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Is it ever right to choose a partner over kids?

358 replies

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 22:48

Just that. I’m not saying I would, but would like some views. My DP messed up with one of my adult DC, acted stupidly and overstepped my DC’s boundaries. DP apologised but this wasn’t accepted. I was clear in saying that DP was in the wrong but DC wanted more from me and NC with me now as a result. Second adult DC, not directly involved, now also threatening to go NC if I don’t separate from DP. We’ve been together several years and this is heartbreaking in every direction.

OP posts:
Maisymouse2 · 05/09/2026 06:37

Raghnaid · 04/09/2026 22:52

You're minimising aren't you @DangerMouse33

Neither of your children would go no contact for someone "just mucking around", would they?

eta; "no one was hurt", perhaps not physically but seriously offended for them to cut contact!

Edited

who knows now days the victim mentality
Or manipulating children
Everyrhing is seen as abusive no days.

derFutterneid · 05/09/2026 06:47

It sounds to me like they have tolerated him, don't really like him, don't like the set up etc. If you have been with him a long time, did he enter their lives as much younger DC. Have they lived with the situation as they had no choice as children, but are now resentful adults as they harbour ill will to him for being inflicted on them and don't like him either?

If so, the shoulder and shouting incident was the permission they felt they need to say "no more, we are done".

liveforsummer · 05/09/2026 06:52

The situation you’ve gone on to describe sounds nothing like mucking about however he’s apologised so I expect there is more of a back story for the DC’s stance. These is also the other side where I have a sibling who likes an excise to go NC from various family members from time to time and id certainly not expect anyone to separate from a partner based on that alone as the crimes are always VERY minor. Only you know the real situation and without more details I don’t think anyone can give you much advice

Tel12 · 05/09/2026 06:52

Assuming that your AC have over reacted then that's fine if you decide to stay with your partner. If this is the case it looks like they are just looking for an excuse to cut the relationship and manipulate you. Stick to your guns.

DozyCrow · 05/09/2026 06:52

Well, 'hypothetically', they may dislike his views, or the way he behaves, the way he treats you or the way he treats them. They may have harboured dislike for him for a long while, and him humiliating one of them in company was the final straw. The fact your DC has had to instil boundaries speaks volumes. I think there's more to this than you're letting on and we can't really judge on the limited information you've given. However, if he's an arse who behaves badly and can't respect boundaries then I'd quit being an apologist for him and dump him.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 05/09/2026 06:59

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selffellatingouroborosofhate · 05/09/2026 07:01

liveforsummer · 05/09/2026 06:52

The situation you’ve gone on to describe sounds nothing like mucking about however he’s apologised so I expect there is more of a back story for the DC’s stance. These is also the other side where I have a sibling who likes an excise to go NC from various family members from time to time and id certainly not expect anyone to separate from a partner based on that alone as the crimes are always VERY minor. Only you know the real situation and without more details I don’t think anyone can give you much advice

the crimes are always VERY minor

Clearly, the family member doesn't think so, especially if those "minor" things make a pattern of behaviour that, in aggregate, isn't tolerable.

Timykeys · 05/09/2026 07:02

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 23:24

No. It’s not sexual. He touched her on the shoulders and told her off in company. He was wrong to have done that.

If she is an adult and he told her off in public, I can quite see how she is pissed off. I imagine he has pissed both your children off a lot for a long time them to go to NC.

TwentyDunhill · 05/09/2026 07:06

What do you mean when you said he touched her shoulders? Was it at the same time he was shouting? Did he grab them?

Yennefer17 · 05/09/2026 07:09

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 04/09/2026 23:26

He's not her parent.

I'd be furious if I was her too.

Seriously ?

Timykeys · 05/09/2026 07:16

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Not read the article, but what you wrote in your post sounds much more like autism than narcissist. ( though the two can appear similar, and I have that from an autism specialist consultant psychologist before anyone jumps down my throat, as well as a lifetime of lived experience of diagnosed autistic close male family members). Narcissists know what they are doing, so they would know why you are upset, but may deliberately gaslight you that what happened was trivial. An autistic person ( who has the combination and severity of traits to think and behave this way) would genuinely not understand the significance of what they have done. It wasn’t important to them, and their ego centred/ impaired empathy/ rigid thinking means if it was not a significant incident to them, they genuinely cannot understand why it was important to you. And you cannot explain it to them. They will be genuinely baffled by your reaction, and likely blame you for the pain your reaction causes them.

Another psychologist who worked with narcissists and autistic people explained it as, a narcissist is trying to destroy you, an autistic person won’t even realise they are doing so.( again, caveat, depending on the autistic traits, NAAPALT). In my experience, autistic men are much more likely to have these traits than women.

