New here? Register in under one minute   Already a member? Login244965 questions, 1084317 answers  

  DearCupid.ORG relationship advice
  Got a relationship, dating, love or sex question? Ask for help!Search
 New Questions Answers . Most Discussed Viewed . Unanswered . Followups . Forums . Top agony aunts . About Us .  Articles  . Sitemap

Ex has started dating an 18 year old guy! How do I deal with this shocking news?

Tagged as: Age differences, Breaking up, Gay relationships, Online dating, Social Media, The ex-factor<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (4 November 2016) 8 Answers - (Newest, 7 November 2016)
A female United Kingdom age 30-35, *re101 writes:

My ex boyfriend (3 year relationship, broke up with me 6 weeks ago due to him feeling neglected due to my depression and OCD) told me this week that he is now in a relationship with an 18 year old boy... My ex and I are both 27.......

One week after our break up my ex met him for the first time to hang out... That's when he 'fell' for him...

My ex and I met this boy on an MMO one year ago. We knew the boy was gay and both got on with him a lot but he was very clingy with my ex (always messaging him every single day). I didn't care about how close they were. I never thought in a million years he would be a threat to our relationship because my ex was straight (only ever had female partners - 3 before me). I never thought he'd look at an 18 year old in that way either if he was a female.

My ex is feeling very confused and it has been difficult for him to come to terms with apparently.

How do I deal with this shocking news?

View related questions: broke up, my ex

<-- Rate this Question

Reply to this Question


Share

Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question!

A male reader, BrownWolf Canada +, writes (7 November 2016):

BrownWolf agony aunt

Shocking yes...Great for you...ABSOLUTELY!!!

You see this as shocking...WHY!! Not your problem now.

Just imaging... in your fourth year, you got pregnant. Planned to get married, got married, then he divorce you for said boy then...How would you deal with that shock???

You dodged a massive heartache. I don't see it as shocking...I see it as thank goodness he ended it before you found out he was sleeping with both of you at the same time.

Way more shocking things could have happened...and now, you don't have to deal with any of it.

<-- Rate this answer

A female reader, aunt honesty Ireland +, writes (6 November 2016):

aunt honesty agony auntOff course it is a shock and am sure you have a lot off questions. But his sexuality is his business and he is single so he is doing nothing wrong. You just need to accept now you are no longer with him and move on with your life

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A female reader, Youcannotbeserious United Kingdom + , writes (5 November 2016):

Youcannotbeserious agony auntYes, it must have been a shock to find this out, and I do understand you having difficulty coming to terms with this on 3 levels - the speed with which it happened, the fact your boyfriend has suddenly discovered his gay side and the age of the new boyfriend concerned. I would imagine it makes you question your whole relationship with your ex and this is normal.

Apparently everyone (or at least most people) have the ability to fall for people of either sex. It's just a case of meeting the right person. Perhaps this 18 year old is that person for your boyfriend. It sounds like the 18 year old may have had "a thing" for your boyfriend for a while and the break-up of your relationship with your boyfriend was probably the catalyst for their relationship to move onto a different level.

The new boyfriend is 18 so your boyfriend is doing nothing illegal. I agree the age gap is quite large, especially as it is half the age of the boyfriend, but relationships do often work, even with big age gaps.

Wish your ex well in his new relationship and leave him to get on with it.

Are you getting treatment for your depression and OCD? If not, perhaps now is a good time to concentrate on yourself and getting better?

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A reader, anonymous, writes (5 November 2016):

He's your ex, right? It's really no longer your business who he's with, as long as he's not with you and cheating.

Go completely no contact, delete his number, and ignore his attempts to contact you. I think you have more important personal matters to deal with; not him and his little gay experiment.

If this causes you extreme anxiety, see your therapist!

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A female reader, Barnes66 Turkey +, writes (4 November 2016):

Barnes66 agony auntAs others As others have rightly pointed out,he is your ex now.What he does now is nor longer your concern nor your business.It's time to move on

To start, you need to break contact. The fact that you want him and he doesn't want you means you are not going to be together and certainly not be able to be friends. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's the way things are. That means no email, no phone calls, no IM, no nothing. Don't contact him, and don't contact him back if he contacts you.

Time to move on

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A male reader, N91 United Kingdom +, writes (4 November 2016):

N91 agony auntWhy do you need to deal with it?

He's your ex. Nothing needs to be done on your part besides blocking him and moving on with your life.

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A female reader, Honeypie United States + , writes (4 November 2016):

Honeypie agony auntHow is this YOUR thing to deal with?

He is your ex. And your ex-bf has now decided he wants to date a dude. Which means he probably wasn't 100% straight when he was with you, but he was unsure, he still is. He most likely dated women exclusively because he WANTED to fit in with the "norm" of society (which is straight).

You didn't MAKE him gay (or bi)

My guess is he didn't just break up with you because of your depression and OCD, but because he had started to grow feelings for the younger dude.

The fact that he is now dating an 18 year is none of your business either. I get that you find it weird, that a 27-year-old is dating someone 9 years younger - but maybe this is the FIRST guy he has felt he could "experiment" with or be himself with. It happens.

He will do him, you do you.

So OP, suck it up Buttercup.

IF you find it hard to deal with CUT the contact and let him do this thing while YOU move on. Hopefully, YOU will start to focus on working on your depression and getting the OCD under control. It might make it EASIER for you NEXT time you met a guy you want to date.

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

A female reader, Soup1129 United States +, writes (4 November 2016):

What do you mean you got on with him? What a difficult situation, I would be pretty shocked too then again anything is possible. If I were you, I would be there for him as a friend and try so hard to not take anything personally. If he is gay or bi, and just figuring it out, I'm sure he needs someone to talk to. Help him out! And as you help him find out his answers, your questions will be answered too.

<-- Rate this answer

...............................   

Add your answer to the question "Ex has started dating an 18 year old guy! How do I deal with this shocking news?"

Already have an account? Login first
Don't have an account? Register in under one minute and get your own agony aunt column - recommended!

All Content Copyright (C) DearCupid.ORG 2004-2008 - we actively monitor for copyright theft

0.0312658000038937!