How to Attract the Man of Your Dreams/ex girlfriend
Expert: Susan Dunn, Dating Coach - 3/7/2008
QuestionQUESTION: Hi Ms. Dunn,
This question is broader than the category, but you seemed like the most qualified expert, which is why i would like you opinion.
My girlfriend and I dated for almost 6 months. nothing seemed wrong, and then one day she ended it. i could tell over the final few weeks, she had become a little sarcastic with me. things like, she had a necklace with an 'a' on it, and i asked if the A stood for alex, and she sarcastically said 'yeah, its an A for alex.' also, i asked her why she had all these candles in her bathroom that weren't lit, and she said 'because i need someone to take a bath with.'
there are a few things which i think could have lead to the break up. can you let me know if you think they had any affect?
1. she worked in a bar on the weekends. i would never go in. i asked her if it bothered her that i didnt go in, and she said 'no, i just think its wierd.' i then told her that i wouldnt go in because i didnt want her waiting on me and my friends, and she then said that that made her happy.
due to her working at the bar, we never got to have areal social life together. we would spend a lot of time together, but it was always just us. i would ask her to take a night off so all of our friends could go out together, but she always said she needed the money.
the only friend i met of her's, didnt think we were right for eachother. not because im a bad guy, but because she thought we were very different. im sure she told this to my girlfriend. the only friend she met of mine, was a very conservative guy. my ex was a more wild type of girl.
i wonder if she would have met more of my friends, guys who are more wild like her, if she would have taken a night off. maybe she thought she wouldnt have fun with us because she thought all of my friends were like this guy? maybe if i would ave gone into her bar, she could have seen me in a different light, and met more of my friends? do you see anything here which could have been an issue for her?
2. when we first started dating, she asked me to come home with her for our birthdays. they were on back to back days and came 2 months into the relationship. were both 25. i told her i couldnt come home with her because i rarely get to see my family, and they wanted me to go home to see them for my birthday. her family lives a 2 hour drive away, while mine lives in another state. so i went home.
while i was at home, i sent her a dozen roses on her birthday. when i came back, i brought her a couple of t-shirts from home and a clock i thought she would like. before i left, she was always asking me what i wanted for my birthday. when i got back, she didnt get me anything. we went out to dinner for our birthdays, and paid for each other. maybe she thought that was her gift to me?
she never ended up wearing the shirts i got her, and when i asked where the clock was, she just gave me a disapproving look. i asked why she never wore the shirts, and she said she did. the next, she was wearing one, but took it off a little while later, saying it was uncomfortable.
i went away for work for 6 weeks in the middle of the relationship. before i left for my birthday, she told me she would come visit me while i was gone. when i actually went away, she said she couldnt come visit me because she had to work. so i came back half way through to see her. when i came back for good, i brought her some exspensive sunglasses. she asked me why i got them for her, i said because i felt as though i never got her a real birthday gift
do you think me going home on our birthdays, and maybe not getting her a great gift, turned her off somewhat?
3. i did eventually go with her to meet her family about 4 months into the relationship, after i got back from my job. her family loved me. after that, a few days later, she suggested that we spend the holidays with her family, and then she would fly down with me to be with my family. i again told her i would go home for the holidays because i never see my family.
she then suggested that we take a cruise for new years, one which left from where i was from, and i said ok, but also suggested some other places which might be fun. the next day, she gave me some flimsy excuse of why she couldnt fly to my home. i thought this was wierd because of the fact that a day earlier she suggested about coming home with me. i told her at somepoint she would have to come to my home.
during the relationship, she also told me how her friends boyfriend had asked her friend to fly home with him because he wanted to introduce her family to her. was this her way of telling me to invite her home.
also, at the begining of the realtionship, she asked me what my mom thought of her. i told her that i dont talk to my mom about girlfriends, which is true. i later told her that my mom now knew about her. a few weeks before she eneded it, she asked 'who knows about me' which i thought was wierd, and she also asked if i thought my mom would like her, and i said yes
do you see this issue, of me never directly inviting her home with me, even though i did tell her that she would have to come home with me eventually, as an issue with her? i had asked her to move in with me when her lease expired, so she she knew i wanted to move things along. she always told me she wanted to live with someone before she ever married them. when i asked her this, she said 'maybe'
4. finally, it had almost been 6 months, and i had yet to tell her that i loved her, even though i did. i would show her all the time. she would occasioanlly bring it up how she had told her friend she had feelings for me. a week before it ended, she told me how much she liked me, and asked me how much i liked her, and i told her 'a lot.' when she asked me this, was she trying to get me to tell her that i loved her?
