[Monique]

I wasn’t looking for anything and met this guy. We got along so well. Over 1.5wks, we hung out 5 times, he asked me to meet his parents & was telling me how much he liked me. He went to US for 5 wks. While he was away, we chatted & he told me how much he missed me. I do like him, but I am petrified of getting my heartbroken again. I needed reassurance. He would tell me that he isn’t going to hurt me. He wanted to meet my mum. He told me how much he liked me and he had never met anyone like me. He said he wanted to make me his gf when he got back. He got back this wk, we spent some time together, it was great, I don’t think we could wipe the smileof our faces, there is definitely something special between us. He has never had a gf before or taken anyone home – he has a twin sister & told me that I remind him of her in a good way. When we hung out I started to feel flustered. He hasn’t given me any reason to think that, it’s my past experiences causing me to believe that. It’s like he is too good to be true and I was waiting for something bad to happen. He called me the following morning & we were working out when he should meet Mum. I became flustered, I felt pressured & said ‘maybe it’s just easier, if we end things’. I didnt think it was fair on him that I was scared. I realised I made a mistake & called to apologise but he didn’t want to continue. The next day I sent him a msg apologising & telling him that I do like him a lot and I want to prove that. I do feel like things moved fast, meeting his parents in the first 2 wks & him going US for 5 wks. He replied to the message saying that he couldn’t do it & that he does really like me but he doesn’t want something that is so hard. I get that, this has opened up my eyes & I want a 2nd chance to show him that I want to completely invest myself, he is worth it. I haven’t replied to his last msg. I want to prove that more trust will build when we spend more time together.

[Ask April Masini]

He’s never had a girlfriend before, so he doesn’t understand that he was rushing things. He was just excited. Usually, people spend the first three months of dating to decide if they even want to continue seeing each other — because there’s so much to learn about each other. Meeting parents in the first two months is jumping the gun. You don’t know each other well enough to invest that kind of commitment and it puts pressure on a relationship that keeps you from getting to know each other naturally — in fact, what happened to the two of you is exactly what I’m talking about. You weren’t wrong to put the breaks on — but breaking up with him over this issue was overreacting. And that’s what happens when there is too much pressure on a couple. Next time you feel pressured in a relationship, try to find an upbeat and positive way to respond — for instance, suggest that next month would be better to meet the parents because you’ll know each other so much better by then. Or suggest that you’d love to meet his parents — and ask him what he thinks about having 10 dates (or make up some number), before doing that. In other words, validate his desire, but also suggest an alternative or a way to expand on what he wants. Shutting the relationship down altogether was your reaction to the pressure he was imposing by trying to create a meeting with his mother too soon.

As to whether or not you blew it — I don’t think this is all your fault. It’s a combination of his pressuring you with a parent meeting too soon, and then you overreacting. You’ve apologized for your part, and now, it’s up to him to decide he’d like to try again, as well. Give him some time…. he’s never had a girlfriend before, so this is new to him… and if he doesn’t come back to you, then maybe next time you date, it would be a good idea for you to date someone who’s had some positive relationship experience already, to avoid this kind of situation.

[Sally]

It’s easy to panic when something feels good, especially after getting hurt before. You didn’t ruin it, you just reacted from fear. Most of us have done that at least once. Right now, I’d give him some space. Let things cool off a bit. If he really liked you the way he said, he’ll think about it and maybe reach out again.

When he does, keep it simple. Don’t overexplain or beg for a redo. Just be honest that you got scared because it felt real. If it’s meant to move forward, it will. And if it doesn’t, that doesn’t mean you blew it. It just means you’re human and still learning how to trust again.

[PassionSeeker]

You didn’t end things because you didn’t care. You ended them because you did.
That flustered, panicked moment was your nervous system saying: “Last time I opened my heart, it hurt. Let’s not repeat that.”

Your body remembered the ache before your mind could reassure it that this time might be different. That’s not self-sabotage — that’s trauma’s survival reflex. It pulls the emergency brake the second love starts feeling too good to be safe.

Recognizing that isn’t weakness; it’s emotional intelligence. You can’t heal what you don’t name.

[Ethan Morales]

Don’t beat yourself up. What happened is very common when things move quickly, especially with someone who’s never been in a relationship before. You weren’t wrong to feel flustered or pressured meeting parents within the first two weeks and coordinating around a 5-week trip is intense, even for someone confident in dating. It’s natural to feel your anxiety flare up.

From what April Masini said and from what you described: You acted out of fear and past experiences, not malice or lack of care. That’s understandable. He was moving fast because he was excited he’s new to dating, and he saw something special in you, which is why he wanted to involve parents early. That doesn’t mean he’s unreasonable, just inexperienced.

