Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

I just want his baby, what can I do?

735 replies

MandyMarr · 03/06/2021 18:49

For as long as I can remember DP has been immersed in work. I won’t say what he does as maybe outing but basically he works very hard, very very long hours and I have made many sacrifices for his job while also trying to hold down my own pretty high flying career (not a boast, just trying to emphasise how much effort I have made to support him when I have had my own stuff going on).

In fairness to DP, when we met it was abundantly clear that his job was absolutely central to him. It’s meant I’ve had many evenings in a quiet house, I have holidays with friends mostly, maybe once a year with him and they are short, we will have dates once a week but basically his job is like at third person in the relationship.

He recently brought up children, said he was ready as he’d ever be, joked about wanting to be a stay at home dad (he definitely wouldn’t be!) and said he’d be happy if we had an accident. He is absolutely not the type to plan something like this, he flies into panic when I mention ANY sort of planning. He’s said before when tipsy that he wouldn’t want to ‘try’ for a child as this would cause him stress and anxiety, he would rather it just happened. He’s made this clear a lot.

I really want to have a family. I’m fully aware he will be a great dad but I will be left to do the leg work. I’ve always known this. I am ok with it.

Do I just become lax with contraception? All I can think about now is a child but I know if I have a formal ‘let’s try’ chat he will fly into panic and obsess over it and it will be very very stressful. But I’m also sick of taking every stage of our relationship so slowly when ultimately he makes it clear that he wants me and a child and a future.

Thoughts? I’m feeling so fed up tonight.

OP posts:
Foxhasbigsocks · 03/06/2021 23:52

In her own op the op said that she was feeling really fed up.

Houseofvelour · 03/06/2021 23:55

Parenting is absolutely exhausting to the point I was looking forward to surgery so I could spend a few days in hospital, sleeping.

If you're certain that this is what you want, I'd highly recommend getting some support with childcare like a nanny if you can afford it.

TurquoiseLemur · 03/06/2021 23:55

@cripez

Entertainment industry, eh OP?

I did this. Figured it would be fine because I would be the at home person and DP could be the high flying career person.

Our first born child is disabled. I am their full time carer.

That wasn't in the plan.

I literally do everything pertaining to DC's care. Everything. And I am completely exhausted and a shell of myself. DP's career has continued on an upward trajectory. At my expense.

Am in a similar situation here.

Once you have a disabled child, one of the parents (it's usually the mother) ends up being the full-time carer. The wider world rarely thinks that there is anything wrong with this. If a father of such a child becomes the full-time carer, he is often regarded by all and sundry as a saint and a hero. People who say that feminism has gone too far, etc have totally missed that it is STILL, overwhelmingly, even in the developed world, women who end up with caring duties, grossly underpaid, definitely undervalued, and basically just taken for granted. (Including by social services, I might add.)

When my son was at (special) school, it was striking how many parents were separated, with the father the one living away and also having very little contact with the disabled child. Certainly not the day-to-day care. And it was also glaringly obvious in couples that HAD stayed together that it was (with a few exceptions) the mother who had become the carer (Carer's Allowance £67 per week) while the father's career was uninterrupted and his mental health much better than his wife's.

I still get people asking "Why don't you work?" Because I am the full-time carer of my 23-year-old son who will never be independent!

Best wishes.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dullardmullard · 03/06/2021 23:56

This is an open forum and everyone has a difference of opinion.

Me I wouldn’t have a child with this man as your not married as you’ll lose part of your career even if it’s high flying with paid child care.

Think long and hard about your options here and take of the rose tinted glasses.

Missaljenk · 03/06/2021 23:57

@Foxhasbigsocks

So if a mum you worked with said, I have a dp with a highly heritable sn and he is not around any evenings in the week (comes home at 10 pm every night) and is quite obsessed with work, I will have to do the lion’s share of all care and he won’t even allow us to actively ‘try’ for a baby as that’s too stressful for him. Plus I’m hoping to hold down my own high flying career too...

You would just say great idea, go for it?

My son has sever adhd . I live on my own with him and his dad is in America . I cope absolutely fine. I also run my own business with a team of 33 girls who work for me and I work a job with children’s services more or less full time. This is my choice !!! And not at any point have I ever thought I wish I hadn’t had my son because he has special needs and I have to care for him on my own.

People manage. So I would support the mother who wanted to do that and support her decision regardless of whether I thought it was a good idea.

Foxhasbigsocks · 04/06/2021 00:01

You sound like a very together person @Missaljenk and as a mum of dc with sn I know how hard it can be.

I would say though that not all mums of dc with absent partners find it manageable and that’s particularly true of mums with dc with sn.

Where mn can be very useful is people giving their frank opinions on what others plan.

I would say if op thinks through all the posts on this thread and decides yes I’ll go ahead and I believe I can do it then that’s the right choice for her. But it is VERY important for her to think all this through and that’s the value of mn.

Missaljenk · 04/06/2021 00:05

@Foxhasbigsocks

You sound like a very together person *@Missaljenk* and as a mum of dc with sn I know how hard it can be.

I would say though that not all mums of dc with absent partners find it manageable and that’s particularly true of mums with dc with sn.

Where mn can be very useful is people giving their frank opinions on what others plan.

I would say if op thinks through all the posts on this thread and decides yes I’ll go ahead and I believe I can do it then that’s the right choice for her. But it is VERY important for her to think all this through and that’s the value of mn.

I get your point. I just feel for people when it seems like everyone is against them when they are looking for support.

Ultimately OP will make her own mind up so maybe you’re right maybe frank opinions is needed also.

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/06/2021 00:05

"Maybe my OP over egged his busy-ness, I do think with a child he would be more present generally."