2 nights before it ended, we were driving to dinner, and she was talking to this same friend. her freind told her that she had just told her boyfriend that she loved him. the next, my ex went out to dinner with this girl. im sure they talked about that. 2 days later, she said she wanted a break?
do you see me not telling her i loved her as a reason for why she broke up with me?
the final things you should know. after she said she wanted a break, i waited 4 days, and then sent her flowers. i got no response. i waited another week, and then called her. i left her a message telling her how i felt about her, how much i wanted her, and how i wanted her forever. i got no response for a couple of hours, so i texted her asking her what the deal was. she replied saying it was over because she didnt feel the same way about me as i did about her, and that that wasnt fair to me. this was strange for me, because only a week earlier, she was telling me how much she liked me. do any of these factors have an affect on how she would feel about me?
finally, 3 weeks after we broke up, she met a guy at her friends wedding in vegas. 2 weeks later, she went across the country to visit him. 2 weeks later, he came here to visit her. after knowing each other for a month and a half, and being in the same city as eachother for maybe 2 weeks, she said how madly in love she was with him, and she moved across the country to live with him.
2 months after she left me, and while she was dating this new guy, i texted her again, telling her i loved her, and asking if there was anything i could have done. she said 'no, there was nothing you could have done, i just didnt feel the same way. i met the most amazing guy, and im moving. i hope you find the person who sweeps you off your feet.'
so overall: 1. does this imply that i didnt sweep her off her feet, and that i wasnt amazing? 2. were those issues which i named a factor in her not having stronger feelings for me, or a reason as to why she left.
please be brutally honest. thanks
ANSWER: Just some gut notes here as we go along. I will write in caps as that's the only way I can differentiate.
My girlfriend and I dated for almost 6 months. nothing seemed wrong, YOU WERE CUES, I.E., CLUELESS. I RECOMMEND A MONTH OF COACHING FOR THIS TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED. IT ALWAYS DISTRESSES ME THE NUMBER OF MEN I HEAR FROM, LIKE WITH DIVORCE, WHO SAY "NOTHING WAS WRONG I THOUGHT IT WAS A PERFECT MARRIAGE. I'M SURE THE WOMAN WAS SCREAMING MESSAGES ALL THE TIME!
and then one day she ended it. i could tell over the final few weeks, she had become a little sarcastic with me. things like, she had a necklace with an 'a' on it, and i asked if the A stood for alex, and she sarcastically said 'yeah, its an A for alex.' WELL IF YOUR NAME IS ALEX, OR HERS, THAT'S PROBABLY FEMALE TALK FOR WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE ME THIS ... OR SOMETHING SIMILAR ,,, OF A GENERAL SARCASTIC (PASSICE AGGRESSIVE) COMMENT THAT YOU WEREN'T VERY OBSERVANT
also, i asked her why she had all these candles in her bathroom that weren't lit, and she said 'because i need someone to take a bath with.' DON'T YOU THINK THAT WAS A HNT?
NOW, I'M NOT JUDGING ON HER VALUES HERE. PERSOALLY I'
M NOT FOND OF WOMEN WHO WANT BLING BLING, OR MEN TO BATHE WITH THEM TO WHOM THEY ARE NOT MARRIED ... BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND MALE TALK. DID YOU JUST STAND THERE WHEN SHE SAID THAT?
there are a few things which i think could have lead to the break up. can you let me know if you think they had any affect?