Breaking things off abruptly was an overreaction to pressure, but it wasn’t a betrayal or a dealbreaker it was a response to feeling overwhelmed. You’ve already apologized, which shows accountability. That’s huge. The tricky part now is that he has to decide if he wants to give it another shot. You can’t force it, but you can set the stage for rebuilding trust and comfort if he’s willing. Key things to keep in mind if you get a second chance:

Pace the relationship naturally agree on what steps feel comfortable before jumping into high-pressure situations like meeting parents. Communicate your boundaries calmly you don’t need to shut down; just explain that certain things feel rushed and suggest alternatives (“I’d love to meet your parents after we’ve had more time together”). Be patient with his inexperience he’s learning as he goes, just as you are. Mutual patience will help build trust. Focus on building comfort and consistency spend time together, communicate openly, and let emotional safety grow. That will prove your commitment better than words alone.

You didn’t ruin everything. You had a very human reaction to fast-moving circumstances. If he chooses not to come back, it’s not a reflection of your worth just a mismatch in timing and comfort level. If he does, use this experience as a guide for pacing and communication, so it doesn’t happen again.

[Tara]

You didn’t just “mess up,” you proved you’re volatile. He gave you stability, and you answered with chaos. He showed up with consistency, and you countered with an emotional eject button. That’s not “anxiety,” that’s a lack of discipline, and he’d be a fool to ignore it.

You dumped him mid-conversation like you were defusing a bomb that didn’t exist, then came crawling back expecting him to reset the clock because you suddenly regretted it. That’s not romantic. That’s erratic. And someone with zero relationship experience isn’t going to walk into that fire willingly. He’s not avoiding you because he’s scared of your past he’s avoiding you because you demonstrated you can’t handle something healthy without detonating it.

You don’t earn back trust with essays, tears, or second-chance monologues. You earn it with silence, consistency, and time three things you haven’t mastered yet. He has every right to protect himself from someone who showed she can flip the switch from “this feels good” to “I’m out” without warning.

[Serena Vale]

I can see how this happened. Things moved fast, the connection was strong, and it felt good, but also a bit too much too soon. With your past experiences, it makes sense that you panicked. You weren’t trying to hurt him, you were just scared. Anyone who’s been disappointed before would understand that feeling.

He, on the other hand, hasn’t had a relationship before. So when you said, “Maybe it’s easier if we end things,” he took it at face value. Not because he didn’t care, he clearly did, but because he doesn’t know how to handle those moments yet.

You apologized. You explained yourself. You told him how you feel. That’s enough. You’ve shown honesty and accountability, which is more than most people do.

If he wants to try again, he will reach out.

If he doesn’t, then he wasn’t ready for something real, not with you, not with anyone.
Don’t twist yourself trying to prove you’re “worth it.” You already are. A relationship needs two people willing to stay, even when one of them gets scared. He wasn’t there yet.

Give it space. If it’s meant to come back, it will come back. If not, you haven’t lost something solid, you just lost something that wasn’t ready to grow with you.

[Sally]

You didn’t ruin everything you just scared yourself and reacted too fast. Anyone who’s been hurt before knows that feeling of wanting to run right when things get real.
From his side, your “maybe we should end things” probably felt like a shock. He liked you, he was excited, and then suddenly it sounded like you were backing out. He took it at face value because he’s trying to protect himself.

The best move now is to give him a little space. Let things calm down. After a bit, send something simple like:

“I panicked that day. I really liked where things were going. If you ever want to talk again, I’d like that.”
No pressure. Just honest.

If he meant what he said before, he’ll come back when he’s ready.

[Natalie Noah]

You like him a lot, and you want to invest in the relationship, but your past experiences and fear of heartbreak created a surge of anxiety. It makes sense that you felt pressured and flustered when he tried to move things quickly by arranging a meeting with your family so soon after reconnecting. Meeting parents is a big step, especially when a relationship is only a couple of weeks old, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. Your instinct to pause was your way of protecting yourself emotionally, even if the way you handled it was abrupt.

From what you’ve described, he really does like you, he expressed excitement, missed you while he was away, and even wanted to make you his girlfriend. His inexperience, though, may have caused him to rush and inadvertently put pressure on you. That doesn’t mean you made a “mistake” in feeling anxious or setting a boundary, but it does show how quickly things escalated, which overwhelmed both of you. The key here is understanding that your reaction was human and understandable; it doesn’t erase the connection you both felt.

Going forward, if he’s open to a second chance, it’s important to communicate calmly and positively about pacing. Suggest alternatives, like taking a few weeks or dates before meeting parents, so you can enjoy building your bond without pressure. Trust can grow naturally over time, and showing that you’re willing to invest emotionally while maintaining your boundaries demonstrates maturity. If he chooses not to return, then it’s not a reflection on your worth, it’s just that the timing and circumstances weren’t right for him to navigate his first serious relationship. You’ve learned what feels too fast for you, and that awareness will help you in future relationships.

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