To feel really upset about the fact that I've never been married at 35 and I want more children?

[BunFagFreddie]

This is eating me up. I don't know if it's my biological clock or what.

I spilt with DS's dad when he was 18 months. I always wanted two or three children and to get married. I preferably wanted my husband to be my DC's father. I don't feel that was an unreasonable expectation by any means.

After we split, I never met a man who wanted children with me or who wanted to marry me, so I'm still not married. DS is now 14 and is an only child. I honestly feel like it's a personal failing on my part.

I now have a DP, but he doesn't want children. He mentioned marriage a few times, but it's expensive, and he hasn't made much effort to sort it out anyway. No ring or actual proper proposal, so he can't be serious. So, last time he said something, I got really narked told him to save the money and that I'm not bothered about getting married now anyway. I feel rather crushed by him bringing it up whilst drunk when he obviously didn't mean it.

I love DS to bits and I know I am lucky to have him, but I still feel so upset that I'm 35 and my time is running out. It's unlikely that I'll have any more children. I feel so sad when I see friends and family that are married, or have more than one DC. I just feel like I'm not good enough for someone to marry, nobody wants to have children with me either. Am I really that bad?

I'm glad other people have good relationships and have beautiful children, but I wonder why they can have these things and I can't? What is so wrong with me that I'm 35, nobody has ever wanted to marry me and I have never found anyone to have another DC with?

Sorry for pity party, but AIBU to be really upset about this?

[MrsMushroom]

Maybe you should finish the relationship. You're 35...not 55. Theres still time for more children.

Many women meet men and have DC in their 40s.

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

So he doesn't want to get married and doesn't want children with you? What DOES he want?

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

YANBU BTW. You are only 35. I think you need a plan.

[havingastress]

At 35 I was single, no relationship in sight and had no children.

Fast forward 3 years - beautiful 11 week old baby, gorgeous fiance who I am marrying in August.

You need to stay positive.

Oh. And ditch the loser. As previous poster said, you're 35, not 55. (although I don't think 55 is old either!) You need fresh perspective. Doesn't sound personally like your partner is the person you should be with (from your post)

Good luck!

[BunFagFreddie]

We have been together for 5 years and living together for 4. I suppose that is as good as married in his eyes. I'd just like to make it more formal.

[JeezyOrangePips]

YANBU to want to get married

YANBU to want more children.

But why on earth tell your DP that you don't want to get married? Your reaction to him because he was drunk pretty much guarantees that he won't broach the subject again. Maybe he brings it up when he's drunk because he's nervous about bringing it up when he's sober? A wedding doesn't have to be expensive. You can choose to make it so, but there is no need to spend thousands.

I think you need to sit down with your DP sober and discuss this properly. It's okay for you to bring it up. In fact, apologising for the way you reacted would be a good opener.

[mummymacbeth]

i dont respond to many posts but didnt want to leave you without a response. sorry you are feeling bad. what I always do when I am not feeling happy with my lot is to remember what I do have rather than what I don't. you have a lovely son and a partner who loves you. also he is not a mind reader. if you want to marry him and have a child with him then tell him. If this is not what he wants think about what is more important to you. him or following your dream.

[baskingseals]

having one child is underestimated imho.

there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with you. i think most relationships are a matter of timing. you both want the same thing at the same time.

wanting more children is a visceral thing. i don't know how you can stop feeling that. i can tell you that more than one is bloody hard work but it wont make any difference to how you feel. but know that what you see of other people's lives isn't necessarily how it is. nobody lives a perfect life.

have you thought about fostering? you sound so full of love - could there be somewhere else to put it?

also, 35 is not too late at all. it could all still change.
do you love dp? does he make you happy?

[BillyBollyDandy]

For me wanting the DC would be more of dealbreaker than a marriage, although I agree that for some (including me) they do go hand in hand.

Do you want to meander along for the next 10 years with your DP? Because if I'm honest it doesn't sound like a match made in heaven, more a convenience? Sorry if I have that wrong.

[BunFagFreddie]

JeezyOrangePips, you ma have a point there. I did just assume that being drunk invalidated the whole thing.

DP is not a loser and we get on mostly, appart from differences to do with sleeping habits.

I consider myself a feminist, so I'm disappointed in myself for being so upset about the marriage issue.

[fuckadoodlepoopoo]

So it sounds as though he is committed to you but just doesn't want marriage. I don't think that's so bad, not everyone does.

As for the children bit, i assume you've known since fairly early on that he didn't want kids? You've been together quite a while now so i can't help but wonder why you have stayed with him if he doesn't want the same things as you. If you really wanted other kids when you met and you knew he didn't then did you consider finishing with him so that you could find someone who did?