1. she worked in a bar on the weekends. i would never go in. i asked her if it bothered her that i didnt go in, and she said 'no, i just think its wierd.' i then told her that i wouldnt go in because i didnt want her waiting on me and my friends, and she then said that that made her happy.
CONSIDER ... A WOMAN WHO WORKS AT BARS ON A WEEKEND ... WHAT DOES THIS TELL YOU?
due to her working at the bar, we never got to have areal social life together. we would spend a lot of time together, but it was always just us. i would ask her to take a night off so all of our friends could go out together, but she always said she needed the money. MAYBE SHE JUST WANTED TIME ALONE WITH YOU. DID YOU CHECK THAT OUT? WHY DID YOU WANT FRIENDS ALONG??
the only friend i met of her's, didnt think we were right for eachother. not because im a bad guy, but because she thought we were very different. I SUSPECT THAT YOU WERE/ARE. im sure she told this to my girlfriend. the only friend she met of mine, was a very conservative guy. my ex was a more wild type of girl. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT...A WILD GIRL? tHEN THIS PLAYED ITSELF OUT ABOUT THE WAY IT WOULD. NOT RELIABLE, AND NOT CAPABLE/READY FOR A REAL RELATIONSHIP. yOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE PIECES AND HOW THEY GO TOGETHER. AGAIN, I RECOMMDN COACHING (EMAIL ME AT sdunn@susandunn.cc)
i wonder if she would have met more of my friends, guys who are more wild like her, if she would have taken a night off. THAT'S A STRANGE THING TO EVEN BRING UP. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING? AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO WANTS "WILD"
maybe she thought she wouldnt have fun with us because she thought all of my friends were like this guy? maybe if i would ave gone into her bar, she could have seen me in a different light, and met more of my friends? do you see anything here which could have been an issue for her? YES ... HAT'S THE DEAL WITH ALL THE FRIENDS. YOUR FRIENDS AREN'T YOU. YOU ARE DATING HER, NOT YOUR FRIENDS.
2. when we first started dating, she asked me to come home with her for our birthdays. they were on back to back days and came 2 months into the relationship. were both 25. i told her i couldnt come home with her because i rarely get to see my family, and they wanted me to go home to see them for my birthday. her family lives a 2 hour drive away, while mine lives in another state. so i went home.
while i was at home, i sent her a dozen roses on her birthday. when i came back, i brought her a couple of t-shirts from home and a clock i thought she would like. SOMETHING MORE PERSONAL MIGHT HAVE WORKED HERE. I THINK THE WOMAN LIKE BLING BLING. I'M NOT PUTTIN A VALUE JUDGMENT ON THIS, BUT YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT IT. I DON'T THINK JEWELYY (UP TO THE POINT OF THE RING) MEANS ANYTHING EXCEPT MONEY - AND CAN INDICATE GOLD-DIGGING, BUT IT VARIES.
before i left, she was always asking me what i wanted for my birthday. when i got back, she didnt get me anything. we went out to dinner for our birthdays, and paid for each other. maybe she thought that was her gift to me? THIS IS OW DETERIORATING. iT'S GETS MATERIALISTIC SOMEHOW, AND BOTH OF YOU ARE WITHHOLDING.
she never ended up wearing the shirts i got her, and when i asked where the clock was, she just gave me a disapproving look. A WOMAN DOES NOT WANT A CLOCK, OR ANYTHING THAT TICKS, WHIRRS, CUTS OR BLENDS OR VACCUMS FOR A ROMANCTIC EARLY-ON GIFT.
i asked why she never wore the shirts, and she said she did. the next, she was wearing one, but took it off a little while later, saying it was uncomfortable. I'D TAKE THIS THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS ON THE WAY DOWN. SHE DOES'T COME OUT AND SAY THINGS, BUT THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
i went away for work for 6 weeks in the middle of the relationship. before i left for my birthday, she told me she would come visit me while i was gone. when i actually went away, she said she couldnt come visit me because she had to work. THROWAWAY LINE. ALS WOMEN DO THIS WHO REALLY DON'T HAVE MONEY. WHY DIDN'T YOU SEND HER A TICKET? BEIND THIS IS OFTEN - IF YOU'D MARRY ME WE COULD DO THESE THINGS. I HAE SEVERAL CLIENTS RIGHT NOW WHO WANT THE MAN TO MARRY THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM FINANCIALLY, AND THEN THOSE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO QUIT WORKING IN A BAR??
