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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:
bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 08:27

Timykeys · 05/09/2026 07:16

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.

You are quite wide of the mark here. Narcissists don't necessarily have any idea what they're doing.

watchingthishtread · 05/09/2026 08:27

What is her version of what happened?

Two of your children think you should leave him. That doesn't tally with your version of events.

Clarinet1 · 05/09/2026 08:28

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that driving away family and friend from
a partner is a classic abuse tactic; OP I think you need to be honest (with yourself, you don’t necessarily have to tell us) has your DP upset other people on your life? Does he restrict things you do and where you go? Has he provoked your DC so much in the past that this was the last straw?
This should provide a way forward

Glowingup · 05/09/2026 08:29

ThatCyanCat · 05/09/2026 08:26

You also can't assume they're total twats based on no information either. If the incident was so minor and insignificant, why isn't OP telling us what it actually was?

I’m guessing because it’s outing?

liveforsummer · 05/09/2026 08:30

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 05/09/2026 07:01

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.

It’s not a pattern in that one person is doing a lot of things though. They fall out with pretty much anyone they have any sort of close relationship with. Friends, family, dp’s, dp’s families, DC. DC’s dp’s That’s the only pattern with one common denominator.

marbIehalls · 05/09/2026 08:30

Glowingup · 05/09/2026 08:29

I’m guessing because it’s outing?

I'm guessing because its worse than she is portraying it to be.

Very typical tactic when posters want everyone to tell them they are in the right.

YourWildAmberSloth · 05/09/2026 08:31

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.

Yes it can be justified. No idea if it was in your case, but there you go. Anything can be justified in the right circumstances. You were there, we weren't and have no information to go on. So pick your partner if its justified, don't if it isn't.

Cheese55 · 05/09/2026 08:32

bigboykitty · 05/09/2026 08:27

You are quite wide of the mark here. Narcissists don't necessarily have any idea what they're doing.

I see it as a woman with v poor self esteem who wants to keep a man no matter what.

TotaleclipseinFrance · 05/09/2026 08:33

Somethinggg · 05/09/2026 08:07

There's a lot of missing context here.

Totally agree.
Why start a thread like this if you don't tell the whole story?

Without further context, it just comes across as the OP is just one of those- in my opinion - terrible people who put her dh before her children.

Not only is this detestable behaviour but also stupid.

It is not usually difficult for a woman to get another man.
You can't just 'get' more children!

In any case it is weird NOT to have unconditional love for your children, very, very, normal to have conditional love for a dh.

watchingthishtread · 05/09/2026 08:33

What do your friends and/or siblings think of him? Not his friends, your friends that you had long before him.

Minnie798 · 05/09/2026 08:34

If I had to , I'd choose dc over my dp who I've been with for over 25 years ( and he's their dad). I'd expect him to do the same if the situation called for it. So a partner of several years would be gone without a backward glance.

Credittocress · 05/09/2026 08:34

marbIehalls · 05/09/2026 08:30

I'm guessing because its worse than she is portraying it to be.

Very typical tactic when posters want everyone to tell them they are in the right.

Or because the daily mail has form for publishing these stories in the national press and the OP doesn’t want outing information ending up there

EppingIsFun · 05/09/2026 08:35

In answer to your theoretical question - yes, I think there are circumstances in which you could reasonably put a partner before children. Especially when those children are adults.

But that theoretical answer is not necessarily relevant to your particular situation - more information is needed!

Girlwithavibe · 05/09/2026 08:36

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 23:00

Genuinely nothing awful happened. If it had, this decision would be easy. I’ve told the story to friends as objectively as I can and they all can’t fathom the reaction. But easy for them to say, it’s me facing losing my kids over this.

There's your answer you face losing your kids over this !! That's what will happen if u choose your DP and that's not what a mother should ever do ! How old are your children ?.

McSpoot · 05/09/2026 08:37

Glowingup · 05/09/2026 08:19

Sorry but some people do. You can’t attribute an inherent reasonableness to these adult children unless you know they are reasonable. I know people who cut off family members and friends for the most ridiculous reasons you could imagine and those people did nothing wrong.

And you can't attribute an inherent reasonableness to the OP's partner (or the OP herself) unless you know that they are reasonable. I know who have had family members cut them off and claim that they had done nothing wrong, but I have witnessed actions that they either deny or downplay.

TotaleclipseinFrance · 05/09/2026 08:38

Glowingup · 05/09/2026 08:29

I’m guessing because it’s outing?

