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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Leaving because I’d like another baby

200 replies

Mefirst86 · 20/10/2021 00:26

First ever post.
I’m considering ending my relationship because my partner doesn’t want to have any more children. We have one ds who’s 6. For various reasons having another had to be put off and then he changed his mind altogether, his reasons are valid but personal to him and not because of money or our situation etc
The thought of wanting another child and having a baby consumes me every day and I’m resentful that he is in control of that decision. I know that ending things wouldn’t mean that I would end up meeting someone and having a baby but the fact that it could be an option for me seems more appealing than having someone else decide for me and feeling incomplete. If it didn’t happen I feel that I could come to terms with that knowing that I’d tried.
We are not married but have been together 8 years and are as good as. I’d love to have that special day for me and my family but I also feel he is in control of that decision too and it will never happen so ultimately I feel like I’m sacrificing a lot and he’s not offering any sort of compromise.
Day to day things are fine and it would be very sad to end the relationship but it’s the bigger things in life that we cannot agree on. I’m 35 now so very much feel like it’s the time to accept the situation or make a change.
I’m not worried about being a single parent etc I’m more worried about explaining to my son who is a sensitive boy and the negative impact on him, I don’t want him to think he’s not loved and I need something more I just have more love to give to another child.
Not really sure what I’m asking but I don’t really have anyone to tell in real life!

OP posts:
FlatteredFool · 20/10/2021 00:35

Thanks for you, this is a tough situation. The drive to have children is unbearably strong. You sound like you have thought about this well and I wish you all the best. Fwiw I went it alone with dc3 and love being a single mum. I was 38 when I had him.he's the best thing that ever happened to me and I have no regrets.

bigbeautwoman · 20/10/2021 00:41

I can see more cons than pros for ending it, and most to the detriment of your son. I can’t help but feel you are being a bit selfish.

GoIntoTheLight · 20/10/2021 00:48

You’re giving your son the message that he isn’t enough for you, and so you’ll split up his family unit in your quest to have another child.

TaraR2020 · 20/10/2021 00:53

I wonder if there's more to your relationship than you've said that's leaving you unsatisfied/unhappy?

miac8 · 20/10/2021 00:55

If it is purely the fact you want more children that is making you think you should leave then I don't think you should leave. However it sounds like if you're so prepared to leave and you don't seem overly worried about missing your partner, it seems like your relationship might not be the happiest in other ways too? Not sure might be reading too much into this

Mefirst86 · 20/10/2021 01:03

Thank you for the replies. I have a lot of mixed feelings.It’s something that I think about daily and have done for a long time. I’d be full of guilt for breaking up our family unit but it also doesn’t feel right to just accept things won’t change.
Our relationship is ok, I would agree it’s not amazing but nothing is majorly wrong, I feel like we have just settled for how things are.
we have dealt with a lot in the past few years (my mum had cancer, we brought a house of horrors that took much longer to renovate, covid) and now things have settled down I thought we would be thinking about the next steps in life together but it seems this is it. I just don’t want to make a wrong choice

OP posts:
Fetarabbit · 20/10/2021 01:08

My friend did similar as she wanted another child and her DP at the time didn't. Sadly she didn't meet anyone else until she was mid 40s and by then it was too late, she really regretted leaving based on an assumption that leaving would mean she could have more children. Have you spoken to him openly and honestly about marriage?

Mefirst86 · 20/10/2021 01:14

Yes many times in the past but not recently. He’s always been quite a against it based on that his dad was divorced prior to meeting his mum and both his sisters have failed marriages.
But we have a mortgage and child, a completely joint life so in many ways it’s just a party to seal the deal and it would mean the absolute world to my family if we did that and I would also feel more complete and secure but it doesn’t seem important to him as he feels like he’s got everything he wants already

OP posts:
Redglitter · 20/10/2021 01:14

Your risking breaking up your family for something that might never happen. Is it honestly worth it. Separating. finding a new home, your son living between 2 houses.... it could be years before you meet someone else & even then there's no guarantee you'd fall pregnant.

