

I read the first paragraph and was so exhausted that I didn't read anymore.

Hard work.
Dramatic.

Nobody over 21 has time for that shit.

wfhwfh · 12/11/2025 13:15

I’d go as far as to tell him that if he turns up at your children’s home unannounced again, youll get their father involved. Men who dont respect women’s boundaries tend to be cowards when it comes to other men.

He needs to learn that youre a mother and he will never be the main character in your life - because your children are.

Ticktockwatchclock · 12/11/2025 13:23

So he doesn’t work but wants to move in with you.
He’s looking for you to provide him with somewhere to live and food on the table, money in his pocket and sex on demand. I think the colloquial term is a ‘cock lodger’.
Time to get rid and raise your bar, protect yourself and your children. Don’t let him manipulate you into agreeing with his plan.

Henbags · 12/11/2025 13:23

He actually sounds like a psychopath.

TreeDudette · 12/11/2025 13:27

Oh dear lord who has the energy for all that. This is not a guy anyone needs in their life. Move on!

unsync · 12/11/2025 13:28

You would most definitely be doing the wrong thing going back to this man. I hope that is clear for you. Don't do it to yourself or your children.

I would suggest you do a bit of work on boundaries and self esteem before getting involved with anyone. Being single is a perfectly valid choice.

ForTipsyFinch · 12/11/2025 13:29

I genuinely can’t understand why you’re looking at this man as an appealing prospect. Do you miss drama and having a walking red flag in your life?!

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