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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

Dead end relationship?

27 replies

roastdinner346 · 01/01/2026 11:05

I feel really bad for even writing this, but I haven't really got anyone to talk to.
I've been with my boyfriend for just over 5 years.
He's a good man, he works hard, it's just I'm really struggling with our relationship.
I'm 40 and he's 48. He lives with his mum, I don't think his mum would be able to cope living on her own. He has one grown up daughter.
I live with my 2 children.
I see him 3 times a week, always involves me going to his on an evening for 3 hours when he's finished work. I see him sometimes on a weekend when his family are over.
We don't go anywhere as a couple, we've been out twice, and that's because I bought tickets to the events.
He's got no desire to go out, he does work hard in the week, and he says his weekends are family time.
Sorry for being really graphic, but we don't even have sex, and never have done really. I think we've had sex 4 times altogether, and last year we didn't even do it once.
This was messing with my head, making me feel so depressed, and thinking I was the problem, that he didnt want sex because im overweight or unattractive. Obviously I asked him a few years ago why, and he gave some excuse, but a few months I asked again, as it was really making me feel like rubbish, and after a big row he finally admitted that its because he doesn't last long. Which to me, isn't a problem, I'd just like the closeness, but now it's 5 years in, he's never seen me fully naked, and even if he did want sex, I wouldn't have the confidence to even do it.
I'm just feeling fed up with the whole relationship. I don't want to go round for 3 hours, just so he can have a blow job. He'll use his hands on me, but it just doesn't get me off. I don't want to go round just to watch whatever he picks.
Its getting to the point where I've been making excuses not to go round, and I hate that I've been doing that 😪 I don't want to go round just so he can have oral.
He doesn't make any effort to come round mine, he does work hard, and struggles with various health complaints, but it annoys me that he's too stubborn to see a doctor.
He could go to the doctors about his pain, and the PE problem, but he just won't.
And the worst thing I'm struggling with, is that I used to fancy him rotten, and I just don't feel like that any more.
I have spoke to him about the issues, but he honestly can't see the problem.
We're just like good friends, with benefits (for him anyway).
In my heart, this isn't going anywhere, it never will.
He is the kindest of men though, I know he'd do anything for me (apart from going to the doctors, obviously). I'd destroy him if I ended it 😪
I'm just not sure what to do, I'm just not happy any more.

OP posts:
glendabrownlow · 01/01/2026 11:07

Personally, taking everything that you have said into account, I would end it if I were you.

Sux2buthen · 01/01/2026 11:08

walk away and start to live a happy life valuing yourself because he never will. Doubtful it’s intentional it’s just his way, but it’s not a match for what you deserve

cannynotsay · 01/01/2026 11:11

This is a friendship not a relationship. Time to walk away you deserve so much more

cheapskatemum · 01/01/2026 11:11

In kindness, this is working for him and not for you. You need to end it. The opinion that it would destroy him if you ended it is just that - an opinion. If it does “destroy him”, that’s on him, not you. You gave him plenty of time & pointers how he could make it work for you & he chose not to do them.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/01/2026 11:15

This should be at an end. This is not a relationship and you have wasted enough years on him already. You need to ask yourself why you’ve allowed this to happen to you. It suits him living at home with his mother and he’s tight as well.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/01/2026 11:16

You are not responsible for him when all is said and done. You would not destroy him, thinking otherwise makes me wonder if you are codependent when it comes to relationships. Why are his needs more important than yours?.

RandomMess · 01/01/2026 11:18

Well he isn’t kind is he. He gets 100% of what he wants whilst you make all the effort and compromises.

RegretUnavailable · 01/01/2026 11:21

The only question you need to ask yourself here is ‘Is this working for me?’

It’s clearly not, so move on.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/01/2026 11:23

And I would certainly redefine your definition of kindness because he is certainly not kind.

mondaytosunday · 01/01/2026 11:50

This is not a caring, loving relationship. It’s barely a relationship at all. Move on.

BillieWiper · 01/01/2026 11:55

Yeah, he's putting in zero effort and just thinks he can have a woman when it suits him. Ie when he fancies a blowie. And the fact he doesn't even make you orgasm with his hand or give you oral in return just shows he's a shite selfish lover.