It seems a huge gamble

TreborBore · 20/10/2021 01:33

It doesn’t sound as though your relationship is great. I would have some counselling to help you decide what to do.

RantyAunty · 20/10/2021 01:42

So he doesn't want to get married or have another child.

Why is it only him who gets what he wants?

ittakes2 · 20/10/2021 01:53

I think regardless of this second child you just described your marriage as OK. Doesn't sound like you love this man more than anything else and want to spend the rest of your life with him. I think this desire for another child is a red herring. An excuse to justify leaving him.

Cantgetausername87 · 20/10/2021 01:59

You don't sound like you'd miss your partner just sadness at breaking the family unit up.
I would have a chat with him and lay your cards on the table -life is too short to settle and to give up everything that you want. There is nothing wrong with wanting another child - you're not giving DS the impression he's.not good enough despite what some other posters have said!

HeartsAndClubs · 20/10/2021 02:11

TBH I think that people will always say that the relationship isn’t great to justify their own position. It’s like people who have an affair who say their marriage is awful to justify being with someone else, so someone who wants something else e.g. another a baby is likely to say their relationship isn’t great so they have justification for being selfish.

You say your dp’s reasons for not wanting a baby are valid, what are they?

Ultimately you already have a child. Destroying that child’s life for something you might never have is the ultimate in selfish.

And we’re not just talking about another baby here. We’re talking sending out the message to him that he’s not enough. Making him flit back and forth between houses where he will essentially be a part timer while, if you are successful, your brand new shiny baby will get to live with you full-time while he no longer does.

Becoming part of a blended family/s where he has to develop new relationships with potential step parents and step siblings, (go and look at the step parenting board and tell me that’s what you want for your child.)

Is it worth potentialy destroying your relationship with your existing child just so you can chase what might turn out to be a pipe dream? Or a baby which has serious disabilities who might need 24 hour care? Which could admittedly happen in your current relationship but sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/10/2021 02:18

Breaking up your family solely because you want another baby is one of the most selfish reasons I can think of. If your relationship is bad, that's one thing, but just because you disagree about having more children? Selfish.

Lorw · 20/10/2021 02:32

Sounds to me that this baby thing is just a red herring, you also don’t like the fact he won’t marry you. You both want different things. I don’t think anyone should settle just because of the ‘family unit’. As for those saying she should basically stay cause it’s selfish and cruel to her child, I’m pretty sure her child won’t like living in a home where his mum clearly resents his dad, that will turn toxic rather quickly and will fuck him up more 🤷🏻‍♀️ really it’s just prolonging the inevitable.

If your partner doesn’t make you happy then leave, simple as that, life is too short 😁

PurpleOkapi · 20/10/2021 03:42

@RantyAunty

So he doesn't want to get married or have another child.

Why is it only him who gets what he wants?

Because forced marriage is illegal in most of the world, for good reason. I can't believe this is even a question.
Cantgetausername87 · 20/10/2021 06:38

Are other posters just trolling?! If you're unhappy in your relationship (whatever the reason) you should try and fix it - if you can't its time to leave for the sake of your other child. They dont deserve to grow up in an unhappy household with parents who resent each other.

Fetarabbit · 20/10/2021 07:25

@Mefirst86

Yes many times in the past but not recently. He’s always been quite a against it based on that his dad was divorced prior to meeting his mum and both his sisters have failed marriages. But we have a mortgage and child, a completely joint life so in many ways it’s just a party to seal the deal and it would mean the absolute world to my family if we did that and I would also feel more complete and secure but it doesn’t seem important to him as he feels like he’s got everything he wants already
It sounds like he's been open about his feelings on it at least rather than stringing you along. If marriage is a deal breaker and he doesn't want to get married (kind of agree he has the house and the child so he probably thinks whats the need- we all show commitment in different ways) then yep, time to leave. I know I said it earlier, but it is important to recognise that things don't always go to plan, leaving him doesn't mean you'll find someone else who wants what you do; but if you're unhappy it's a risk worth taking.
gannett · 20/10/2021 07:45

we have dealt with a lot in the past few years (my mum had cancer, we brought a house of horrors that took much longer to renovate, covid) and now things have settled down I thought we would be thinking about the next steps in life together but it seems this is it.

