He Has Issues with My Past
We are in a wonderful relationship and we have almost everything a real couple would want to build a foundation for marriage, and we do amazing things together and love each other deeply - but he has a strong problem with my past. He asked me about my past early on and I agreed because I thought it was the right thing to do, to share and be adults about it. Unfortunately what I told him still bothers him today, 5 months later. He wakes up some mornings with these strong feelings and then in return there’s times when he treats me very badly – to the point where I have broken up with him. He said he’s never wanted me to hurt him, just prove him wrong. He said this in an e-mail yesterday:
“Baby, don't be sad. I was just telling you my feelings, which I am actively trying to improve. Today, more than ever before, I have all motivation and the incentive to make things work. I want to give you 100% of me. That's where I want to be. I see you giving more and it is pushing me to improve even more. That's what I am doing. I am not going to settle for giving you anything less!!”
It was comforting to hear that, but not comforting knowing that he still has such strong feelings about it all. He’s 34 with a 50’s mentality. He believes that men can do whatever they want and that women should only have a small number of past partners. It really scares me sometimes to hear that from him. I promised myself I would never be with a man who has views like this. He has a Latin background, more on the traditional side. The interesting part to all of this is that he has had 100+ more partners than me.
Do you think he can ever get over these feelings? Do you think we have a shot? What should I do in the meantime to help-anything? He is going to a therapist and we have been going to church and taking yoga and trying to live a more spiritual life, and I really have been a wonderful girlfriend but I just don’t know what to do.
Thank you.