so i came back half way through to see her. when i came back for good, i brought her some exspensive sunglasses. she asked me why i got them for her, i said because i felt as though i never got her a real birthday gift
do you think me going home on our birthdays, and maybe not getting her a great gift, turned her off somewhat? YES
3. i did eventually go with her to meet her family about 4 months into the relationship, after i got back from my job. her family loved me. after that, a few days later, she suggested that we spend the holidays with her family, and then she would fly down with me to be with my family. i again told her i would go home for the holidays because i never see my family. OOPS. YOU ARE SETTING PRIORITIES HERE. REMINDS ME OF THE NOTE i GOT THE OTHER DAY FROM A MAN WHO SAID WHY CAN'T SHE UNDERSTAND MY DAUGHTER COMES FIRST, THEN FAMILY, THEN ME, AND IF SHE'S THE LUCKY ONE, SHE'LL TAKE 3RD PLACE INSTEAD. (i WOULD SAY - RUN, DON'T WALK)
she then suggested that we take a cruise for new years, one which left from where i was from, and i said ok, but also suggested some other places which might be fun. DON'T DO THAT. IT'S CONFUSING. YOU GOT A DIRECT QUESTION DON'T 'FIX A PROBLEM' JUST GO WITH WHAT SHE SAID. A SIMEPLE YES OR NO WOULD HAVE DONE
the next day, she gave me some flimsy excuse of why she couldnt fly to my home. i thought this was wierd because of the fact that a day earlier she suggested about coming home with me. i told her at somepoint she would have to come to my home. I WOULD EXPECT A MAN WHO WAS TRULY DATING ME TO PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING. OF COURSE IT'S CONFUSING THAT SHE ASKED YOU. AT THIS POINT I'D SAY YOU HAVE A CONFUSED WOMAN.
during the relationship, she also told me how her friends boyfriend had asked her friend to fly home with him because he wanted to introduce her family to her. was this her way of telling me to invite her home. YES. AND NO DOUBT THE MAN PAID FOR IT ALL, AS DATING MEN ARE EXPECTED TO DO.
also, at the begining of the realtionship, she asked me what my mom thought of her. i told her that i dont talk to my mom about girlfriends, which is true. DON'T ANSWER THE QUESTION ANSWER THE NEED. DON'T BE SO CONcRETE!! THERE ARE LITTLE WHITE LIES YOU KNOW. SURELY YOU HAD AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR MOTHER THOUGHT OF HER. HOW COULD YOU NOT??
i later told her that my mom now knew about her. a few weeks before she eneded it, she asked 'who knows about me' which i thought was wierd, NO, IT'S A WAY OF FINDING OUT HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO YOU.
and she also asked if i thought my mom would like her, and i said yes WELL THAT'S GOOD
do you see this issue, of me never directly inviting her home with me, even though i did tell her that she would have to come home with me eventually, as an issue with her? YES. NOT THAT SHE'S RIGHT AND YOU'RE WRONG, BUT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE DISCUSSED IT AND FOUND OUT FOR YOURSELF
i had asked her to move in with me when her lease expired, so she she knew i wanted to move things along. THAT'S NOT THE DIRECTION I'D WANT IT TO MOVE INTO
she always told me she wanted to live with someone before she ever married them. when i asked her this, she said 'maybe' NOT GOOD. wELL IF SHE HAS TO LIVE WITH THEM FIRST ... IS THIS THE KIND OF WOMEN YOU WANT?