If I'd gone through all that upheaval and turmoil and come out the other side in one piece I'd want to take some time to enjoy what I had rather than taking "next steps" which will be all-consuming and involve a lot of change.

Your DP's reasons for not wanting to get married or have another child are perfectly reasonable and he's been honest with you.

You could still make your argument for those things, they're conversations worth having. He should hear you out and have a respectful discussion but obviously he's not obliged to change his mind. You have a stronger argument for getting married, and you should focus on wanting to do it for your own legal protection. Meaning the world to your family is neither here nor there and not something that would sway me - the social pressure to get married because it's the "normal thing" is precisely why many people don't want to do it.

However like PP I suspect that the root of this isn't marriage or even another child but your lack of love for your DP. You don't say much about him as a person, which is telling in itself, but I don't get the impression you're satisfied in the relationship.

Given that there doesn't seem to be any abuse, you owe it to your son to get to the root of that before leaving. Did your DP change, become boring, become dull? What made you fall for him in the first place and can he get that back?

Or did you ever fall for him in the first place? Did you love him for who he was or was he only just "fine" and "OK"? I'm afraid if this was the case it won't get any better, but it's also a case of lying in the bed you made for yourself.

Mefirst86 · 20/10/2021 07:46

@Cantgetausername87

You don't sound like you'd miss your partner just sadness at breaking the family unit up. I would have a chat with him and lay your cards on the table -life is too short to settle and to give up everything that you want. There is nothing wrong with wanting another child - you're not giving DS the impression he's.not good enough despite what some other posters have said!
Thank you! I love my son more than anything but I feel like there’s space it my heart to double that. He’s my priory but he won’t be little forever. I feel so resentful it is probably affecting my love for this man, but I would never beg or force him to have another child or to get married as I know his choice matters too. What’s hard is that whatever sort of discussion we enter into his views will always win. Ultimately leaving me in an unfulfilling relationship. Many ppl have said I might not have another baby which I’m very aware of but I feel like at least I would have made my own choices and I think I would feel content knowing I tried rather than allowing someone else to be in control of the situation.
OP posts:
Lampan · 20/10/2021 07:54

It’s not that he’s ‘in control’ of whether you have another child or not. But the partner who doesn’t want another child will and should be the one who gets their own way. I think leaving at 35 to find someone to have a child with, especially since you already have one, is easier said than done.
It does, however, sound like there are other issues in your relationship that you need to address. Which may be a reason not to have another child with your partner even if he changed his mind.

Mefirst86 · 20/10/2021 07:57

Reading all the comments it probably is true that we love eachother a little bit less than we used to which is hard to acknowledge. We had a rough ride when ds was a baby and things ultimately changed.
He’s a lovely man and a genuinely great dad but he lacks drive to do anything different.
I feel he gets all the benefits of our set up and I’m left wanting more, maybe I’m just finding it hard to come to terms with that this is it!
Maybe we do need more time just to live a normal life together and enjoy things being a bit calmer for us? But I can’t turn of the baby thoughts in my mind and I’m 35 so do I just wait?

OP posts:
GoodnightGrandma · 20/10/2021 08:01

Good for you for taking control of your life.
The resentment will eat away at you, and the relationship will end anyway.
Go now and be yourself 💐

Darkdarknights · 20/10/2021 08:04

What is your plan if you leave then? To meet another man to have a child with? Or to do it on your own?