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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

classic case of too much too soon - should I walk?

93 replies

nomoreeggs · 09/01/2010 13:23

I've been dating a guy for just over 3 months. From day 1 after our first date, which I really enjoyed, it was a text saying "I'm so into you". Followed shortly after by a present of a satnav, a rabbit (not a live one) a trip to Vegas, loads of meals, hotels and beautiful flowery text after flowery text about how he'd never felt this way before etc etc. He was even wanting to book holidays 6 months hence.

I got diamonds for Christmas and we're going on an all expenses paid trip to Dubai next week. Only I found out yesterday, that he'd booked me on the trip after a few telephone conversations and BEFORE HE EVEN MET ME (he was going on his own originally).
I do love his company and he seems kind and genuine but he's recently separated and has very complex childcare arrangements and is not on great terms with his nearly ex. And the other night I became very tired and emotional on him because I'd had a difficult day and wouldn't let him go to sleep as I was upset and wanting to talk. Selfish of me I guess but not a hangable offence. Anyway he totally rebuffed me and the next morning things were very frosty indeed.

And now, because of this, he's told me "he didn't know the person I was the other night" and is scared and doesn't know what to do other than run away. He's gone off radar and won't respond to texts/calls so I've given up. Obviously I'm not going away with him next week. Does this sound like a typical man getting in too deep too quick and then doing an about-turn because he can't handle a real relationship with the ups and downs? Seems like it to me - I was emotional but that's a part of me and he told me he loved me unconditionally. I should leave him be, right? Not try and explain to him how I think relationships should work and that it's all been going too fast for us and we could try slowing down? It all takes up so much energy and I haven't got any to spare....ps he's 50 and I'm 52, we both have kids at home.

OP posts:
SqueezyIsStartinAResolution · 09/01/2010 17:32

AF - you are not allowed to leave relationships! I love reading your posts!

As for the diamonds, if it was me, I'd give them back. I knew a girl once who walked around with an ex's engagement ring on a different finger because she wanted to keep the diamond....I wouldn't feel right keeping something, possibly of sentimental value, that an ex had given me.

Ivykaty44 · 09/01/2010 17:38

mamzom has got it - he is in love with the relationship thing, then you went and acted like a human instead of a stepford wife - he was well shicked you had emotions that he would need to deal with

sorry

he is still very much intangled and has a lot of baggage unopened in the lounge whereas it sounds like yours is packed up in the attic

BalloonSlayer · 09/01/2010 17:50

Yes I agree with Mamazon about him being "in love with being in a relationship."

I had an ex many years ago, who hadn't been in a relationship for a long time. I found that I was sort of expected to fit into his life - he was quite set in his ways.

One day he bought me some red roses. Oooh thanks, how lovely, I said.

"I've always wanted to do that," he said. "I used to see other men on the train with bunches of flowers and think, I wish I was going home with some flowers for someone."

I thought awww, but also thought . and then decided I was being ungrateful.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 09/01/2010 18:23

Hi nomoreeggs

You don't need a nunnery.

AF is quite right you know, her words are wise.

I don't think there's anything wrong with you at all but if you keep picking unsuitable and emotionally unavailable men then you need to look at your own self more closely. Do you see yourself as someone who wants to "rescue" and or "save" such types from their own selves?. The same old relationship mistakes often end up being repeated over and over and thus ultiamtely destructive patterns need to be unlearned.

Perhaps counselling for your own self would be helpful before embarking on another relationship. I would particularly advise this if any of my first paragragh applies.

What did you learn about relationships from your parents?. What did they both teach you?. If you learnt damaging lessons from these people then chances are you would have yourself gone onto repeat them as an adult.

overmydeadbody · 09/01/2010 18:28

Agree with Anyfucker.

Oh my god the man sounds like a loon, just looking for someone to atach himself to.

He doesn't love you, and he certainly doesn't love you unconditionally (no one should ever be in a relationship with someone who claims to love them unconditionally) Romantic love is conditional.

