April Masini › Relationship Advice Forum › Relationship Advice Forum › 6+ Years & having some confusion!
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blonde3737.
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February 21, 2010 at 10:36 pm #2019
blonde3737
ParticipantHello Ladies, Came on here for some solid help. I have been in a relationship for 6 1/2 years now. I am 21 years old and my
boyfriend is 24.We have gone through a lot in our relationship and made
it through to come out on top. He said that one day he does hope that
we have a family together and I have always dreamed of that day. My
problem is ..for the past month or so, I have been having a few doubts
as to whether or not I need a break to do my own thing. I am scared
because although I have wanted to get an apartment with him forever and
we are just starting to look now, Im scared that we are going to settle
down too fast and end up wishing we did our own thing for a little
while. I told him that other people have said to me ” You guys should
see other people for a little bit and not go for one extreme to the
next” referring to living at our own homes with parents to living
together….My boyfriend said that he doesnt think we will have any big
problems living together…i used to think that and now im nervous.
There is this guy I work with who makes my life difficult too because
he tells me how much he wants to be with me and how if things don’t
work out with my current relationship that he would love to take me
out….so temptation is there sometimes too and throws my mind off my
relationship and i find myself fantasizing about this other guy at work but i think its only based around the idea that he thinks im so perfect. I still dream about what my boyfriend and I’s life would
be like with children and the married life but then the other half of
my brain tells me that I am moving too fast and that him & I might
regret not seeing other people in our young lives later. He doesn’t
think we will regret that because after 4 years of being together, we
did split up for 3 months and saw other people but nothing real serious
just casual dating.
The positive things in our relationship;
He is always willing to do anything for me
He loves me and says I mean the world to him
Hes handsome and funny, and caring
He is very trustworthy & will never try to hurt me or upset me
He is responsible and honest
Wants a family later in our relationshipThe negative things in our relationship
Were young which makes me think that 1 of us might regret not doing our own thing
The sex is something that were trying to work on, but he just always goes to quick which makes it a strain with myself and I have only been with him sexually…so Im hoping this isn’t going to be forever..
I feel upset because I love him but I worry that maybe I need a break to
do my own thing however if we take a break, what if we never got back
together-(THAT SCARES ME & MAKES ME NOT WANT TO TAKE A BREAK)
knowing I could l lose him forever….Very confused & could definitely use some advice from other women. As you can tell, I am
definitely on the fence with everything.😕 🙄 🙁 😐 February 23, 2010 at 11:20 am #11915April Masini
KeymasterYou’ve articulated your problem very clearly, and I understand your fear of taking a break to explore your own life as a single person, by risking the relationship you’ve had with your boyfriend, which is the ONLY relationship you’ve ever had, and it’s a long term one from the age of 18 through your current age of 24. It makes so much sense that you’re scared of throwing away the relationship you’ve built for one quarter of your life. It’s also hard for you because your boyfriend thinks this relationship is it for him, and he can see a life together with you. So there are no external problems that would be clear reasons to move on. So, I get it.
HOWEVER….
The concern that is nagging at you is valid, and I believe it trumps your fear, as described above. Your concern that you are giving up part of your life — possibly a big and even huge part of your life — to settle with your boyfriend, is much more important than your fear of losing this 6 year relationship, especially given your age. You are young, and this is the perfect time to explore life as a single person who dates other men and decides who Mr. Right is for her. If you were 40 years old, and had 20 years of dating under your belt, I’d advise differently, but the fact that you’ve never really dated anyone else — and you’ve never even lived on your own as a single woman — is going to be a huge regret for you given your concerns, that you’ll come to be angry about and take out on yourself and your boyfriend if you don’t test the waters.
The problem you’re having is that no matter what you do, there is risk involved, and up to now you’ve lived a risk-free life. I’m asking you to face your fears of losing your boyfriend, and instead turn towards your very bright future where anything could and may happen. All break ups involve pain, and you and your boyfriend will be hurt if and when you break up, but that hurt is the way we all move on from our pasts, and look towards the future for healing and a good life.
