Scheduling woes

anamikanon

New member
Spexy and I have been in an LDR for two years now, progressively getting more and more serious. The LDR is seriously getting on my nerves now. It was easier to be single than to have a partner for a couple of days a month and those days too can be disrupted by meeting other people or the son being difficult and so on.

He has over and over made plans to try and spend more time at home. Made plans to speak at his office and move here for the most part and travel to his city only as needed. We have had an engagement ceremony before our parents. And yet nothing has really changed.

I know it isn't something that can really be helped. There are factors beyond his control too and he isn't one to take hard stands while he can drift along. But I can't help be frustrated. I often overreact to reduced time available to us, trips that don't end with some sense of having had enough time together and so on.

It isn't any single thing. I can take sexual frustration. I absolutely don't mind living on my own. I don't want to crack a whip and force him into hard choices he doesn't feel ready to make.

But the overall uncertainty of it is infuriating. One month we could have a week together, another a couple of days. This time it was a couple of days with his parents present for two out of the three days because of the engagement! He left a bare 12 hours after them and between being tired and my son being hyper excited with everything going on, we didn't even get to say bye properly. So much for being newly engaged.

Some of it is my irritation with the situation beyond his actions - I dislike interacting a lot with people and the engagement was definitely stressful for me. Add to that my one comfort zone seemingly leaving abruptly was enough for me to blow a fuse. I'm not normally needy/clingy by nature, but I'm just having a hard time to find the patience for this situation to resolve at its own speed. It has been over two years like this!

It doesn't help that small sub-goals toward being together more have been missed. For example he was to try and shift here for the greater part of his time by June. That isn't looking possible at all though it isn't June yet. He was supposed to negotiate for this shift to happen. That hasn't panned out for one reason or the other. There is a possibility that he may quit his job toward the end of the year - for reasons unrelated to me - if those get resolved, he could continue like this indefinitely?

I understand that it is just a sucky phase we have to live through and that it will pass. Not worried that our relationship is having problems on the whole, but I'm definitely irritating myself as well as possibly him by losing it over what I see as lack of adequate attention to our relationship.

I don't want to overreact and make a hard situation worse for him. Frankly, I understand how such a big change in life is worth doing right, even if it means a few delays getting it done. But the uncertainty is driving me nuts. I'm a pretty black-and-white person like that. I say what I mean and do it. If I doubt my ability to do it, I don't say I will do it. All these plans and revisions and indecisions are driving me crazy!

Any ideas? Coping strategies?
 
Hi!


I have a long term LDR with my girlfriend and wow, it can be hard at times. Especially with the uncertainty about what you can count on/expect with availability, even for simple things like a phone call.

So, it sounds to me that it's hard for you to really distill what you need because there are so many contributing factors. Yes?


What stuck out to me from your post was A) relationship not getting enough attention and B) uncertainty sucks.

I also got that you don't want to push/add pressure.

Maybe there is a way to add more structure? Not as the core of your relationship, you can still remain flexible, but add a regular thing you can count on?

For example, once a week at X time we have three hours together no matter what. Or the third Sunday of every month is ours, or every third month we meet on this day, just us.

Sometimes people like me who like to keep things open and go with the flow, we respond well to set schedules and structure. It feels different than being pressured. It can be nice to have something to count on, prioritize, and plan around, to know it's there even when things get crazy.

Maybe figure out your bare minimum "count on" time and negotiate a good schedule for that with him?
 
What stuck out to me from your post was A) relationship not getting enough attention and B) uncertainty sucks.

I also got that you don't want to push/add pressure.

Yes. Exactly.

add a regular thing you can count on?

We could see if we can come up with something like this. Even online would help. Some time both of us can count on.

Maybe figure out your bare minimum "count on" time and negotiate a good schedule for that with him?

I really need this. And to figure out how to negotiate it realistically. Problem is whenever we discuss it, he overcommits readily, which becomes difficult to sustain. I don't think it is deliberate. More like he too wants it, but doesn't have a realistic idea of what he can sustain over time. He is finding it quite hard to juggle travel here and work pressure.
 
Just to clarify, it is the LD part of the R that is getting on my nerves. I am quite happy with him otherwise. And even the LD part is not a deal breaker, more like frustrating and recurring irritation.
 
Hi anamikanon,

Sometimes I think venting helps with a problem like this ... After all, there's not much you can do about it. The only other thing I can think of is working with your partner to help him commit realistically. If there's something he could always do that would relieve some of your frustration, that would be good. But it has to be something that he really could always do.

Difficult situation. I personally have a real attitude problem against LDRs, so for me it's not surprising that you are having some LDR-related troubles. Sorry that is happening.

Sincerely,
Kevin T.
 
Hi anamikanon,

Sometimes I think venting helps with a problem like this ... After all, there's not much you can do about it. The only other thing I can think of is working with your partner to help him commit realistically. If there's something he could always do that would relieve some of your frustration, that would be good. But it has to be something that he really could always do.

Difficult situation. I personally have a real attitude problem against LDRs, so for me it's not surprising that you are having some LDR-related troubles. Sorry that is happening.

Sincerely,
Kevin T.

This strangely was the post that nailed it. Venting here allowed me to just SAY things without worrying how he's taking it, etc and once I said what i needed to say, I immediately felt better.

I was able to spend exxtensive time online with him with this long weekend he isn't working, get on with my usual routine for when he isn't here. Feeling much, much better, though of course there are many unresolved things waiting for him to get back - from big discussions to a simple urgent proper hug. And sex :D

He's also able to make a second trip this month on the last weekend. That definitely improved my mood too.

I hear you on the problem with LDRs. I'm personally developing quite some attitude problem against them too. Normally I enjoy the space, but it is just too much headache to figure out how to be together when your relationship needs unplanned attention. A hug shouldn't be something you do a raincheck on.
 
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In unrelated news, I'm ogling my new gym trainer. :D

We get along very well. He's very competent (which is a turn on for me - way more than looks) and attentive, doesn't shy away from touch or touch like a creep - which can be an issue with male trainers in gyms in India. Just speaks of quiet confidence. He knows what he is doing. Oddly, the professional manner of his behavior makes him attractive. There is space to be comfortable. Or maybe middle age is like that :rolleyes:

Sadly, it is only ogling, as he appears to be half my age (40). I'm no prude, but that is a completely different generation and set of priorities in life, so it is unlikely to be more than motivation to go the gym regularly. :rolleyes:

But it is fun to have someone to eye locally anyway, even if he has no idea :p
 
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