Don;t contact him, dump him. And good riddance.

He is in love with the idea of being in love, not with you as a person. But I guess you already know that.

ninah · 09/01/2010 19:01

maybe he's trying to make his wife jealous with all the lavishing
keep the diamonds, absolutely
who did he book Dubai for? you, or AN Other?
shame you got emotionally involved with him, he doesn't sound anything like a free agent yet

nomoreeggs · 09/01/2010 19:28

Balloonslayer, it was one of those plastic ones, a nice cranberry colour, it won't go to waste And to everyone else, it's good to see that the consensus is a fairly general one, thank you. He sent me a text whilst I was lurking in the foyer while the kids were watching Alvin in the Chipmunks saying "I need some time to get my head round this, will call you tomorrow".

I borrowed AF's line relating to first sticky bits after it's been full-on from the start, and texted him back with this and said I needed some time to think too. I've told him I'm not going to Dubai. But really, I feel I've moved on already. Attila, you're right, I don't have a great attena for picking the right men - I get sucked in by all the lovely dovey stuff and repent at leisure. However this time I'm able to let go quite easily, whilst before I clung on to unsuitable people for dear life. God, if I haven't got my head sorted out by the age of 52, what hope is there for me!!

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 09/01/2010 19:41

lucky escape, IMO

glad you have seen the light before you got in too deep

tiredoftherain · 09/01/2010 20:30

well done, I think you're doing exactly the right thing - all sounded a little too good to be true, sorry that it turned out to be the case (and also that you don't get a holiday in the sun, could just do with that myself..!)

nomoreeggs · 09/01/2010 21:01

yes, I was looking forward to it but I'd be too on edge with him all the time and just wouldn't enjoy it...

OP posts:
maristella · 09/01/2010 21:26

i'm not sure that unconditional love exists between couples? in fact there will always be conditions attached to that love.
and i think he moved wayyyy too fast.
i sometimes find that if people get into new relationships too soon after the last they often try to resume the pace of the old relationship (hence holidays etc) but with/without certain elements they they wanted or disliked within the old relationship.
keep the diamonds by the way - they are yours now!

AnyFucker · 09/01/2010 21:29

I don't love my DH unconditionally

there are certain things he could do that would kill my love for him stone-dead

nomoreeggs · 10/01/2010 09:07

He texted me last night to say he loved me.
I don't want to be side-tracked and I'm determined to stick to my guns. I'm going to send him an email laying it all on the line (in a nice way) so when he calls tonight he'll know what I'm thinking. But I still don't know whether to call it quits or just insist we start again and take it really really slow. Does that ever work, starting again but trying to do it the right way?

I want my life back, this is so exhausting, especially after a birthday sleepover with 4 excitable 10 year old girls!

OP posts:
BalloonSlayer · 10/01/2010 09:21

Sorry nomoreeggs, I was obviously joking about the dead rabbit, but I thought you meant a cuddly toy . . . are you saying he bought you a rampant rabbit?

After a couple of dates?

Blimey

Bonsoir · 10/01/2010 09:30

It sounds as if the man in the OP wants a celluloid romantic girlfriend, not a RL relationship.

Parsleypants · 10/01/2010 09:35

Hmmmm, I too have my reservations BUT I suppose you could try again as long as you do take it slowly and on your terms. But at the first sniff of behaviour I think you should kick him into touch and move on.

dearprudence · 10/01/2010 09:55

Just read this thread and I think this guy sounds like a loon. What's he doing introducing a new girlfriend to his mum and his children within 3 months, before he's even properly divorced from his wife? I realise the children are unlikely to be toddlers, but even so. And all the love stuff, and you not being the person he thought he was. There's no way you can fully know someone in 3 months - he honestly sounds like an imbecile.

If this is the type of person he is, you can't change him by saying 'let's take it more slowly'. Run a mile.

nomoreeggs · 10/01/2010 10:35

Yes BS, after a few dates, he bought me a rampant rabbit - bizarre....

