Well, this is what happened with Shawn. When I first came back here, he kept telling me he never wanted me back because I betrayed him. He kept telling me the same the same thing for 2 days. Then he changes his tune. He was really hurt when I left. He said my leaving was 80% his fault, I think its more like 90%, but all of a sudden he says to me, "marry me". He asked me this a couple years of years ago. He bought us wedding bands, but we never set a date. Also, soon after we met, he kept asking me "if I asked you to marry me, would you ?" I kept telling him, ask me for real ! So when he asked me again this time, I said yes, but under these conditions, he has to stop his binge drinking and he has to quit smoking. He promised me he will, so time will tell, and he knows I will leave for good if he breaks his promise to me,btw, he told me in the near past that he wouldn't quit smoking for me or anyone else !
So, just out of curiosity....is there anything he can say or do that is a real deal breaker? Because at least 5 things you said he has done would be deal breakers for me. What will he have to do to get you to actually see that you are not his priority and that this is NOT a healthy relationship? Or, are you willing to let all his bad behaviors just slide by?
Two really, REALLY hard addictions.
Chantix can help with the 2nd, determination the 1st, but he has to really want to. There are also Rx for drinking. Research that, much more effective than AA (which has a basis in religious ideology if I recall correctly, thus high failure rate).
Both Rx target dopamine receptors, which is the whole problem in quitting either once started.
Like trying to get "un pregnant".
I'm relapsed on smoking currently, and hate it, but have Chantix to cut down.
I don't expect anyone to be ok with that. Being that I'm not a life long smoker (long story) I do recall how much i hated the odor younger. The struggle is real.
Good luck with your decision. I'm in a mood right now that if I don't get core things I want in a person - FTS.
I"m not a fucking princess, pretty low maintenance, for what I am, all things considered, so the "job" isn't hard. Well... I think I'm easy, maybe I'm not LOL One person's "easy" is another's mountain.
If you can't do the minimum to "keep" me - shoo! And this goes for everyone save for my kid & dogs.
Hmmm, well this sounds like a tough start!! Sorry, but perhaps you should have said No instead of Yes until after he has proven himself to you. What incentive does he have to change now? I wish you lots of luck but please think clearly and make the best decision for yourself. The right kind of love and the right kind of relationship should be easy not hard, contain no drama and especially no ultimatums BEFORE you even begin a commited life together.
We have been together for at least 3 years. This problem with his smoking and drinking has been a problem over the years. That is why I moved out, but he said he really loves me, so time will tell. He promised me once before that he would stop his drinking on his 3 day weekends, that lasted one weekend. Pretty much the same this time. He says he will quit both addictions, I said I will not continue to look if he does, but his track record sucks, so I'm hopeful, but biding my time, and waiting to see.
@joantheloon 3 years is a long time, but it’s not a lifelong commitment. I guess the only question you need to ask yourself is....Am I Happy? Does he make you happy? Do you laugh more than you argue? Does he make you smile, does he make you feel loved and special?
You are going to find out things you do not, nor want, to know about human nature. Talk is cheap!
You are talking two strong addictions. People have to want that for themselves, not other people. These things take an incredible amount of time and commitment... not to be complicated by relationship issues. You may want to support as a friend to see where this goes.
Those sound like things he should achieve before tying the knot. He'll likely make excuses, otherwise.
I wish you good luck, but don’t get your hopes up. From what you shared on here, not only won’t he change, but chances are it will get worse. A lot of marriages end because the couple thought they could get their partner to change some traite they didn’t like if they just got married. It rarely if ever works.