Hi Rob,
I understand that you have a lot of emails to answer and this is long
but my situation is lets just say 'complex'.
I normally wouldn't ask a man for advice on this because most likely
from experience his answer would have to do with me being hit on and him
trying to get lucky but since you're miles away and its via email the
chances of that happening are zilch.
I've known my boyfriend for 4 years - we've been intimate for 3 of them.
As of February of this year I found out he was cheating on me with his
off and on ex of 3 years. He didn't tell her about me either. I was very
annoyed and hurt and he blamed it on the fact that we were not seeing
each other as much because of my having to attend classes more often. I
work at a tertiary institution at a desk job and I am pursuing an
accounting and IT qualification part-time and I think this has him
insecure. We went from seeing each other almost everyday per week to
about 2X per week - but this was just when exams were closer. Throughout
the relationship he kept asking me if I was seeing or interested in
anyone else. Of course I wasn't and I explained to him that we live
different lifestyles at this point in time and it may be hard to
understand but I was not cheating on him. I did tell him that he was
responsible for what happened and that he had some deep insecurity
issues to work out.
My boyfriend
My boyfriend is into transport. He didn't do too well in school and was
most interested in the 'in crowd' during his younger years. He worked at
the bank for 3 years and then decided to take over his dads occupation
in transport. Where I'm from his job can make good as a self employed
taxi driver and he may not be the academic but he has very good ideas
and potential. The occupation doesn't have much prestige but I didn't
really care. My mother wasn't too pleased with me being with him because
of his occupation and to an extent she still isn't - I guess she's just
gotten 'used' to it. I'm not one to judge people either and I welcome
company from anyone once its sincere and we think alike. In the past
year or so he has run into financial difficulty. It mainly has to do
with the bus and the fact that he is the main breadwinner for his family
- his parents and two siblings who are grown adults. He has had this
responsibility since he was 24. Now he's always stressed or depressed
sometimes. The other day he said he felt so down he hadn't looked at
himself in the mirror because he was not proud of himself. I was
physically attracted after meeting him a few times but I liked his mind
more.
The incidents
When I caught him his ex was in the living room watching tv with his
friends. I didn't really see her but he heard me open the gate and then
rushed outside and pulled me outside and said 'I have to tell you
something'. Well I was just blown over. He said that they had become
'intimate' in my absence and that basically it was just sex and it only
happened once in a blue moon - not that I did believe him. He said he
wouldn't see her again (liar) and another night I went up there and
there she was sitting next to him and he had the most guilty look in his
face. He pulled both of us aside to talk to us straight, took 5 minutes
to say anything and I just left. She left too but she went
inside....from the street I could see the both of them talking ..she
didn't seem too pissed.
The ex
She is older than him - he is 28 and she is 32, I'm 26 and she was his
riff raff cousin's girlfriend at one time. He cheated on her very badly
- so he told me- and she left him after a very long time. She works at a
pharmacy as a counter clerk, is overweight and not very much educated in
anything - academics, trade or otherwise. She also seems very petty. For
the months that he was with her and she knew nothing about me she left
nothing behind at his apartment. I've found it funny that shortly after
she learnt of me she's been playing 'games'. About 2 months ago she left
a football with her name on it at his apartment - in his bedroom. I
didn't say anything at this point because I wanted to show him that I
didn't really care however I found this amusing. Then about 2 weeks
afterwards she left a pair of blue slippers behind a sheet of mirror in
his room. Don't mean to sound shallow but lets just say that you
wouldn't ever find that in the $5 store - I definitely would not wear
that. Not just the quality but it was ugly - I mean there is nice
footwear that you can get for a good price - just check Payless Shoes at
least. THAT second item I brought to his attention. I expressed to him
that while I found this petty and pathetic it is a sign that she is
intimidated by me. I also said that we are dating, not living together
or married and she needs to just lighten up - though I'd prefer that
she'd just disappear. I also laughed and said I was flattered. My fear
was however that I also took it as passive aggression and since I don't
know her personality I'm not too sure if she's violent or dangerous in
any manner. He said how she left it there and he only saw it after she
left. He also said that he didn't want anything to happen to me and he
would not let it get to that point. I told him that I don't want any of
her things there left in that manner. It was then I probed him and asked
'where does she work.. what does she do'. I figured pretty much she
worked minimum wage because of her choice of slippers, her hair was
always in a mess and she just didn't look 'polished'. He said that she's
into pharmaceuticals but from then I knew she worked in a pharmacy. She
left two other items there - a can opener and a pen with the name of two
pharmaceuticals on them that I knew for a fact were distributed by two
different agents. Yes I did do some sleuthing. Even after that I would
refer to her 'pharmacy girl' a few times and he never denied it. I've
stopped doing that though - just thought doing it too much made me look
immature but I was getting my point across. He then admitted that I had
forgotten a pair of underwear there (lets just say that my underwear is
quite 'unique'). It was there so long that even I forgot about it (but
it was long before she came in the picture) and he said he liked it and
kept it. Well she found it and she was most upset. He then broke it down
to her that she knows how the situation is. He didn't say that she had
it. He said that he would not let her things stay there and for weeks
after I didn't notice anything of hers there. On Sunday I was there and
yes you guessed it - she left another pair of cheap slippers.