And I think you're all right and I wonder what taking it slowly will achieve. I'm going
to get it all off my chest in an email in a while, and hopefully leave it be.

Prudence, yes his behaviour is not emotionally intelligent but as a person he comes across as really sorted and articulate and head screwed on. What a mug I can be...

OP posts:
purplepeony · 10/01/2010 10:43

sorry to disagree but you can know someone in as little as 3 months. I think it's different when you are older- the OP and her boyfriend are i n their 50s.

Lots of couples meet and get married in under 6 months as they get older. Sometimes you just know. OP- I think it depends on how much you like him, TBH.

Everyone deserves another chance, most of the time. it could be that he is just very insecure and out of practise with the dating stuff. He might have a very stereo typical idea of what it involves and needs to wise up.

As for meeting his kids and mum, I don't think that's an issue- he is almost divorced- assuming it is just the legal side that is incomplete.

It's not as if he has tiny children- they must be adults so nothing wrong in meeting the family.

TBH I think you are both a bit in the wrong- you for being so needy and inconsiderate at an early stage of the relationship- keeping him awake all night- and him for going OTT with the gifts and attention.

He needs to learn that you cannot buy love- and you maybe need to learn to shut up when it's not the right time to talk.

I'd give it one more go and see what happens.

AnyFucker · 10/01/2010 12:39

nah, bin him

seriously OP, only you know if he is worth another chance

I don't think it bodes well though that somebody needs "another chance" after only 3 months

personally, I would chalk it up and move on without getting into long-winded emails and "chats"

it all sounds like far too much hard work to me

a relationship especially when you are "older" ie. past the first flush of silly youth, should be comfortable and easy, with no angst and having to second-guess the other's motives all the time

the gift of a Rabbit is weird too...I like a sex toy as much as the next woman , but wouldn't think a guy I had known such a short time was in any position to make a decision like that for me

some people seem to thrive on the drama and histrionics though, if you are one of thse people, then maybe it could work out. Not for me, thank you, but maybe for you

AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/01/2010 13:12

nomoreeggs

I'd be binning him as well without any e-mail contact as well. E-mails can be misinterpreted. This whole thing is far too intense and far too soon.

This man sent you a text message (which in itself is non communication); he cannot even be asked to have a proper conversation with you.

If your relationship antenna is still off at 52 then I feel you should be thinking about how and why you keep falling for unsuitable and emotionally unavailable men (like this one is). You can fix the duff radar but you need to do some work on your own self with a counsellor.

ShimmyYourselfHappy · 10/01/2010 15:30

Seriously? If you go back to this guy you will walk on eggshells for the next fortnight or month, after which he will break up with you.

It sounds like he is seriously damaged by the end of his marriage and desperately in love with the idea of being in love.

He has declared his undying love when he DOES NOT KNOW YOU. If you now exhibit any faults whatsoever, he will decide you are not 'the person he fell in love with', wallow in self-pity, tell you how confused he is and then break it off.

I have seen this happen so many times.

ShimmyYourselfHappy · 10/01/2010 15:30

Seriously? If you go back to this guy you will walk on eggshells for the next fortnight or month, after which he will break up with you.

It sounds like he is seriously damaged by the end of his marriage and desperately in love with the idea of being in love.

He has declared his undying love when he DOES NOT KNOW YOU. If you now exhibit any faults whatsoever, he will decide you are not 'the person he fell in love with', wallow in self-pity, tell you how confused he is and then break it off.

I have seen this happen so many times.

purplepeony · 10/01/2010 15:40

Is it not possible though that he will see the error of his ways and know that he needs to behave differently?

OP- if I were you- which I am not- I would give him another chance, but make it a non-exclusive relationship, where you (both?) see other people. Take the heat out of it andlet him find his feet on the dating scene, but he appears to need to do.

tiredoftherain · 10/01/2010 15:43

Totally agree with shimmy. Sounds like you really shook him by behaving in a way he hadn't scripted. His reaction speaks volumes.

I would really leave well alone, or take things very very slowly.