You 'think' means you don't 'know'. And I suspect that's because it's another thing you haven't discussed as a couple. Because it will cause him to stress and panic. And I very much doubt you have over-egged, it's far more likely that you have downplayed it all because you want this and you know it's very unlikely to happen Sad.

CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:05

@Missaljenk you do not write in the way of anyone I g bf abe ever met, who has considerable experience working eith vulnerable mothers snd their kids, so I'll take your posts with a pinch of salt.

CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:06

"I have ever met" is how that should have read.

MagentaDragon · 04/06/2021 00:07

Regardless husband or boyfriend she wants a baby with him and who are any of you to make her feel bad for wanting that?

I have RTFT and nobody has tried to make ber feel bad. People have simply tried to open her eyes to the reality that very likely awaits her if she proceeds as she has suggested she wishes to. She posted and asked for advice and poster have shared their experiences to try to help her avoid making her life unnecessarily miserable.

MagentaDragon · 04/06/2021 00:11

@Missaljenk

I am not against anyone ?

All I am saying is that some of the comments are harsh. It’s okay to have an opinion but all I see on threads is people saying leave him etc

I know how hard it is being a single parent myself but I also know I’ve never needed anyone. If they have a baby and it didn’t work so is life. If she doesn’t have a baby because everyone on here is making her feel like crap for her decision or her opinions then she may forever regret that.

You can give an opinion without sounding patronising and judgemental. Not you in particular I just mean people in general.

She might forever regret choosing him as her children's father too, based on what she has said. Everybody here has been kind and practical and shared their lived experiences to try to help the OP make an informed decision. She says she has her "eyes open" but it's clear to many of us who are further along the journey that she doesn't - not her fault, it's impossible to imagine at that point! - but that is why we're trying to help her.
tenlittlecygnets · 04/06/2021 00:11

@MandyMarr

Ok I wasn’t expecting people to lay into DP!

I kind of wanted advice on how to go about this with timings of sex etc given DP would be very stressed having it all planned out.Just wanted to talk it through. I don’t think it matters DP has an intense job, he is still capable of being loving.

He's not mature enough to cope with ttc, then really - don't ttc with him. He sounds selfish. He'll never be a great dad.
CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:12

My son has sever adhd . I live on my own with him and his dad is in America . I cope absolutely fine. I also run my own business with a team of 33 girls who work for me and I work a job with children’s services more or less full time

Interesting @Missaljenk
Who looks after your son when you work your very challenging jobs because I don't know many who could fully cater to their sn kids and work full time without significant help.

MagentaDragon · 04/06/2021 00:15

People manage

Of course they do, because at that point they have no choice! That doesn't mean we shouldn't examine the decisions we make and how women can avoid some of the situations where they have to "manage" rather than be happy.

WorraLiberty · 04/06/2021 00:17

@Missaljenk

I have only been on this forum for 24 hours and I am shocked at the amount of posts I see where the first action suggested is leave your partner.

This lady obviously loves her partner and wants a baby with him. Sometimes people work harder than others that doesn’t make him a bad choice for a father. In fact I see this as a good thing. She said he will be there to help with their baby etc

Why do people just say leave him !! Why do you want a baby with him !! Your child will be sad if you choose him as a father !!

Honestly it’s shocking.

If you want shocking, read the Relationships topic for a few weeks.

Then come back and give us your thoughts...

Missaljenk · 04/06/2021 00:17

@CandyLeBonBon

My son has sever adhd . I live on my own with him and his dad is in America . I cope absolutely fine. I also run my own business with a team of 33 girls who work for me and I work a job with children’s services more or less full time

Interesting @Missaljenk
Who looks after your son when you work your very challenging jobs because I don't know many who could fully cater to their sn kids and work full time without significant help.

The only help I have is my daughter who is 16 and picks him up from school for me. My own business is very demanding but he often comes with me to my storage when I pack parcels and post them etc. My daughter is homeschooled so is able to collect him and walk home until I get there on the days I work for you CS
WorraLiberty · 04/06/2021 00:18

[quote CandyLeBonBon]@Missaljenk you do not write in the way of anyone I g bf abe ever met, who has considerable experience working eith vulnerable mothers snd their kids, so I'll take your posts with a pinch of salt.[/quote]
I'll take them with a shit tonne of salt...

Missaljenk · 04/06/2021 00:19

Regardless of what I read on there I will still be shocked by the lack of empathy & judgemental nature in some of the comments on here

CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:20

So @Missaljenk you homeschool, run a business employing 33 people, work almost full time helping vulnerable women and children and do this with just the help of your 16 y/o dd?

Well that's very impressive.

When do you sleep?

WorraLiberty · 04/06/2021 00:22

Well call me weird but I'm pretty shocked at a boss stating they have 33 'girls' working for them.

Unless they're all under the age of 18, that's a pretty insulting and dismissive way to speak about an adult work-force.

So it just goes to show different people are shocked by different things.

CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:22

@Missaljenk

Regardless of what I read on there I will still be shocked by the lack of empathy & judgemental nature in some of the comments on here
Empathy and support comes in many forms. Blind validation is rarely healthy.
CandyLeBonBon · 04/06/2021 00:23

Well said @WorraLiberty

Missaljenk · 04/06/2021 00:24

Yet again a judgemental comment !! Regardless of what you think I should and shouldn’t write like it doesn’t change the fact that I do indeed work with mothers and children & have done for many years. So your comment is just ridiculous in all fairness.

This is exactly what my point is. So many on here are just bullies who think they have a right to judge people who are asking for help. The lack of empathy is what shocks me. Your comeback to my comments is to try belittle my opinion & comment on how I don’t talk like you think I should.

Missaljenk · 04/06/2021 00:25

One thing is for certain empathy and support doesn’t come in the form of judgemental opinions or nasty comments to the OP about her decision to have a baby with her partner

Swipe left for the next trending thread