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He cant commit.to being in child's life

233 replies

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 00:08

Me and my dp are in such a rollercoster relationship. When its good, its perfect. When we disagree. We disagree hard and it ends in nasty arguments. He has gotten more nasty and its like "anything goes" and he justifies it by saying I have wound him up. He never used to be like this but says its because I chipped away at him. Saying that, I wasnt the easiest at the start I did gaslight, and cause many arguments and broke up with him to get him to chase me to win me over. That was years ago. I am not that person. Now he says when I accuse him of stuff or nag him he thinks "not this shit and he shuts down". Ive told him it isnt helpful and he says thats my own doing.

After giving birth to our daughter and brining her home. I was floored with the emotion I felt. The love for her was and is something else. I didnt know I could love this much. I remember looking at her and burst out crying and saying to him "we will always be together for the sake of our girl, she deserves the best we need to promise that". A few weeks later, I asked him. What would happen if we broke up with our daughter. Would we coparent. Be on good terms, etc. He was immediately offended. He shut down got nasty. Telling me he "didnt know". I was gobsmacked, and demanded how he couldn't day he would always be there for her. He said he wants to say that but he cant predict an unknown future. He then said he doesnt want to think about breaking up and to ask that question is a red flag. I have continued asking, every few weeks, it has never say right.

Sometimes he will say, we would coparent if on good terms, then he will say he doesnt know how much he would see our baby as he doesnt have all the details (ie where I would be living. Etc)

Each time I get annoyed he tells me I am creating this problem and he doesnt ever want to split up. He said if we were splitting up we would discuss everything and that would include our daughter hut right now he cant give me an answer. I said why cant he said he would move mountains and do anything. He said he would do what needed to be done, what was the right thing for our daughter. He then says I have issues for talking about all of this and refuses to agree anything with me!! Is this not a red flag? I can honestly say that no matter what happens with us, I will always be our baby's mum and I ain't going anywhere. I will be in her life until I die. Why cant he say same?!

Thanks

OP posts:
OttersOnAPlane · 05/04/2026 14:36

You are a nightmare. You're in denial about your many, many issues and you are actively blowing up your relationship.

I don't know if he was a nightmare before your disaster of a relationship but he's heading there now. He shouldn't have slapped your leg in the car (other thread) but your behaviour - including the massive drip feed - is appalling.

GCAcademic · 05/04/2026 13:48

You need to grow the fuck up. Your baby doesn't deserve such shit parents. You can't change the baby's father but you do have control and responsibility over your own behaviour.

edwinbear · 05/04/2026 13:34

I’ve just read your other thread. I don’t say this lightly but I’m really concerned about your child’s welfare. Neither of you sound capable of parenting your baby adequately. Shouting and screaming at each other, cutting his clothes up, you deliberately making him late to wind him up and provoke an argument. This is a shocking environment to expose a child to. You say you love her, this is not how loving parents behave, you’re using a baby as a weapon against your DP, it’s appalling.

Permanentlytiredout47 · 05/04/2026 13:16

I’m sorry OP, but you are totally the issue here. You need to stop playing these toxic mind games with him and focus on creating a stable, happy environment for your baby.
If my DH relentlessly asked (stupidly detailed) questions about what would happen if we split up, I would not feel happy at all, it’s no wonder your DP gets angry and frustrated.
He sounds like he is doing all the right things for your child and the answers he has given to your questions are more than reasonable.

You need to speak to someone to understand why you feel the need to play games, provoke responses, etc it’s a really unhealthy behaviour and will make you miserable in the long run.

Shamesame · 05/04/2026 12:58

It makes me actually sad that you’ve brought a child into this relationship.

another generation that will be fucked up because of what they see at home.

Snorlaxo · 05/04/2026 12:57

I have read both of your threads and it sounds like you should not be together. You both keep picking arguments and it must be awful for your baby living in that atmosphere. Before you tell me that she doesn’t know, she will know that there’s a bad atmosphere and that you’re both selfish and obsessed with being right.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/04/2026 12:57

I am dreadfully sorry for your unfortunate daughter.

Having read your other thread, it's obvious that you and your boyfriend need to split up.

You've based your relationship on a lie.
You've cut up his clothes.
Your can't stop nagging him.

EnjoyingTheArmoire · 05/04/2026 12:52

Why are you so obsessed with what happens if you split?

He could say one thing now thrn do something entirely different later on.

The way you're going it sounds far more likely that you'll both be having to do visitations to your child after SS get involved and remove her.

Your abuse against him (and his retaliation) counts as abuse towards your daughter in the eyes of the law (eg when you're all in the car).