She may think it's outing. It probably isn't because it's something that's happened to a lot of people.

Thinking that you're the centre of the universe ( main character syndrome) is in my opinion typical of somebody who'd choose their 'dp' over their actual flesh and blood, though.

MarthaLovesLaughing · 05/09/2026 08:38

You say that your partner told your child off in front of other people. Your child is an adult.

Yes, that's enough, for me, to want to completely distance myself from your partner and, should you stay with your partner, you too

I see no reason at all for your partner to feel its acceptable to tell your child off

I'm assuming he's done it before, but even if not, this would, for me, be 100% zero contact with him and therefore you, when you're with him

For me, I'd see you away from him.

But i can understand your child not wanting contact with you as you have stayed with this man who has upset your child

Greenseacat · 05/09/2026 08:41

My rule is to never put a man above your children's wellbeing, especially when they are young and under your care.

In this case they are adults so I understand that people can fall out, BUT I would really wonder why two of your adult children are in agreement and whether there isn't a backstory to this such as a history of your partner behaving poorly and you minimising his behaviour.

Theroadt · 05/09/2026 08:42

whippersnapper55 · 04/09/2026 23:28

I can't imagine a scenario where I would choose a partner over my adult children. I've been married to their dad for 36 years and I wouldn't choose him over them!

I can't believe your children would react like this over one 'mucking about' incident. I would assume that they were not keen on your partner before this and only put up with him for your benefit.

This. I think there is more backstory - maybe behaviour to the DC from DP that the OP doesn’t know about. Bottom line: kids (even as adults) come first in my world.

thisismeithinkorisit · 05/09/2026 08:44

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.

OK, so hypothetically if you kids just decide for no valid reason, as adults, it's him or them, you are reasonable to stand your group, keep communicating but refuse to dump a guy cos they want you to.

If your partner did something minor that led to this situation I'd wonder what se has been brewing for years.
If nothing has, I'd think perhaps I'm not being honest with myself. No one was hurt violent, what about emotionally or sexually? Has he grabbed one of your daughter inappropriately or walked and tried to pass it off as "just playing?" walked in on one of them? Come on to their partner? Been racist, homophobic?

Chilihealer · 05/09/2026 08:44

Is it possible that he’s been doing small things to antagonise them for a while and this is just the final straw?
Personally OP no man will ever come before my children, I moved out at 17 because my mother chose her boyfriend over me and went no contact for around 4 years. I know how it feels and I’d never allow my children to feel a man was more important in my life than they are.

marbIehalls · 05/09/2026 08:45

Credittocress · 05/09/2026 08:34

Or because the daily mail has form for publishing these stories in the national press and the OP doesn’t want outing information ending up there

Tough shit then!

You can’t expect people to know how to vote if you won’t be honest about what really happened then can you?! 🤣

Thats basically saying - I can’t tell you what actually happened but I want you all to tell me I am in the right! That’s hardly a ringing character endorsement is it? It’s a twattish thing to do

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 05/09/2026 08:45

Did DP apologise of their own volition because they knew they were out of line? Or did you have to request the apology?
Do your DC like your DP generally?
Did you advocate for your DC in the moment and call out DP?
As others have said, it is coming across that you have been/ still are minimising and maybe your DC feel this too and think you have already ‘chosen’ DP. Is that what you want?

2026problemsandDDcanbeone · 05/09/2026 08:49

DangerMouse33 · 04/09/2026 23:00

Genuinely nothing awful happened. If it had, this decision would be easy. I’ve told the story to friends as objectively as I can and they all can’t fathom the reaction. But easy for them to say, it’s me facing losing my kids over this.

I’ve had similar happen to me recently. It would have been a nothingburger for most people, but DD really took it to heart and moved out and cut contact with DP as a result (he apologised). She’ll be visiting and just pretend he’s not there altogether.

We still talk and see each other regularly but now she’s put me in a position where she wants me to choose between them because how am I going to accept not having DD around me during holidays, birthdays etc. It sucks and I never thought it would be an issue with an adult child.

TotaleclipseinFrance · 05/09/2026 08:50

Greenseacat · 05/09/2026 08:41

My rule is to never put a man above your children's wellbeing, especially when they are young and under your care.

In this case they are adults so I understand that people can fall out, BUT I would really wonder why two of your adult children are in agreement and whether there isn't a backstory to this such as a history of your partner behaving poorly and you minimising his behaviour.

This is probably the case here.
If I had to bet on what the truth was, this is probably the truth.

He's probably a right piece of shit.