4. finally, it had almost been 6 months, and i had yet to tell her that i loved her, even though i did. i would show her all the time. THERE IS NO WAY A MAN SAYS THEY LOVE A WOMAN EXCEPT THE WORDS -0- I LOVE YOU
she would occasioanlly bring it up how she had told her friend she had feelings for me. a week before it ended, she told me how much she liked me, and asked me how much i liked her, and i told her 'a lot.' when she asked me this, was she trying to get me to tell her that i loved her? YESM OR JUST LAST DITCH EFFORT THE RELATIONSHIP IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES
2 nights before it ended, we were driving to dinner, and she was talking to this same friend. her freind told her that she had just told her boyfriend that she loved him. the next, my ex went out to dinner with this girl. im sure they talked about that. 2 days later, she said she wanted a break?
do you see me not telling her i loved her as a reason for why she broke up with me? ONE OF THEM, ONE IN A LONG LINE OF MISMATCHED THINGS
the final things you should know. after she said she wanted a break, i waited 4 days, and then sent her flowers. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
i got no response. i waited another week, and then called her. i left her a message telling her how i felt about her, how much i wanted her, and how i wanted her forever. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. GOTTA BE QUICKER ON THE UPTAKE, OR RUN A RELATIONSHIP MORE SLWOLY, SO YOU STAY IN PSYNCH
i got no response for a couple of hours, so i texted her asking her what the deal was. she replied saying it was over because she didnt feel the same way about me as i did about her, and that that wasnt fair to me. this was strange for me, because only a week earlier, she was telling me how much she liked me. do any of these factors have an affect on how she would feel about me?
finally, 3 weeks after we broke up, she met a guy at her friends wedding in vegas. 2 weeks later, she went across the country to visit him. 2 weeks later, he came here to visit her. after knowing each other for a month and a half, and being in the same city as eachother for maybe 2 weeks, she said how madly in love she was with him, and she moved across the country to live with him.
2 months after she left me, and while she was dating this new guy, i texted her again, telling her i loved her, and asking if there was anything i could have done. she said 'no, there was nothing you could have done, i just didnt feel the same way. i met the most amazing guy, and im moving. i hope you find the person who sweeps you off your feet.'
so overall: 1. does this imply that i didnt sweep her off her feet, and that i wasnt amazing? 2. were those issues which i named a factor in her not having stronger feelings for me, or a reason as to why she left.
IT'S HARD TO SAY. fIRST OF ALL, YOU LOVE THIS WOMAN. I DO NOT. IN FACT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF HER AND THINK YOU DODGED A BULLET.
ALL THE THINGS GO TOGETHER. IF YOU HAD REALLY WANTED HER, IT WOULD HAVE GONE DIFFERENT, AND VICE VERSA. YOU GOT INTO SILLY SIDE THINGS.
A WOMAN WHO WORKS IN A BAR AND WANTS TO MOVE IN WITH YOU AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS ... THINK AGAIN. WHO, AS I GET IT, COMPLAINS BECAUSE SHE DOES'T GET JEWELRY - IN A PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE KIND OF WAY.
OLD-FASHIONED DATING WORKED AND STILL WORKS. EMAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME COACHING ON THIS. ALSO, IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A "HOTTIE" THIS SCENARIO WILL REPEAT. YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LOOK INTO THE HORSE'S MOUTH.
TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST, I THINK YOU GOT LUCKY. I'm also curious to know what you liked about her .
ALL THE BEST,
Susan Dunn
sdunn@susandunn.cc
please be brutally honest. thanks
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: 1. when she said the bath thing, if i remember correctly, i said 'why do we take a bath?', and she didnt give a response. she had previously asked me to shower with her, which i did. was she frustrated always having to be the one to ask to do these things? did she think it was the role of the man?
2. the birthday issue. first, she isnt really a gold digger. she is financially indepandant. she was an engineer out of college, making 80K. she quit that job to go back to school to become a vet. she only worked at the bar to put herself through school. also, if she was a gold digger, i think she would have stayed with me, because she knew i had money. so i dont think she was looking for BLING for a present. when i sent her the roses, she called to thank me and seemed happy. i think i should have stopped there, but i wanted to bring her back something from home, so i brought her back those shirts which said 'texas' on them, and a clock in the shape of the state. should i have not even given these to her? which part turned her off do you think, the leaving, or the floweres and shirts and clock? she did end up dating me for another 4 months after this. i always thought i was wrong with this issue, which is why i got her the sunglasses. how big of a deal do you think the birthday issue was?