TwentyDunhill · 05/09/2026 07:19

To answer your hypothetical question though, would I ever choose a partner over my children? With no backstory, I can't imagine ever choosing a partner over my kids. I wouldn't choose anyone over them, not my DH (their dad), or even my Mum.
It's hard to answer without hearing what's happened fully.

you need to speak to them and get all the details.

notanothernamesurely · 05/09/2026 07:20

Ask your children if they’d accept you staying in the relationship and keeping your relationship with them separate. That’s what I asked of my father when his partner messed up with me. I was willing to see him at my house or meet up for breakfast etc without his partner. It’s worth mentioning he did not agree and wanted me to forgive the partner so I’ve been NC with him for 2 years.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 05/09/2026 07:27

Why did you bother posting? Without the details of what he did, no one can help you. A "touch of the shoulder" and "telling off" does not sound the basis for nc so I suspect a heck of a lot more has gone on to get to this stage.

JacknDiane · 05/09/2026 07:27

Op isn't coming back as she didn't get rhe answers she wanted.
She doesn't want to face the truth.

daisychain01 · 05/09/2026 07:30

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 23:08

Don’t want to share all the details, not a drip feed. I was hoping for more hypothetical views on whether this choice can ever be justified.

What you want is for someone else to make a decision for you that you need to be adult enough to own - thing is, we can't make a life decision like this on your behalf, especially when you haven't disclosed the true facts about the situation.

likely the permission you are looking for is to choose your partner over your children.

Otherwise you'd have walked away from him and restored the relationship and trust that your children expect from you, their mother.

Purplecatshopaholic · 05/09/2026 07:34

Op, there’s clearly way more to this than this one incident, there is history here. It’s also clear it is serious from your daughters perspective, and you minimising that and blaming her not him, is not going to help things.

ArtieChoke · 05/09/2026 07:37

If your sh touch your dd on the shoulder and he told her off and definitely not sexually harassed

your dd now trying to force you to split up over this is out of context with what happened

the your other child telling you if you don’t separate they’ll go no contact

this is not horridly for you, do they usually manipulate in situations

MrsLFii · 05/09/2026 07:42

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 23:24

No. It’s not sexual. He touched her on the shoulders and told her off in company. He was wrong to have done that.

IMO this still isn’t enough context but I wouldn’t accept any man doing that to me either so I can see why it’s all kicked off. ‘Touched’ her shoulders to tell her off indeed 🤔 expect they couldn’t stand him before this incident either and this was the final straw.
In the vast majority of cases, the parent would be a poor one to choose a partner who was in the wrong over their children, adult or otherwise.

TwentyDunhill · 05/09/2026 07:46

MrsLFii · 05/09/2026 07:42

IMO this still isn’t enough context but I wouldn’t accept any man doing that to me either so I can see why it’s all kicked off. ‘Touched’ her shoulders to tell her off indeed 🤔 expect they couldn’t stand him before this incident either and this was the final straw.
In the vast majority of cases, the parent would be a poor one to choose a partner who was in the wrong over their children, adult or otherwise.

This.
Why did he tell her off?
You said he apologised, and you said you know he's in the wrong.
Did she do something that warranted a telling off?
I highly doubt it from the scant details you've given.

TooFuckingHot · 05/09/2026 07:46

I’ve been in a situation like this as the child. My mum chose her husband and to be honest it’s ruined our relationship forever. My mum failed to see the hurt caused and that damage will never be undone.

maybe nothing major happened with this specific incident but it could be the last straw in a string of small annoyances or a repeated boundary cross.

Supertayto · 05/09/2026 07:47

There’s clearly a lot more to this. What do you want in 10 years? A partner and no children or children and no partner. Personally, I would always choose my children - even if I thought they were wrong. As for your partner, a decent man would understand and accept that decision with grace.

LivingTheDreamish · 05/09/2026 07:47

If you truly just want an answer to your question, then yes there can be circumstances where it is appropriate to choose your partner over your child but I think they are fairly limited and this does't sound like one of them.

Imdunfer · 05/09/2026 07:52

Isn't one event, though, is it?

Isn't it more likely that they've hated him since you got together with him and have tolerated him for your sake, but he has now pushed that beyond their limits?

Speaking from experience, nobody goes NC over one non-criminal incident, it's always the straw that broke the camel's back.

diddl · 05/09/2026 07:53

Did he apologise straight away?

Did he mean it or have to be told to?

Have there been incidents of you saying "I know he shouldn't have done that but..."?

Presumably they think that you should want to stop seeing him because he touched & berated another adult?

Why would they cut you off & not want to just see you?

Do you already have a bad relationship with them?