Hi everyone, I (24F) have been dating my boyfriend (22M) for 6 months, and I’m struggling with whether this relationship has a future. I’d like some outside perspective because I don’t want to feel like I’m being unfair.
Here’s the situation:
- He’s been in the military since he graduated high school at 18 and now wants to get out.
- Hes doing a transition program that was supposed to help him land his “dream job” at a gun store, but it turned out to just be another minimum wage retail job.
- He didn’t factor in how much rent and bills would eat up his pay, and now he’s struggling financially.
- He’s considering college, but he doesn’t know what to go into. He mainly looks at salaries online without thinking about whether the field would actually be a good fit. For example, he’s talked about wanting to be a lawyer, but he was homeschooled, doesn’t have strong reading or writing skills, and he changes his mind constantly based on what he sees on social media. Recently he said maybe he wants to be an armored truck driver because he thought it seemed “cool.”
- Overall, he doesn’t really know what he wants to do once he’s out, and his backup plan is just to move back in with his parents.
I have lightly suggested that he should stay in the military, maybe major in finance, or go to trade school, but he doesn’t really listen and thinks all of those options are boring. Meanwhile, I’m 24, a recent graduate myself, currently applying to jobs and juggling multiple side hustles in the meantime.
On top of all this, he calls me constantly. He wakes up at 5:30am and will call me until he leaves for work at 8am, and then will call again from 6pm until he goes to bed. It makes it really hard for me to complete things, and I’ve been falling behind. I’ve asked him if we could just call once a day, but that makes him sad — he’s even insinuated that he doesn’t eat when we don’t talk as much. He also needs constant reassurance that I like him.
I care about him, but I’m worried that he’s very immature and not grounded in reality. I want a partner I can grow with, and right now it feels like I’m dating someone who has no direction or plan, and is very dependent on me emotionally.
Is it reasonable to break up with someone over this kind of situation? Am I being too harsh, or is it valid to want more stability, independence, and ambition in a relationship?
TL;DR: My boyfriend (22M) is leaving the military, struggling with money, constantly changing career ideas without real direction, and is very emotionally dependent on me. I (24F) just graduated, am trying to establish my own career and side hustles, but his constant calls and need for reassurance are making me fall behind. I’m also getting freelance work from his friends, which complicates things. Should I break up with him because of his lack of stability and maturity?
Comments
w only 6 months in… I would.
Yes. But also he needs to talk to a career counselor. Maybe at a local tech school?
What you want and what you expect in a partner is totally valid, based on your explanation you’re clearly not at the same point
1/ I would suggest a hard conversation that if he doesn’t change/evolve it won’t work
2/ The breakup seems like a viable option especially since you mentioned his tendency to guilt trip you with his long calls or his co dependency
I’ll be honest I don’t really see a bright future, based on your explanation
Statistically speaking relationships that develop closer to the age of 30 have a higher rate of success. There is a very good chance this relationship wouldn’t work out anyway. Also consider the fact that this man is not going to change. It will take years and years for him to grow up especially if he’s already this far behind and has absolutely no desire to grow. Girl run
It seems like you have opposing approaches to life. You’re a go getter & he’s happy to just go with the flow. If you are finding this difficult now that will only get worse with time. Being on the phone that much would drive me nuts too. I think you’d be better off not staying in this relationship
You are completely reasonable. He’s immature and you know it. You’re light years ahead. It’s a bummer but you can’t change him and you probably don’t want to be his mother. You will be making the right decision for you. You got this!