3. as far as me setting priororities here. my family lived in another state. she knew i loved my family and liked to see them, and that i never got to. could she really hold that against me? she saw her family all the time. also, it wasnt like we had been dating for years. at that point, it had only been 5 months. also, the paying for everything wasnt an issue. i am in school. she knew i couldnt pay for her. also, would she not directly have told me, 'i would like to meet your family?'
4. if i would have told her 'i loved her' when she asked me how much i liked her, do you think things would have been different. would she have stayed? it hadnt been 6 months yet. would she really leave because i hadnt said it yet, although i think she could tell i felt it?
5. what was the line of mismatched things?
6. why do you think i dodged a bullet, and what were the 'silly' things
7. do you think if i would have done these things differently, she wouldnt have left?
8. what do you think ulitmately made her leave?
i liked her because she was increadably intelligent, a lot of fun, yes - she was good looking, but also very family orientated, wanted the same things as m in the future
AnswerSo much for assumptions.
QUESTION: 1. when she said the bath thing, if i remember correctly, i said 'why do we take a bath?', and she didnt give a response. she had previously asked me to shower with her, which i did. was she frustrated always having to be the one to ask to do these things? PERHAPS - A GOOD WORKING HYPOTHESIS did she think it was the role of the man?
2. the birthday issue. first, she isnt really a gold digger. she is financially indepandant. she was an engineer out of college, making 80K. she quit that job to go back to school to become a vet. she only worked at the bar to put herself through school. also, if she was a gold digger, i think she would have stayed with me, because she knew i had money. so i dont think she was looking for BLING for a present. when i sent her the roses, she called to thank me and seemed happy. i think i should have stopped there, but i wanted to bring her back something from home, so i brought her back those shirts which said 'texas' on them, and a clock in the shape of the state. should i have not even given these to her? which part turned her off do you think, the leaving, or the floweres and shirts and clock? she did end up dating me for another 4 months after this. i always thought i was wrong with this issue, which is why i got her the sunglasses. how big of a deal do you think the birthday issue was? HARD TO SAY
FAIR ASSUMPTION WITH THE AVERAGE ENGINEER - BINARY WORLD, LINEAR WORLD (WHICH IT REALLY IS NOT) THEY CAN BE HARD TO FIGURE OUT. AGAIN, I ASUGGEST YOU EMAIL ME FOR COACHING ... sdunn@susandunn.cc
3. as far as me setting priororities here. my family lived in another state. she knew i loved my family and liked to see them, and that i never got to. could she really hold that against me? WHAT DO YOU THINKL? YOU GOTTA 'SEE' WHAT YOU 'SEE'
she saw her family all the time. also, it wasnt like we had been dating for years. at that point, it had only been 5 months. also, the paying for everything wasnt an issue. i am in school. she knew i couldnt pay for her. also, would she not directly have told me, 'i would like to meet your family?'
4. if i would have told her 'i loved her' when she asked me how much i liked her, do you think things would have been different. would she have stayed? it hadnt been 6 months yet. would she really leave because i hadnt said it yet, although i think she could tell i felt it?
5. what was the line of mismatched things?
6. why do you think i dodged a bullet, and what were the 'silly' things
7. do you think if i would have done these things differently, she wouldnt have left? WELL CHANGE ANY ONE THING, AND THE WHOLE THING CHANGES, DO YOU KNOW CHAOS THEORY IN PHYSICS. A BUTTERFLY WING IN tOKYO CAUSES A TORNADO IN THE US.
8. what do you think ulitmately made her leave? EMAIL ME FOR COACHING.
i liked her because she was increadably intelligent, a lot of fun, yes - she was good looking, but also very family orientated, wanted the same things as m in the future WHAT DID YOU DISLIKE ABOUT HER?
All the best,
Susan Dunn
www.susandunn.cc
sdunn@susandunn.cc