You Asked..."Why Won't He Commit?"
Experts and readers answer our members' toughest dating and relationship questions
By Diana Kirschner, Ph.D.; Caroline Presno, Ed.D., P.C.C., and Chelsea Summers Updated: Jun 23, 2008
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"I've been in an on-again, off-again relationship with a man for 3+ years. He had been married for 20+ years. I was close friends with him for three years before that. After his separation, we decided to start dating. He was very upfront with me about his desire to date around a bit because he had not been 'out there' for some time and wants to see what he's been missing. We agreed to be nonexclusive (although I've never liked the idea much). I felt he deserved and needed it.Dear Robin -- It sounds like this man is still "married." You've been flexible, open and available while he has not. Because of the bitter custody/divorce situation, his mind is fixed on his wife and kids. And he has had no push to get beyond this and really look at what he has with you.
If you are serious about wanting fulfilling love, the most powerful thing you can do is what I call the fear-of-loss.
Tell your boyfriend that you want the whole enchilada
Tell your boyfriend that you want the whole enchilada and will end the relationship if he does not step up. If he does not respond, follow through and let him know that you will be dating other men. Then be strong and do it. Look around and find three guys to date casually (hold off on sex because it bonds you too quickly).
Tell your boyfriend that you want the whole enchilada
Losing you will open up his appreciation and longing for you. It will propel him to choose you without reservations, if that is what he desires in his heart of hearts. If he does not, you will be ahead, because you will be out in the dating world. And there are great guys who are baggage-free and available!
Wishing you all the best.
Caroline Presno AnswersHello Robin -- I know it's hard to walk away from someone you love, but it's time to start thinking about walking toward something better. You deserve a man who loves you just as passionately as you love him. When you find it, you will see that reciprocated love is so much more deep and fulfilling than one-sided love.
It seems like he is the one who is getting the most out of this relationship. He gets to date around whenever he wants and then he gets your love, support and comfort. And you end up feeling hurt and confused.
Take some time to self-reflect about the things that are keeping you in this relationship.
If you decide to move on, you need to make it stick. It's not a good idea to stay "just friends" with him, because he will most likely pull you back in. If you decide to continue the relationship with him, make sure that he is not the only one who gets to be "nonexclusive." You need the chance to date other people.
Chelsea Summers AnswersDear Robin -- That's quite the conundrum. To be honest, I know the feeling, having myself been in a three-plus-year relationship with a commitment-phobe man whom I love deeply. It's not easy to give up on companionship, great sex and deep love served with a side dish of hope that it will lead to lasting commitment. I feel your pain.
I have to say that your case is a bit different than mine, as your man is still going through a very nasty divorce. The freshness of those kinds of wounds would very logically scare a person, if not make it downright impossible for him to separate his fears from his lovely reality. It's just an awful lot to contend with on the inside. I don't hardly wonder why his walls have yet to come tumbling down.
My advice to you is to be open and honest with him about what you want.
On the other hand, if after checking in with your interior self, you honestly know that neither your needs nor your wants are being met, then it is indeed time to take care of yourself and, for lack of a better expression, kick him to the curb.
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