I agree with your friends who think you should break up with your boyfriend and decide to live on your own as a single woman before dating anyone else. Life is full of scary propositions, but it’s also an opportunity to overcome your fears and gain confidence in the process.
I hope that helps.
February 23, 2010 at 1:32 pm #13022clubgirl
ParticipantWell in my opinion most high school relationships don’t even last. you need your own time to experiment and fuck around with just being drunk and being able to go out and do whatever you want!
I always said I won’t settle down until I’m completely ready! and that’s what I did! I stayed single from 17-22.. and at 22 I got into a serious relationship that I don’t regret what so ever.. I think age is a big deal because you can date someone for 5 years at a young age and someone for a year at like 23-24 and go through way more serious stuff and just feel ridiculously closer!..
I don’t know what advice to give you because you are so attached but I feel like those types of relationships end up with someone wanting to cheat or go out and have fun.. because it’s something you neglected doing..February 24, 2010 at 12:35 pm #13017April Masini
KeymasterIt’s hard to make decisions where you are not sure of the outcome of either one, but that’s why you have to use your brain and not just your heart, and trust your instincts. February 27, 2010 at 5:16 pm #13141blonde3737
ParticipantThanks everyone for your help so far!, it is refreshing to get outside help from people who aren’t directly involved in your situation. Now..My boyfriend and I separated for this week to see if my stress would go down. The deal was that I would call him 1 night this week from last sunday-this past sunday and we would talk and that went good, he said he missed me and i missed him also.
He has never done anything to hurt me and would do anything in the world for me. I just feel like maybe were too comfortable and in a routine…plus our intimacy isn’t the best…I haven’t been able to “orgasm” in a while and its because he goes to quick but says that we can look into techniques because he doesnt want to take medicine to help the situation and I dont even know if there is meds for that issue.
Anyways, this other guy is making my life difficult because I work with him and theres a physical attraction there. I won’t cheat on my current boyfriend but it sucks because intimacy is an issue with my current boyfriend yet this other guy and I have phy. chemistry. Although, the other night, a group of us from work went out and this guy at work who i sometimes innocently flirt with admitted that “Hes loved me since he met me 2 years ago” and he said he does not want to disrespect the relationship Im in because he knows that my bf and I have been together for a long time but he just wants me to know that…..Im so flattered and I have become even more confused because I love my boyfriend so much but then a small piece of me says ” Ive only been sexually with 1 guy in my life, am i craving for a little change or what”….
I feel ashamed because my boyfriend now loves me so much & I don’t want to hurt him and I thought this break for a week would help me sort out not only relationship stressors but life stuff which I have going on such as school issues, finances as everyone else does, family issues, work etc….
I don’t want to lose the relationship with my current boyfriend, we have plans of getting our first apartment together in May or June and I was really looking forward to that? Am I getting cold feet? Is this guy at work affecting my emotions? I feel embarassed that I need to come online to find advice but Ive searched my soul and i analyze everything and play out every what if sitation
What if my 6 year love of my life and i break up for a bit (if its meant to be itll be is what he says)
What if he finds someone while we are on a break which he says hes not interested in being with anyone else?
What I find someone?
What if the guy at work pursues me to date?
Etc etc,Help please!
February 28, 2010 at 10:11 am #11851Anonymous
Participantgosh i’m in the same situation…26 and in a relationshop for 8 years. i’m in the exact same boat, this is me;
1 sexual partner- sex isn’t great and im always nagging him to have sex with me (usually after a week and a bit i nag him and then its not that intimate)
The positive things in our relationship is the same as urs;
He is always willing to do anything for me
He loves me and says I mean the world to him
Hes handsome and funny, and caring
He is very trustworthy & will never try to hurt me or upset me
He is responsible and honest
Wants a family later in our relationshipthe only difference is my bf is 8 years older than me and has experienced other women and being single.
you know…i love him and all…but i just dont feel important to him anymore…im just ‘routine’…he doesnt make an effort to make me feel special…i have to go out and pick my own bday present for myself which is from him….because his excuse is ‘ i dont want to buy something you dont like’.
