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Adoption

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Relationship Breakdown

55 replies

MissHL · 01/05/2020 15:20

Has anyone else been in the position where they have adopted a child or children and found that their relationship with their partner breaks down before the adoption order comes through? Because I think that's what is happening to me right now and I would love some advice

OP posts:
121Sarah121 · 01/05/2020 17:40

I am so sorry to hear this and hope you are doing ok. Adoption puts a lot of strain on relationships. I’ve no advice but wanted to post something.

Stinkyjellycat · 01/05/2020 18:41

I think there is someone on here who was in a similar situation but I can’t remember who.

I’m so sorry, this must be really tough. I don’t want to pry but could you try counselling (if you haven’t already)? Adoption puts such a strain on people in the early days. Maybe there’s a way through?
Flowers

terrigrey · 02/05/2020 12:26

Are you still planning to continue with the adoption & Co-parent?

sadwithkiddies · 02/05/2020 15:19

We are divorcing though post- adoption.
And fighting for custody.
It is very sad and adoption agencies/SS are involved.

MissHL · 02/05/2020 16:51

@121Sarah121
@Stinkyjellycat
@terrigrey
@sadwithkiddies
Thank you all so much for getting back to me... We both still want to adopt the children in our care and have sent off the application for adoption order today, however I'm worried that the breakdown could affect it?
He has not handled the adoption well and says he didn't realise how much of a change it would be... I have caught him out lying and making up excuses to not be in the house.... I really don't know where to go from here

OP posts:
Stinkyjellycat · 02/05/2020 18:35

It’s still very early days and you both need to be kind to yourselves, and each other. Your world has been turned upside down and nothing can prepare you for the realities of the first months option. If you have more than one child it is even more difficult. Your world has been turned upside down and nothing can prepare you for the realities of the first months. If you have more than one child is even more difficult.

Is it that you both feel that you don’t want to be together anymore because of your own relationship? Or is it that one of you feels divorce isn’t necessary because you or he can’t carry on with the children? You don’t need to answer that here but you both need to be clear in your mind about the reasons for potential separation. I had a really hard time after my DC arrived and there were times that I made excuses (lied?) to get out of the house as I desperately needed a break, even if just for a few minutes. I know other adopters a year in who still do the same. I love my child with every piece of me now but it takes time. Your OH may just need time and perhaps some counselling. If your relationship was strong before this, don’t give up. If he has no interest in being a parent to your DC, this is different.

In terms of the adoption order, SS won’t know your marital issues unless you tell them. Are they aware of what’s going on?

sadwithkiddies · 02/05/2020 18:53

I would say if you have applied already then try to get some marriage help....and/or adoption counselling/therapy. It is a massive adjustment.
Ss should want to support you in enabling the children to stay but in my experience may not be helpful so tread carefully....

clairedelalune · 03/05/2020 07:34

If you have sent the order off yesterday, is that 10 weeks into placement, in which case 6 weeks of placement have been in ridiculously stressful circumstances. I don't think anyone has found parenting as they thought it would/should be during quarantine. Please seek help via counselling or something before throwing the towel in.

topcat2014 · 03/05/2020 11:29

Our adoption disrupted last year, and this nearly ended our marriage.

At the time of disruption, the SW wondered if I would ask if I could continue as a sole parent (F).

I didn't ask - and found out anyway that they wouldn't have let me (on the basis of not being in LO best interests, rather than me not being any good IYSWIM)

Very best of luck @MissHL

cola2019 · 05/05/2020 09:28

I am glad I found this thread my best friend found out at the weekend that her husband has been having an affair (this is not the first time!). She has taken him back before and he has we think vern faithful until the adoption. Their LO has been with them for 3 months and they were just about to go to court to formally adopt. She refuses to give him another chance and wants him gone but at the same time doesn't want it to jeopardise the adoption. Their LO has come on in leaps and bounds since being in their care and they do both want the best for her. They are thinking about living in same house separate rooms and co parenting to start with. She says she will never trust hi again but if they file for divorce etc will they lose the right to try and adopt?? Such a mess. Adoption is hard at the best of times even more sp with this hanging over your heads. OP hope or works out for you.

AgathaCroosty · 05/05/2020 09:38

This has just happened to me & my family.

LO has been with us 9 months. Mine and DH relationship was awful during the first 12 weeks of the shared time off. Just recently, due to covid & the forced period of time together, it's made me reflect and realise how unhappy the marriage has made me, so I left.

We haven't managed to get around to the order yet, and social are involved with LO now, she's with DH in the family home, he was the stay at home Dad & I went back to work, purely out of financial reasons we did it this way.

Social have said that we can't both apply for the order now, it has to be one of us & they want it to be DH.

Don't want to go into detail about the whys and the what's but ultimately we both equally thought that a child was what we were missing, but it actually drifted us apart.

Stinkyjellycat · 05/05/2020 12:19

So sorry to hear that @AgathaCroosty

AgathaCroosty · 05/05/2020 12:24

Its shit, but it needed to happen.

I did try and push DH to get the order ASAP, but there was always something in the way.

I'll still have contact with LO.

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 02:36

Oh goodness some of these stories are heartbreaking. I am so sorry for anyone going through this.

MissHL we adopted our son 6 years ago, we have a birth dd who is now a teen. Being a mum, being a mum to an adopted child and to a birth child (on the autistic spectrum) has been incredibly hard at times.

I think sometimes what can happen is difficulties can push people together, or push them apart! My dh can drive me mad sometimes but he is always pretty dependable and the issues we have faced have mostly pushed us together.