I asked then if she kept my underwear and he said 'uh huh'. I asked what
did she do with it and he didn't answer. So feeling mischievous I went
there the night before to get down to the underwear thing because for
the whole day I was calling him and only getting his voice messaging. I
am just not comfortable with the idea either. I knew she would be there
and I was right. It was at night and I called out to her at the door as
it was open (didn't say her name) and calmly asked her if he was home.
She said that he wasn't. She came to the door in a towel only (a most
disgusting sight ugh and I told him so afterwards) which I found rather
repulsive and classless. I said 'ok' and as she was continuing about her
business I called out to her again and asked her if she had my
underwear. She said 'oh so you were the person.. no I don't you'll have
to take that up with him' (what a weak pretense because he told me she
had a fit when she saw it and she knew who I was) and I said 'really? he
said that you had it'. Then she said 'no you'll have to take it up with
him'. I said 'ok I will but keep this in mind ..if I ask him again and
he doesn't have it I'll ensure that I take it up with whoever has it and
its not going to be pleasant.' She said 'ok' and walked off'. I did this
because she apparently didn't know me well enough and thought that she
could just disrespect me through him because apparently he has a problem
setting boundaries with her. My issue is not so much her leaving her
things. Its the intent. I realised that she was passive aggressive. I
also had to let her know who she was up against.
Questions
How could he be with her? She not physically attractive - sagging
breasts, big stomach and just untoned all over (5'5 150 lbs?) - I take
care of myself - she doesn't know how to dress, not pretty much
intelligent because of her playing petty games and has no decorum -
speaking to someone in a towel at the door? She's over 30 and still
working at a pharmacy, owns no home or vehicle and just doesn't seem to
have a future. And if its about sex that's stupid because we do
everything. She seems a bit pushy and controlling. I once went through
his mobile messages (don't worry he goes through mine too but he didn't
know I went through his) and she left a very terse message 'answer your
phone'. I've never treated him badly, given him massages and everything.
In fact I really loved my boyfriend and still do - I admit it. I've
tried to build his confidence over the years and have helped him out and
stayed through thick and thin. How could he even think that I was
cheating?
If he's with her why does he care about me wearing shorts at night or
staying out too late, or about me moving to another apartment and
finding a man there when he visits (he's been stressing on that
frequently).
Why tell me you want me in your life, don't want to hurt me, don't want
to lose me and that he holds me on a high pedestal?
Why did he feel hurt when we broke up over this situation before?
Why is he worrying that if I leave him I'll end up with some idiot (as
if he isn't) because he thinks I have a sweet personality?
Why is he so insecure and why cant he believe that not all women care
about money and things or that I would leave him for a man with these
things?
Is there ever hope for cheaters (my aunt from personal experience and 36
years of marriage says once one always one).
Why sleep with your cousin's ex?
Does he see her as a mother figure or is he suffering from the madonna -
whore syndrome?
People ask why I don't leave. I don't leave because I'm just fed up of
men- the games and the trials. I don't know one man who isn't a
cheater... even an older man of 50 or so (who was pretending to be a
father figure type friend and who is married) who told me my bf ex was
older than him (without seeing her...he has experience) just from what I
told him about my boyfriend was trying to get between my legs - he is
not even the least bit attractive. I've been sexually exploited most of
my life by the male species and to me it makes no sense leaving him now
to end up with something worse or the same. People say 'you attract what
you put out'. I disagree. I have shouted at men to stay away from me. I
don't dress provocatively - well most men say I have sex appeal and all
his friends did find me attractive. I never smile at a man - but I did
smile at my boyfriend...he made me laugh. These men come after me I
don't go after them. I state my case plain and upfront...many times I
say 'I'm not interested in you and never will be' and they pretend to be
your friend hoping that it will be something else which gets me very
annoyed until one day I let them have it and then they call me a bitch.