Honestly there's no point carrying on with this is there? It's not benefitting you in any way.

Trotula · 01/01/2026 12:05

He’s very self centred isn’t he? You always go to his, you satisfy him, you fit in with his plans. What’s in it for you? He doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, in fact he makes you feel bad!
If you feel there is something worth saving in this relationship you could
outline exactly what the issues are for you and how you want him to change and how you see the future.
eg he goes to yours on a regular basis, you go out at least once a week, he makes an effort to satisfy your emotional and sexual needs.
After all, what’s the worse that could happen? You split up leaving you free to enjoy your life and potentially meet someone else.
Or he could change.
If he shows no inclination to make changes he really isn’t lovely, he’s just another self centred mummy’s boy.
You are worth more!

TwistedWonder · 01/01/2026 12:15

JFC - why have you wasted 5 years of your life giving blow jobs to a selfish twat of a mummy’s boy? What on earth are you getting out of this?

This isn’t relationship, he’s treating you as an unpaid sex worker who just satisfies him on demand while he gives nothing back.

Please find your self respect and dump his skanky arse. You are worth so much more than being a convenient mouth for his cock

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 01/01/2026 12:31

This is working for him but not for you. It is never going to become the relationship you want and need, so why prolong it?

My suggestion would be to think about what positives there are, and decide whether those positives outweigh the negatives. I'm guessing they don't, but only you can make the choice of whether to continue as you are ad infinitum or to make a break and just be yourself for a while. There are few things worse than feeling unloved and being taken advantage of.

You need to find out who you are again, and decide if you would be happier without him in your life, dragging you down.

Wishimaywishimight · 01/01/2026 12:37

This is not a relationship, let alone a 'dead end' one. You are wasting some of the best years of your life with this person. 5 years is 4.5 too many, dont let it become 6.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 01/01/2026 14:06

Why the fuck have you spent 5 months in this non-relationship, let alone 5 years?

TwilightSkies · 01/01/2026 14:18

In what way is he kind? Cus I’m not seeing it.
Still lives with his mum, doesn’t take you on dates, sees you when he wants a sexual favour, doesn’t care about your needs, doesn’t want to improve himself……

FieryA · 01/01/2026 15:35

Nothing about your post demonstrates that he is the kindest man. This situation does not even classify as a FWB, let alone relationship or dating. I mean you are not even having sex- so why exactly are you with him?

pikkumyy77 · 01/01/2026 15:38

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/01/2026 11:23

And I would certainly redefine your definition of kindness because he is certainly not kind.

Yes. This relationship is all take and no give on his part. Why are you wasting your time with this failure to launch/ED/cheap misery?

BeenThereBackThen · 01/01/2026 19:04

I got a definite ‘ick’ just reading about your relationship, sorry.

No future plans, no doing things together, minimal effort from his side. You go over for 3 hours to see him and give him an oral and a free ‘girlfriend experience’. Whilst he halfheartedly fumbles with his fingers and is content with your dissatisfaction. Eeew, sorry.

He sounds like not a kind man but a man who can’t be arsed. I bet his PE is due to excessive porn use between the times you come round. He sounds like a slob tbh and deeply unattractive overall.

Cut this nonsense, you’re 40, take 6 months to heal and find someone who appreciates you amd actually wants to be with you and do things together. This guy is a waste of your time.

smallsilvercloud · 01/01/2026 20:50

It sounds incredibly boring and unfulfilling and now you no longer fancy him anyway. Never stay to please the other person, imagine he could dump you one day and you’d be like why did I waste all that time, 5 years is already long enough to know it really is dead end, time to put some fun back in your life.

DaisyChain505 · 01/01/2026 20:52

This isn’t a relationship.

skeletonbones · 01/01/2026 20:57

This sounds awful. End it and don't worry about him, he'll be fine, people this selfish always are.you'll be 100 perect happier with your evenings back and free of this feeling of obligation to a loser.

BauhausOfEliott · 01/01/2026 21:07

You’re only 40 and you’ve been in a relationship for FIVE YEARS in which you’ve had sex only four times and been out together twice????

OP, this is not a normal or healthy relationship. Surely you must know this is completely fucking weird?

Springtimehere · 01/01/2026 21:11

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