Please help me help him!

I don’t know where to really start. I recently fell for someone at work. A manager of another department. When I started his office was very close to my cube and I just kind of assigned myself to be coffeemaker because everyone loves how I make it. He used my mug and I would always go and let him know when it was done. One day he asked me if I brought lunch and we walked over to get lunch, which is something that everyone at work does. VP would go to lunch with anyone in any department, everyone is treated amazingly at work, equal treatment for sure. Anyway, that’s besides the point. He is beyond an amazing man, he is literally everything I have ever looked for in a man. Emotionally and mentally supportive. We met at a delicate time when we were both leaving toxic relationships. He is a single father who goes above n behind for his child, who lives in California and we are in NJ! He doesn’t miss a special event he flies out to see her even if just a weekend. Flew out for her first day of school, Christmas play.. etc. I am also a single mother of 2 kids. He’s always telling me how he cannot wait to spoil me, he seems to be well off financially due to what he tells me and I know his income, etc etc.. what I do know is that... his ex and childs mother doesn’t work and has a 3k rent bill every month that he pays partially. He pays his child’s private tuition, pays for her clothing and necessities, and STILL provides child support payments. What do men do in these situations? It’s not a situation like most dead beats where we all empower each other to treat him like dirt because that’s “what he deserves”. She’s not a good mother and I know this for a fact because we communicate everything to each other. He told me of a time when his ex’s dad called him and was like I know ur very involved, and i need you to know what’s going on, and told him that she drops their daughter off to her grandparents for 4-5 days at a time about every other weeks to two weeks, but she doesn’t work, has no income but his child support. How can u afford to live very close to LA, and have no income? I’m not here to bash another woman let alone another single mom because there have been plenty times where I defended her to him when he starts to talk about how she reacts when she’s overwhelmed with their child. I explain to him that as a mom, he can never judge her decisions and how she reacts. Granted, she did leave him and up and left to the other side of the country so she wouldn’t be alone, closer to her parents, and ripped this child away from a loving and capable and willing father. But anyways, side tracked again.. he doesn’t buy himself anything!! I’ve been in his room and he has literally 3 pairs of shoes and one pair of sneakers that he wears every day almost. It KILLS me that he’s so willing to provide for the people closest to him, he always makes sure I’m fed, if I’m in a financially rut, he offers me money, when I was short on rent and almost evicted he asked me why didn’t I tell him sooner. Would it be rude to ask him why he doesn’t shop for himself ? He has like 2-3 pairs of jeans he wears regularly, and 2 hoodies and that’s all. He has one coat that he wears for work which is for suits like a pea coat but he uses that same coat every day, everywhere. I feel so damn bad that he’s funding an extravagant apartment for his ex, when she can easily move elsewhere For cheaper. Sometimes I want to buy him things but I would never want to insult him. I want a man that takes care of himself as well. I don’t need to be taken care of. But what do I do? Should I buy him things that maybe he should wear here n there as random gifts? I dress well and I like to dress up, but I don’t know how to address it. I want to help him build himself like he does to me. We support each other emotionally so well. Help me help my baby!

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COMMENT (5)

So

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If you want to help him by buying stuff for him you can do so BUT DO NOT put your two senses into his relationship with his child’s mother or the things he does for them. Like someone else said, you only know HIS side of the story.

So

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I haven't finished reading but I'm gone tell you something woman to woman DO NOT EVER BELIEVE JUST ONE SIDE OF A STORY I do not care how genuine he is and how much he tells you that will always be his side of the story not hers it's 3 sides to EVERY story he's, hers, and the truth to even comment that she's not a good mom or however you phrase it is purely disrespectful because you don't know her or what they situation actually was I understand he's coming off like the perfect guy but there's no such thing and don't be so caught up in the happy moments you having with him and don't question (ok what did you do in order to get that reaction from her) nobody is innocent be careful with him is all I'm saying. When people over sale themselves it's because they have A LOT to hide trust me on this please.....

Ra

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I’m married to a man who would be happy with 5 pairs of pants, shirts and one pair of shoes. Seriously. *And I know ***a lot of guys*** like that.* Inuding my brother who grew up (only boy) with 4 sisters.Men are not like women. So first of all- get that through your head.Men who are balanced in their masculine are adjusted to being good providers and they prioritize that, so stop putting him. It’s insulting. And it’s an insult to the woman who raises his child. Because-as others already said - you’re getting one side of the story. And really? So is he because he’s on the other side of the country. My ex is a great father but many times in the beginning he misstepped on his judgements by making the wrong assumptions bc he didn’t ASK. He wasn’t willing to understand what I was going through bc he was afraid of being too “intimate” as friends by asking and having a close friendship that would build better communication and connection. He had this idea that exes can’t be close bc it’d make him vulnerable to me taking advantage of him (or whatever BS he was hung up on) so he kept a cold distance that prevented clear connection and communication- but all that did was reinforce problems bc he’d see or hear one thing and just ASSUME shit. Ex; he thought (and told people) I got a bigger boob job and was dating some guy weeks after our divorce, passing kids off to my parents —- reality: I had my implants surgically*removed* (I’m an athlete/coach; hated them) and ended up w/ severe MRSA infection that spread to tissues in breast, was in in-home hospice care, ended up having 4 more surgeries and lost 80% more of my natural breasts, couldn’t turn on gas in my house bc after 13 yrs marriage I had no credit so it was too cold in February for my kids and I looked like Frankenstein and my kids were already traumatized enough so they stayed with my parents during the day and at my house during the night (I also had 4 tubes draining blood out of incisions in my torso24/7 and could hardly get out of bed; their dad was traveling a lot, and they were just told we weren’t a family anymore- didn’t want them to see me like that and be so frightened + I had to somehow work from my bed when I could). My “boyfriend” was a practitioner who contracted for the conference I was directing and ONE of the many employees who came to my home to work remotely with me several times a week bc I could not leave the house. He just so happened to be young and good looking.TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY My ex always put his girls first despite what he thought of me... but When my ex finally got his head out of his ass and felt comfortable enough to develop a healthy Co parenting relationship- he realized how blatantly wrong the stories were that he’d created in his mind and he felt BAD. But listen- we ALL do that, right?So like I said; be supportive but don’t own stock in it. Encourage him to help her financially- but also EMOTIONALLY. Encourage him to find out what’s going on by going directly to HER. There’s a good chance her own parents don’t know the deal. And like I said- many dudes aren’t prioritizing their closets okay!? Don’t let your emotions make you the fool here.

Al

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Do not get involved in this relationship with his ex. Stay far away. If he wants to vent or share with you, then listen, but that's it.

Ro

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You know what he wants you to know/believe. I highly doubt he is funding her life and she didnt "rip" their child away from him. There are laws that go into divorces with children involved.You need to get your head out of the clouds my dear