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How often to see partner

Hiya I've been with my boyfriend for 16 months and we see each other 3 nights a week. We do chat on the phone in between. Thing is I'm beginning to feel that this isn't enough. He has his own business and works long hours and I work in the day and 2 evenings a week and he sees his son on a Sunday so that's another day gone. I can't see how we can physically manage to see each other any more. My friend sees her boyfriend 5 Eve's a week plus all day on a Sunday. I have spoken to my b/f about this and he can't understand what the problem is. How often is normal to see your partner?


Thanks
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Comments

  • paulineb_2
    paulineb_2 Posts: 6,489 Forumite
    If you cant manage to see one another any more due to working hours and him having his kid, how cant it be enough? He looks as if hes spending as much free time that he has to spare, with you.
  • notanewuser
    notanewuser Posts: 8,499 Forumite
    I see my husband for less than 48 hours a week. If you assume 16 are spent sleeping that's 32 hours a week. Unless he goes diving for the weekend , in which case it's about an hour all weekend, lol.
    Trying to be a man is a waste of a woman
  • heartbreak_star
    heartbreak_star Posts: 8,286 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    Move in together?

    HBS x
    "I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."

    "It's easy to know what you're against, quite another to know what you're for."

    #Bremainer
  • benjus
    benjus Posts: 5,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Not sure if there's such a thing as "normal", but it 3 nights a week doesn't sound a lot for an established relationship, especially if it's expected to become more serious.

    When I started seeing my fiancee we saw each other about 2 nights during the week, plus all of the weekend. After about 14 months we'd moved in together.

    However, if you're limited by schedules that cannot be changed and you're not ready to move in together I can't see there's much you can do about it. What kind of business does he have? If there are times when he's working and you're free, could you join him at work?
    Let's settle this like gentlemen: armed with heavy sticks
    On a rotating plate, with spikes like Flash Gordon
    And you're Peter Duncan; I gave you fair warning
  • Kayalana99
    Kayalana99 Posts: 3,626 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Well.... I've seen my BF every day since we got together... were now engaged with 2nd child on the way and still going strong :D

    Guess I'm not normal? lol
    People don't know what they want until you show them.
  • paulineb_2
    paulineb_2 Posts: 6,489 Forumite
    Everyone is different. Some people dont necessarily want to move in together or live together no matter what their ages are, Im assuming OP that you are roughly the same age as me.

    The last person I dated lived 400 miles away from me so you can imagine how often we saw one another.

    I also know someone my age who is in a relationship with someone, she lives outside Aberdeen and he lives in Ipswich and theyve been together a year

    I do think though that youve posted other threads in your time asking for advice about this relationship and that something isnt right.

    Because if you were happy with this situation, you wouldnt be having to ask and please dont compare your life with that of your friends. Some people want to see a partner every day even if they live together, others will.

    Im not sure if I was dating someone who didnt live with me that Id want to or need to see them 5 days a week, in fact I have dated people that I didnt live with and we didnt see one another all the time.

    Considering the fact that you work and he works and you work two evenings as well, 3 times a week doesnt sound that bad.
  • fabforty
    fabforty Posts: 809 Forumite
    There is no 'normal' when it comes to relationships, it what works for you and what you are happy with. Three evenings a week, especially if you do not live together and at least one of you is working, seems okay to me but every one is different. OH and I have been together 10 years and until DS1 arrived 2 years ago, we saw each other twice a week at best. We both work full-time with OH working shifts. Perhaps you each want different things.
  • Faith177
    Faith177 Posts: 2,927 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I see my husband 1 night a week as he works and lives 80 miles from where we live
    First Date 08/11/2008, Moved In Together 01/06/2009, Engaged 01/01/10, Wedding Day 27/04/2013, Baby Moshie due 29/06/2019 :T
  • fishybusiness
    fishybusiness Posts: 1,263 Forumite
    Tend to agree three nights a week isn't enough to maintain a relationship, especially as you do not live together.

    If you have a committed relationship, looking at the longer term, couldn't you spend time with your partner and his son, on a Sunday?

    Obvious solution is move in together, see if it works.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    The normal thing is to spend a large portion of free time together. Which it sounds is whats happening now.

    You cant expect him to stop working, or you to stop, and to not see his child.

    You putting extra pressure on the relationship, and short of moving in together, that pressure is likely to push him away.
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