I don't know your situation but I would say that this current Covid crisis has made pretty much made everyone's life much harder.

So before making any life changing decisions I would pause for breath.

In general if a partner is abusive or someone does not feel safe etc then of course you must protect yourself. But your situation does not sound like that. It sounds like he has lied and let you down a bit, and is finding all this very challenging, which to be honest I think quite a few people may be doing at this time!

Is it you, or your dh, or both of you who are thinking of ending it?

If one of you wants to make it work, then I'd consider some on line counselling now to help you work together through this time.

If you want to continue parenting your adopted children and pursue the adoption order at this time, I would personally not involved social services in any marital issues you may have. Or at least I would not spell out the full story to them.

These really are unprecedented times and so as parents/as couples/ as professionals everyone is a bit in the dark.

As long as both of you and your children are safe, I would not be alerting anyone outside the family to the situation, except to seek the help of a professional (and qualified) counsellor.

If, in the future you and your husband decide to separate, then you can do so, and work out child care arrangements as any other family would, and pursue divorce as any other couple would.

IMHO if you involve social services now the whole situation may be taken out of your hands.

If at all possible, give your dh some leeway, talk, be open about your feelings but also be generous if you can.

For example:
He may feel pushed out if you and the child are building a bond and he is not (our son took ages to bond with my dh - luckily my dh is not the jealous type and just accepted it!)
He may find parenting more challenging than you/more challenging than he expected, he may need support and help to feel able to cope. he might simply need to meet up with mates and feel like 'himself' again, and of course none of us can do that at this time!

This difficult situation may not always be the case.

Thanks
Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 02:40

sadwithkiddies you do not need to answer this but if you are post adoption order, why are 'adoption agencies' involved? I just want to wish you all the best, this must be so hard. Thanks

topcat2014 I am so sorry that this has been so tough, how are you coping? Sorry to be nosy but what does 'a sole parent (F)' mean? Thanks

cola20198 "... but if they file for divorce etc will they lose the right to try and adopt??" That sounds like a very tough situation. I have to say if I were in her shoes I would not start any divorce proceedings until the child was safely adopted.

Thanks

AgathaCroosty I am so sorry, your situation sounds so tough. Thanks

Just want to wish you all the best of luck. These really are very hard times.

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 02:43

Sorry I have used the word tough way too many times but I am not sure what else to say! Wishing you all strength. 💐

flapjackfairy · 07/05/2020 06:01

@Italiangreyhound
They are not post adoption order according to original post . Unless I am reading it wrong !
And sole parent ( F ) I imagine is for topcat to adopt on his own as father if they separate or divorce.

These stories are v sad and makes you realise how v hard adoption can be and the immense pressure it places on couples. A fact which is often overlooked. I personally know of one case where the marriage collapsed v quickly after placement leading to both children being taken back into care at the insistence of social services so I agree with you Italian. I would get the adoption order done asap and get some counselling in the meantime but I would not be telling the sw what was going on unless I really had to. These strange times are testing the best of relationships so I would hang in there and see how it pans out after this is all over.
Good luck OP. Really hope things work out for you x

AgathaCroosty · 07/05/2020 07:53

This was our plan originally. To play happy families until we got the order. No such luck as DH pulled the rug on that one & told them I'd left

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 10:39

@flapjackfairy "They are not post adoption order according to original post . Unless I am reading it wrong !"

The OP is not past adoppton order but sadwithkiddies is. Unless I am reading it wrong !

"And sole parent ( F ) I imagine is for topcat to adopt on his own as father if they separate or divorce." That's what I thought it meant but I didn't realize Topcat was a man.

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 11:39

AgathaCroosty I don't want to pry but "Social have said that we can't both apply for the order now, it has to be one of us & they want it to be DH." And "No such luck as DH pulled the rug on that one & told them I'd left"

Dors your husband want to be the soup adopter?

Did you think about staying together until after adoption order?

Would he consider 'trying again'? You really do not need to answer. It's just such a terrible situation. If he had not applied as part of a couple I wonder if he would have been 'taken on' as a single adopter? Presumably you were supplying the money. If he adopt a as a single person how would that work if he is still legally married and how would that work financially for him if your child is not legally yours?

As I say please do not answer anything you are not happy to? Flowers

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 11:42

Sorry typos!! Does your husband want to be the soul adopter?

I meant are social services pushing that and he would rather adopt with you?

AgathaCroosty · 07/05/2020 12:28

Yes he has said that he wants to be the sole adopter.

I've mentioned the order since the 10 week window & he's always put a reason in place as to why we should wait, it's been 9 months now.

I've asked him where we go from here & there is long standing deep rooted resentment from him towards me, I don't even think that councilling would be of any help.

I was the money. So LOs life will be very different to how it was first planned out by us & the 3rd party social services.

Italiangreyhound · 07/05/2020 15:14

AgathaCroosty I am sorry if this is a very obvious question but what do you want to happen next? What do you feel would be on the chikd's best interests?

AgathaCroosty · 07/05/2020 15:57

I also forgot to add the fact that he won't be able to do the order until we were divorced.

In all honesty Greyhound, I don't know. Its a gut wrenchingly awful situation to be in. Social want us to explain how things are going to look for the future, it's so hard. Ultimately, they're not bothered about us. It's just LO they're bothered about.

flapjackfairy · 07/05/2020 19:13

@Italiangreyhound
Oh I see. Didn't realise we had two different scenarios here ! I blame it on the sleepless nights and lockdown brain rot! Smile