Woodfiresareamazing · 05/04/2026 12:52

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:30

No so basically my other post on the other thread is the argument and then after we split. I said I needed his reassurance about him and baby life if he wanted back together. So this conversation in this thread is ongoing every few weeks. I didnt create a space to share he was abusive or is. I genuinely dont know if he is, or if I have pushed him to it or if we are both a mess after a messy start

I basically told him I was single when we met. I wasnt and had an affair with him. It all came out eventually after years being together. I was going to leave my exhusband anyway, current dp was the catalyst. He did suspect something wasnt right but I kept lying and told him he was making it up.

Wow!
That was one hell of a drip feed.

I'm sorry, but with every post you sound more unreasonable...

You tricked him into a relationship based on a huge lie ie that you were single.

You used him to get out of your first marriage.

You then dumped him to make him chase after you, which presumably he did because you're together now.

You're now constantly harassing him to give you certainty, but he is finally fed up with your game-playing, and refuses to engage.

Despite all this, he has proposed and is doing all he can to give your daughter security.

Unless there are more huge drip feed revelations to come, this is all you, OP.

You say you are a different person now, but you're not really because you're still playing mind games and testing him.

If I was your DP's friend, I'd be advising him to seriously reconsider that proposal.

And maybe your DD would be better off with him ...

Snorlaxo · 05/04/2026 12:49

Take it from someone who is divorced- people say all kinds of shit when they are happy in relationships. You know those dads who never see their kids ? A big proportion would have told the mother that he would do anything to stop them taking their child away etc The partners who said that they wouldn’t be combative in a theoretical divorce? Many will turn nasty about money or contact.

Is your partner more careful and cautious with how words? For example ia he the type to take time to say “ I love you” etc

Congratulations on the birth of your dd. Have you considered that bonding with your child is different when you’re a dad? As mum you’ve known her for months before the birth- felt her move, gone through the massive physical birth process where as some dads only start the emotional
process once the child is born and before that they focus on the practical like building cots etc. I’m not saying that dads can’t be emotional but even for many women, they don’t feel the surge of adoration that you’ve felt since day 1.

Is he proving his love by looking after her well and getting to know her? Judge him by his actionw (or lack of) and let go of your obsession. Even if he now said that he loves her as much as you do, he might not want to say it any more because it could trigger an “I’ll told you so” or another obsession.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/04/2026 12:48

EddieMunson · 05/04/2026 12:43

How long have you been together? Per your other post, you were cutting his clothes up after an argument three years ago, which really isn’t all that long ago.

Where is the other post?

ChickenBananaBanana · 05/04/2026 12:47

Honestly op you sound truly UNBEARABLE. I would have dumped you by now

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/04/2026 12:47

You're not making sense.

FGS split up, for the baby's sake.
Bring brought up in this atmosphere of accusations and arguments will be very bad for her.

Are you even reading people's answers?

NotMajorTom · 05/04/2026 12:46

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:45

I am not perfect nor am I pretending to be innocent party but how does he get a free pass speeding (he says i created that by being slow and making us late), him lashing out (he says he has had enough and felt trapped... trapped how he was the one shoiting)

DARVO

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:45

I am not perfect nor am I pretending to be innocent party but how does he get a free pass speeding (he says i created that by being slow and making us late), him lashing out (he says he has had enough and felt trapped... trapped how he was the one shoiting)

OP posts:
EddieMunson · 05/04/2026 12:43

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:35

Yes not great but this was years ago I am different.

How long have you been together? Per your other post, you were cutting his clothes up after an argument three years ago, which really isn’t all that long ago.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 05/04/2026 12:40

At this rate, you're going to find out exactly how he'll co-parent, because you're pushing him away with your constant questioning.

edwinbear · 05/04/2026 12:40

No, you’re not different OP. You cheated on your husband with him and lied that you were single. You had a baby with him, seemingly as some sort of ‘test’ and now you’re harassing him by demanding the answers you want to hear about made up, hypothetical scenarios. It’s your baby I feel most sorry for, she needs raising in a calm, secure home without all this needless drama.

purpleme12 · 05/04/2026 12:37

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:35

Yes not great but this was years ago I am different.

Me and other people are responding to how you say you are now

StationJack · 05/04/2026 12:37

Do we need help is he abusive? | Mumsnet is this you, @Confusedgal0001 ?

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 12:35

purpleme12 · 05/04/2026 12:33

If this thread is true than I think the relationship is dead anyway - or soon will be.
And I think OP's partner sounds right with what he says

Yes not great but this was years ago I am different.

OP posts:
PinkyFlamingo · 05/04/2026 12:35

Confusedgal0001 · 05/04/2026 11:36

He has since proposed and has changed his will. I just find it strange he needs all info. Why cant a dad say he will be there no matter what?

Edited

You haven't really been reading what everyone is saying to you have you?

TeflonBoot · 05/04/2026 12:34

Just read your last post, fuck me. He needs to get away from you ASAP, you are a toxic mess. Poor bloke and your poor baby.

purpleme12 · 05/04/2026 12:33

If this thread is true than I think the relationship is dead anyway - or soon will be.
And I think OP's partner sounds right with what he says