I think i have a few more issues and maybe i should have started another post…but where do women like us go from here? I know im not the only one…
March 1, 2010 at 3:02 pm #11885April Masini
KeymasterThe doubts you’re having about the relationship you’re in are strong enough that you should explore dating other men. This is especially true since you’ve only been with one man since you’ve been an adult. You’re clearly interested in other men and other experiences. If you don’t honor these feelings you’re going to have regrets later in life. A one week break is not going to help you. It’s time for you to decide to stay or go. My advice is to move on. Don’t move in with him. Break up with him.
March 2, 2010 at 10:27 pm #11862blonde3737
ParticipantHey so Kathy, That is awesome that you’re in the same boat- not that its a good thing what you are going through but its nice to have someone in the exact same boat. Heres an update:My BF and I talked and cried together for 3+ hours before deciding that I need time for myself to get my shit together and he understood because 2 1/2 years ago he needed time for himself…and i gave it to him then we got back together 3 months later. However, We have been “Broken up” since saturday and I have talked to him 2x because its too hard not too and he was crying i could tell. Although, we live 2 seconds from each other and i saw his car wasn’t home around 9:00pm so he must be out with friends or something.
Anyways, I just got home from hanging out with that co-worker I told you guys about in the above posting. Well…we weren’t planning on doing anything but we were sitting in his car chatting then he leaned in for a kiss…we were making out for an hour or so…but ya know what…oddly enough.that was enough to show me that I love my boyfriend. I Didnt like the way the kids mouth kissed…hes cute and sweet but its not the same as my boyfriend..I know its not sex that we had but i dont even feel tempted to have sex with him like i did before. The one problem I have is..
MY BOYFRIEND SAID THAT WHEN I AM 100% SURE ABOUT GETTING BACK TOGETHER WITH HIM,THEN I CAN CALL AND UNTIL then, don’t call…so i still have stress in my life which i am sorting out but the whole curiousity about being with someone else…has pretty much gone out the door because I couldve easily had sex but i didnt want too. Thats a sign to me.
2nd problem- When my boyriend and I do talk about getting back together perhaps maybe the end of the week…do I tell him about this makeout session? only if he asks? But– he doesnt like this kid who i was with tonight because one time he went through my phone and saw that this kid i was with tonight sent flirty text messages and i told him i dont have any emotional feelings for the kid and thats the truth..i was/am attracted to him physically.
If we/when we get back together- do you say something knowing you have always been honest? Or considering my bf said it would be rough if he heard i was with someone while single, it would be tough to get back together.
March 3, 2010 at 12:56 pm #11717April Masini
KeymasterWhat you took was NOT a break. Sorry! 😳 You broke up with him Saturday and by Tuesday had talked to him twice. That’s not a break!
😕 Then you checked to see if his car was in the driveway at 9 p.m.❓ That’s not taking a break! So that same night you made out with one guy — decided you didn’t like the way he kissed — and now you’re taking THAT as a sign you need to get back with your ex?😯 A break from a six year relationship means several months with no contact while you actively heal from the break up and start dating other men. If you want to fool yourself into thinking that 48 hours with phone calls, drive by check ins and one make out session is a break, well, you’re going to find yourself back in the same situation you were when you first wrote. me.
If you’re going to take a break and test the waters after a six year relationship has left you wondering what else is out there — then do it. For real.
If you do decide to get back together with your now ex-boyfriend, then neither one of you needs to tell the other who you’ve dated, slept with or anything — during the time you were apart. Being single means having privacy.
I hope that helps.
