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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

DS17 girlfriend wants to split up. He's devastated

85 replies

tattoonewbie · 28/01/2025 18:44

This might be outing but I'm desperate to know what to do. It's been up and down since almost day one. I fear he likes her more than she him. He's convinced he must save the relationship all costs. She's at work and he's gone over to her house to drop off his beautiful valentine gifts. Personalised thoughtful things. My heart is breaking for him.
I have to just be here don't I ? He wants to see her mum and tell her to get her daughter to not ditch him. She told him she wants it to end yesterday but he's begged for a second chance. He can't accept she's saying it's over. I've threatened to block his phone by reporting it stolen. We were awake consoling him until early hours. He was sick with the upset. I'm deeply concerned for his wellbeing. He's seeing a counsellor. Do I take him to GP ? He just keeps saying they can make it work. It's his first girlfriend. He has a levels and in real danger of a crisis and messing up. It's breaking me. Please don't come at me with how he can't force it etc. I know this. But it's hard to physically and digitally keep them apart if she hasn't yet officially said it's finished. I think he's better than being dangled on this string but is so besotted he'll do anything to keep her. Young love hits hard but is so hard to know what to do. I'm peri with ageing parents and am so tired and very anxious. I'm on antidepressants and fear he's I got the worst of my genes tonight. Can't see his worth and be dignified and bow out. It's so so hard. Anyone got a hand hold or advice/ experience? I don't want to push him away

OP posts:
waterrat · 29/01/2025 17:56

Op - can I say - that you need to take a deep breath and stop wanting/ asking anything AT ALL of this girl.

It's completely normal at 17/18 to be a bit unsure and a bit shit at cutting the final tie on a relationship. She has a right to be a normal flakey kid and to behave like an idiot.

You have to be wary of blaming her for anything or suggesting she is doing anything wrong.

I'm going to say I don't think it's that lovely him taking valentines gifts to a girl who is dumping him - and I say that with total compassion - I was a really really over emotional teen myself - and behaved just like your son! I remember WEEPING and begging and pleading my boyfriend to take me back. I got on a train uninvited and travelled to another city to step up on his doorstep and beg for another chance - I behaved like a total loon

I think the difference is - that my mum didn't get involved. I'm sorry and I know it's hard but he needs to see you just staying really calm and minimising a lot of it! just say - this is heartbreak, isn't it amazing you feel so deeply - now take a deep breath and try to calm down.

this is NORMAL. that's all I can say. I had my heart broken like this a couple of times - it's so huge. But he needs you to keep it as light as possible while being compassionate.

waterrat · 29/01/2025 17:59

I really can't believe adults are on a website analysing the exact wording some poor unknown 17 year old girl is giving her very emotional boyfriend in breaking up with him

jesus wept.

She is a kid - who the fuck knows why she is saying particular phrases - even most 20/ 30 year olds don't always get it right/ say the perfect thing when they are breaking up with someone.

even 40 somethings cling to shit phrases or comforting words

any adult on here who is suggesting they can 'correct' or judge a 17 year old girls words - who they don't know ! - is an idiot.

TipsyPlumAnt · 29/01/2025 18:02

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TipsyPlumAnt · 29/01/2025 18:04

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CharlotteLightandDark · 29/01/2025 18:07

I’m sorry and I expect I’ll get flamed for this but he doesn’t really need to see the GP, this is not a medical issue.

you don’t need to take SSRIs for heartbreak over a relationship. It’s a part of life, we can’t expect to medicate away any and all distress we feel as humans.

JustBitetheKnotsOff · 29/01/2025 18:11

Charlotte, the OP has said "He has access to counsellors 24/7 but not always the same one. He has 4 sessions left." That sounds to me like her son was already having professional input before this, so he may be less ready to cope with ordinary heartbreak than most teenagers.

Ponderingwindow · 29/01/2025 18:16

She already told him it was over.

she shouldn’t have to block him just because they broke up. Blocking someone from contact is childish. It’s only necessary if the ex turns out to be unstable and doesn’t respect reasonable boundaries.

CharlotteLightandDark · 29/01/2025 18:17

Thats great that he has some counselling sessions to help him cope with life’s vicissitudes then, still isn’t a medical issue.

TipsyPlumAnt · 29/01/2025 18:18

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HardyCrow · 31/01/2025 19:30

Kindnesscostsnothingtryit · 28/01/2025 22:32

Knowing a female mind, if he knuckled down on his school work and showed a colder shoulder she'd probably want him back!!! She might just think she holds all the cards and is enjoying playing them, he needs the strength to play some of his own. This could work out but he needs to know his own self worth to get her respect.

Nonsense

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