You avoid them tell them to stay away and they still show up. Only if I
threaten to go to the police then I'm left alone. And if I go to the
police they hit on me too. I've only dated 3 men in this life because I
was just afraid of men. They were just jerks. Just this morning some
idiot was telling me in my ear over and over 'about how good I looked in
a pair of pants..' from behind and when I said 'do not talk to me' he
got most upset. Like I'm supposed to thank him for undressing me with
his eyes and not keeping quiet about it. Sheesh.
Even after I turn down these idiots I eventually find out that they're
married, engaged, in LTRs, sleep with prostitutes or were just
interested in sex only for points.
Now this. Right now this situation is a competition and I am not going
to lose to that woman. Yes I have an ego.
Please explain what is going on because I don't understand men or the
situation at all.
Thanks, A.
Hi A,
Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you: You've been played and
played well.
Have you heard the saying "Once a cheater, always a cheater"?
Well, this guy that you're trying to hold to to so much is just that. A
cheater. He always will be, no matter what happens in his life.
I'd hate to see you make this commitment to him, trying to get him all
to yourself when it just isn't possible. He won't change, no matter what
you do. No matter what he says to you.
Questions
How could he be with her? She not physically attractive - sagging
breasts, big stomach and just untoned all over (5'5 150 lbs?) - I take
care of myself - she doesn't know how to dress, not pretty much
intelligent because of her playing petty games and has no decorum -
speaking to someone in a towel at the door? She's over 30 and still
working at a pharmacy, owns no home or vehicle and just doesn't seem to
have a future. And if its about sex that's stupid because we do
everything. She seems a bit pushy and controlling. I once went through
his mobile messages (don't worry he goes through mine too but he didn't
know I went through his) and she left a very terse message 'answer your
phone'. I've never treated him badly, given him massages and everything.
In fact I really loved my boyfriend and still do - I admit it. I've
tried to build his confidence over the years and have helped him out and
stayed through thick and thin. How could he even think that I was
cheating?
He's playing you, straight and simple. He feels more comfortable with
her and that's why she's in his life.
If he's with her why does he care about me wearing shorts at night or
staying out too late, or about me moving to another apartment and
finding a man there when he visits (he's been stressing on that
frequently).
He's trying to own you, control you. That's his real goal here. Force
you to live your life according to his rules, but the same rules don't
apply to himself.
Why tell me you want me in your life, don't want to hurt me, don't want
to lose me and that he holds me on a high pedestal?
Again, it's his control over you that gives him satisfaction.
Why did he feel hurt when we broke up over this situation before?
Because he was losing the control he had over you.
Why is he worrying that if I leave him I'll end up with some idiot (as
if he isn't) because he thinks I have a sweet personality?
To force you to think down to his level, scare you into believing that
he is the best for you, when he knows it isn't true.
Why is he so insecure and why cant he believe that not all women care
about money and things or that I would leave him for a man with these
things?
Because that is how he sees life. You're his ticket out, but he doesn't
want to give up his own lifestyle of getting everything he wants.
Is there ever hope for cheaters (my aunt from personal experience and 36
years of marriage says once one always one).
No, he will always stray, wander, fool around. His rules apply only to
him. He will accuse you of playing around only to avoid his own
infidelities.
Why sleep with your cousin's ex?
Availability. He'd sleep with anyone, any time, anywhere, as long as he
can get away with it. Even 'coming clean' to you re-inforces the fact
that he can cheat on you, apologize when found out, be forgiven, and do
it again and again.
Does he see her as a mother figure or is he suffering from the madonna -
whore syndrome?
He's not suffering, he has no conscience as far as his own actions go.
There is no competition for this guy and the girl he's messing around
with. The rules don't apply to everyone equally, they are stacked
against you.
Move on, forget him.
Have a party and burn everything he ever gave you. Demand everything you
gave him, take him to court if need be.
Move on.
Live life.
Don't be too fast to get into another relationship, get single for a
while and sort out your life before you get so morally confused that you
lose touch with your own values and become the very person he's trying
to turn you into: a fast F--k whenever he wants, a "friend with
benefits" and nothing else.
I hope that this helps you to make the next, right step, in your life.
Best wishes,
Rob.
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