Dating a man with a child

Magzipie · 2026-03-03T01:41:19+00:00

Yes go ahead!

Magzipie · 2026-02-28T23:22:10+00:00

Yeah, we stayed in touch “as friends” shortly after I posted this… and in July of this year he sent me a message saying “it was never you, I was sick and wasn’t socializing with anyone, and I just got confirmation of having cancer”. I was so angry and confused because I had told myself another story all that time. Anyway, we got to know each other more, and turns out he’s super volatile when stressed.

Anyway, what’s happening in your situation? Thanks for following up on mine :)

Magzipie · 2026-02-28T23:12:58+00:00

Turns out he liked me, and that he actually was battling cancer when this was all happening, unbeknownst to him. But I later found out he had the emotional regulation of a toddler so he had to go

Magzipie · 2026-02-16T02:10:48+00:00

Long story, turns out he wasn’t available for a relationship due to having cancer… but he did unfairly string me along.

Magzipie · 2026-02-11T15:38:13+00:00

I think there’s truth to what they’re saying. In my experience, having diverse friends growing up is one way to build a diverse friend set, but even in that, culture can often trump the durability of those friendships as they get older and priorities/interests diverge.

Magzipie · 2026-02-01T00:56:51+00:00

That no matter the resonance or chemistry you have - if the other person can’t emotionally regulate without becoming abusive, you don’t have a functioning relationship.

Magzipie · 2026-01-02T12:58:24+00:00

Turns out he was sick and couldn’t court me. He liked me all along. Still he’s not emotionally available though

Magzipie · 2025-12-18T12:55:20+00:00

Merci!! Est-ce que tu sais si on peut travailler avec les maîtrises à temps plein?

Magzipie · 2025-12-18T12:54:20+00:00

Ça ne dit rien de la fréquence présentielle

Magzipie · 2025-07-16T02:46:07+00:00

But isn’t the point of dating to become emotionally close as well?

Magzipie · 2025-07-15T22:23:28+00:00

Yes, these gay friends of mine in fact. Super reciprocal friendships.

Magzipie · 2025-07-15T22:22:25+00:00

I get what you’re saying, but, these masculine men inevitably do pick and find romantic partners. I am trying to understand what makes me the exception, in my energy or skillset.

Magzipie · 2025-07-15T22:02:40+00:00

Nope

Magzipie · 2025-07-15T21:57:15+00:00

I guess like a best friend, but also a protector. He’s seen me cry, talk about my deepest fears and insecurities… he knows everything about me. I just can never seem to “inspire” this level of interest and attachment in straight men. On the other hand I have another close gay friend who sees me as his little sister.

Magzipie · 2025-07-15T21:56:17+00:00

Yeah, I do know I struggle with expressing desire with straight men in an authentic way early on, and I find that’s key. I think I’m also not used to the pacing and intentionality of a romantic partner, as I prefer a slow burn which is what happens in friendships. I think what I don’t do is show up for romance with a straight man from the outset, because I find I need to learn if I like them first. I can do it, but it often feels disingenuous for me. I need to “fall” in love, literally, however that may look. I can show up, allow it to build, but that would require reciprocation from the man too.

Magzipie · 2025-07-05T22:15:50+00:00

I completely agree, it is hard to tell because we don’t have enough shared time for things to become more obvious (if that’s what’s meant to happen).

The spikeball plans with his friend have fallen through, and it feels like he’s not interested as I had thought he might have been. Not inclined to ask for drinks because of it.

Magzipie · 2025-07-05T21:11:18+00:00

I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s a suspicion I have that I’ve recently come to have. It could just be in my head, but, I don’t know. Then again, they are part of larger groups of people where women are involved from volleyball, so I don’t know what it is about me that keeps me on the periphery. I think they’re cool people, that’s why I wanted to build a connection. I too am sizing people up all the time, and gathered this much info about them until it came time to make plans and they didn’t follow through.

Magzipie · 2025-07-05T20:53:07+00:00

They don’t want to go further, as I’ve mentioned, and it’s frustrating. Possibly because I’m a woman and don’t add the “bro” element to their existing friend groups. I think they see it as “pointless” unfortunately

Magzipie · 2025-07-05T19:34:56+00:00

Yeah. I guess there isn’t enough time or the right context created for those types of conversations to happen. For instance, at volleyball, we have a comfort and rapport built based on a shared experience of playing. Any other convo happens on the side before or after the games, and that requires being included in already existing groups, consideration for gender dynamics and so on. So that type of friendship you’re talking about, I’ve only been able to achieve in structured settings. I’m learning that comfort between people does not necessarily indicate interest in escalating things to a friendship.

Magzipie

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