[Flojobunny]

You've been together 5 years knowing he doesn't want children and you do?
You can't be that bothered about having more children then? Or am I missing something?
If you want more children then you don't settle with men who don't?
You either want to stay with DP and accept you will never have more children (bearing in mind you might split up in a few years when it really is too late) in which case YANBU to be upset but you do have to accept its your own fault.
Or you ditch DP and find someone who wants the same things as you.

[marriedinwhite]

35 is not too late.

Think you need to decide if you love him enough to compromise over the children. If you don't then you need to find someone who wants the same things as you.

I know I'm ancient but if women want to get get married, why do they move in with men before they are engaged and before a date is set and then just drift - often unhappily. Fine if neither party wants to be married.

[BunFagFreddie]

I did know that he didn't want DC, but it's not easy to find someone you get along well with, let alone someone who ticks all the boxes and wants children.

Flojobunny you make it sound like there are loads of men out there who would love to father my children. Unfortunately not so. I can't just wake up one day and think "I'll find a man who wants children with me". I could be single forever!

I'd love to know where people find all these men who can't wait to become dads, because I haven't met any of them! DS's dad didn't even want children! So, I have chosen to be with someone I get along with and who is a good step parent to my son.

[bigkidsdidit]

I think you need to steel yourself and talk to him about it. Your response probably means he won't bring it up again!

If he really, really doesn't want to get marrie and have children, you can decide what to do, whether to leave or not. 35 is not too late but you'd have to make your mind up. But you never know, he might have been thinking about these things too.

[MrsBucketxx]

You have to decide if having more dc and being married is more important than your dp.

If it is you have to end it, or you'll ve miserable. Tell dp what your intentions are straight, if he still says no then say goodbye.

He may shock you and say yes (maybe just to keep you), then its about times scales, it has to be yes in six months a year whatever. Then if he doesn't you'll know for definite.

Time for a frank talk I think

[BunFagFreddie]

For all I know I might not be very fertile these days!

I can't help wanting more DC, it's getting worse the older I get. It wasn't so much of an issue 5 years ago and I thought I could come to terms with it.

[HollyBerryBush]

There's a lot of issues in your post that you need to look at one by one.

From the way you have written it, you see marriage as the holy grail and that you are a failure if no one has ever asked you.

Is it the idea of a wedding rather than being married you are liking?

Is your DP Mr Right, or just Mr Right Now Until Someone Better Comes Along?

is your desire for another child more important than your stable relationship with a man who has been parenting your son for 4 years more important?



FWIW a wedding is as expensive as you choose to make it - I cant be doing with all this boo*hoo it's too expensive to get married - because if it's being married to your soul mate, thats cheap as chips down the regitry office - if it's the whole Bridezilla experience - well that's a lot more money.

[Xales]

Marriage isn't expensive. A big white wedding is expensive. A registry office or even a church if you are religious can be done without spending oodles.

If you want to he married tell him and make it clear when by. If he makes excuses or doesn't want you need to decide where to gee from there.

[AlexisCarringtonColby]

Could you ask him to have a serious discussion about marriage? Marriage is such a difficult and divisive thing, I'm not surprised you are upset. But perhaps he doesn't want to get married at all, but is scared of saying this as he is worried that you will end the relationship because of this? It took my DP a long time to admit that he never wanted to get married, though this didn't mean he wasn't as committed to me as people who do get married, he just doesn't feel marriage is right for him. I wouldn't have minded getting married but I was happy not to once he had told me the truth, I understand his reasons and I know he loves me. He wanted children, which was more important to me. But he was very scared to talk about it and kept almost stringing me along, as he was so scared that I would leave because of it.

Just a thought. But if he really can't make his mind up whether he wants to marry you or have children, it could be that there is no future in this relationship for you. YANBU to be upset about this.

[BunFagFreddie]

I agree HollyBerryBush, and I don't want an expensive one. I'd be happy with something small and informal.

To be honest it has got to the point where I just feel I should be married by now, because everyone else seems to be. I know it's silly, but I do feel it's down to some sort of failing on my part.

I don't believe in mr right. DP and I have our moments like anyone else, but I think our relationship is good. We have a laugh and can be silly with each other and I don't feel as though I have to pretend to be someone I'm not.

You're right. I shouldn't throw that away, because I probably won't find that with anyone else. He is also great with DS.

[marriedinwhite]

I don't think you find them when you go looking OP. I think you come across them when you are doing other interesting things that you have a passion for. I met my first boyfriend through sailing, my second because I did an antiques course and dh because we were both political activists. Not because I was looking for a partner or a boyfriend.

[MrsBucketxx]

Everyone I know seems to be getting divorced in my case, not everyone is in a happy marriage.