March 24, 2010 at 8:29 am #11361blonde3737
ParticipantHi, so I need help…Heres an update My boyfriend(ex) and I have been split up since February 27th. We did talk 2 days February 28th & March 1st because we thought we were going to keep the communication there at least once a week but it made sense for him to tell me that he doesn’t want me to contact him until I am 100% sure that I want to be with him….
This has been such an emotional rollercoaster for me. I miss him soo much but a piece of me reflects on why I took a break. On the other side of things, that co-worker I told you guys about….we have been seeing each other, a lot… but it seems as though, on top of everything…it is a physical relationship although, he said he is falling for me and has for the past year or so and I don’t think I have emotional feelings for him at all…However, when I don’t hang out with him, I miss him but I think thats just because we had spent like everyday hanging out so I got used to it.
The weird thing is….My ex & this new guy are COMPLETELY OPPOSITES and maybe this is what I needed in order to figure out if my ex is who i wanna be with for the rest of my life. Whenever, I am driving to school or have down time, all i can do is perservate about if breaking up with my ex was what i needed for a while. I find myself still wearing the ring he got me, I still look at pictures of him & I on facebook and I see on his page who he is talking too…
I sound completely crazy I know but this is the most confused time I have ever felt. I love my ex so much but I am afraid that I actually have an “addiction” if you will to this co-worker because whenever we see each other, its jump on top of one another but he also had taken me out on dates & such and we have had a good time although I find myself thinking about my ex and comparing them too together….
One night 2 weeks ago, I was at home by myself and I ended up breaking down emotionally…I ended up e-mailing my ex and said
Hun,” What an emotional rollercoaster life plays out sometimes. I did say I wouldn’t contact you until I was 100% sure about where I was at & I do apologize for the inconvenience of sending an e-mail…it is not to upset you. You know that saying ” Distance makes the heart grow fonder”, this is becoming more of a reality. I hope you have been keeping busy with work & the gym and going out with friends/family. I think about the little things in our relationship that I never really paid attention too and I appreciate them more. We have been through a lot together. You do need to know that I still think about us and that with time, this has not gone away nor will it. As we both know through my letter and expression of feeling, this is what I needed in order to figure out my life as a whole and I hope you have been able to reflect on yours as well. I do hope things to work out for us. I still love you & I really don’t even need to say that to you because you already know this. You knew deep down that you could understand why I felt this way because you felt it once years ago. I hope this e-mail doesn’t cause you to be angry or upset. You don’t have to respond, only if you want too. I will respect either way.I hope your family is well.
“What’s meant to be will always be” (your quote)
I am sorry for causing you any tears or thoughts of anger/doubt”I never heard back from him and I knew that for myself, I shouldn’t of sent that e-mail because knowing I didn’t get one back upset me. However, all I can think about is that the last 3 words we said to each other is ” I love you” He told me that he hopes we can make it through this soon and put it in the rearview mirror and that I have his heart and he isn’t going anywhere….
Sooo, what am I to do now?!!? Amen for websites like these where people help you out
Please help me!
March 24, 2010 at 5:03 pm #11430April Masini
KeymasterYour ex-boyfriend’s actions speak louder than his words that you’re clinging to. Let him go, and date other people. You’ve been in touch with him 3 times in less than 4 weeks. Let go. Let the break up settle in. His non-response should be coming in loud and clear to you. Let the message reach your brain. Really explore dating, and in doing so, explore yourself and who you are, and what will make you a happy person in a relationship and out of one. I think this other guy keeps you from being lonely and from wanting or missing sex. While that’s fine, what you may not realize is that it’s keeping you from dating other people. It’s really hard to get back out there until you really feel single. I don’t get the impression that you feel alone or are ready to face that often uncomfortable feeling.
Instead of finding Mr. Right, you’re wasting time with Mr. Right Now. It’s much better to be single and than to be dating the wrong guys just to fill time and space, and in doing so, fooling yourself into thinking you’re in a meaningful relationship with a guy
Discomfort isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it’s a launching point that allows you to figure out what you want. Be single and look outside the world of men you have in your life right now.
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