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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that this father is overly obsessed with his daughter?

108 replies

Intrigued14 · 14/03/2014 15:16

Long post, really sorry.

I began a relationship with a man who seemed really quite sweet at first, really kind, understanding, funny and easy to talk to. He's in his late 20's and has a young daughter under 5.

At the time we met, he revealed that he and the mother of his child had been in a long-term relationship since his teens (over 10 years) and she is quite a bit older than him - they had outgrown each other apparently but had a civil relationship. What he didn't tell me immediately was that he had been married/divorced to this woman. He had been single for two years prior to meeting me and only had two very brief flings. But he was ready to settle down.

To begin with things went really well, he appeared to be a devoted dad. He lives close to his ex and sees his daughter often - on an almost daily basis. He has pictures of her and toys all over the house, T-shirts with her face on that he showed me. His profile picture on WhatsApp, is of her and only ever of her. He does not socialise with friends unless his daughter is present and it's a family type affair. Now I am already a mother, so it wasn't necessarily a bad thing to see.

However, some time into the relationship I started to notice that if he even went a day without seeing his daughter when he wanted to it would affect his mood, he would make angry comments about father's for justice/his rights and whatnot and become stroppy. He told me once that looking into her eyes he could see 'things' (relating to love ones he had lost, or something...his late nan had taught him) and that I wouldn't 'get' it as most people don't. And he made a series of inappropriate comparisons to his daughter when listing the most important people in his life, telling me once that only she could ever 'hurt' him.

At one point his ex informed him that she was going abroad for 3 weeks to see family, she gave him plenty of advance notice. He became immediately angry and depressed by this, told me he was going to bed and began to act like someone who was grieving. He told me that without her he had nothing, and that I wouldn't understand. He went silent on me on/off for 3 weeks, and began writing tortured statuses about what he was going through so I gave him time alone, and once his daughter returned he went back to normal like it had never happened.

Over a period of time...probably too long, I felt that there was just no future between us (there were also other factors involved) so I ended it. He didn't want to end it but we had a discussion and he said he understood.

A month later I found out I was pregnant. When I told him about the baby (a girl) he was upset and attempted to hide it from his family...so I told them myself. I later found out I'd annoyed him even further because he was apparently in the hospital with his daughter when I told them and that had offended him (?)

He subsequently told me that he has a daughter already, and he couldn't imagine loving any child like he loves her (this is despite the fact he works in teaching, has two nieces and a goddaughter who calls him dad and he seems to adore them all, takes them out as a group etc.). He has subsequently advised his family not to communicate with me and wants nothing to do with this child who is due in a matter of weeks.

The last contact I had with him, I was told "good luck and all the best with your future". Is there something wrong here...I just don't get it.

OP posts:
Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 14/03/2014 17:49

I'm probably going to be shot down, but are or could you be you in contact with exw? How does she feel about this outright freakiness? Maybe she may accept a weird ally?
For you, no way would he be on bc, and I'd run like the wind.

LettertoHermioneGranger · 14/03/2014 17:55

I think the difficulty here is parts seem completely reasonable - nothing wrong with being a devoted dad, having a difficult time not living with your child, being upset to not see her for three weeks. That would be considered completely normal for a mother with shared custody, and should be for a father, which I think confuses it more - you think, well, there's nothing wrong with this, of course a father should feel this way.

But it isn't his feelings that are the problem. It's his behavior. Going into rages, acting angry, writing 'tortured statuses', that shows he's unstable and can't handle his emotions. His reaction to your pregnancy is strange, and he does come off as controlling.

If I was in your position OP, I truly wouldn't want this man in my child's life. I would not feel safe, or that it was the best decision for my child. I do think a child's well-being and safety trumps their 'right to know their father'. Plenty of children would be better off without knowing their damaging or abusive fathers. To be completely honest, I would not have told him of the pregnancy, and as you have, like another poster suggested, I might suddenly remember that I wasn't faithful and the baby is probably not his. Dishonest and probably an opinion that will get me flamed, but you have to do what you need to for your child's welfare.

Fifyfomum · 14/03/2014 17:59

I am so shocked by how many people are suggesting to go no contact without a single thought for the child in all of this!

Maybe she will want to know her dad? For all his faults and come to that conclusion herself?

MistressDeeCee · 14/03/2014 18:03

I cant see that it even matters whether people are suggesting no contact or not. This man has said he doesn't want to know his child anyway. So there will be no contact, due to his choice. He can't be forced to be in contact with his child aside from financial maintenance, can he?

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/03/2014 18:07

He sounds very odd indeed.

Devoted dad - excellent

Devoted to the point he refuses to acknowledge any other child of his own - weirdo.

Intrigued14 · 14/03/2014 18:20

Thank you everyone, it's given me some things to think about.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis I'm not in contact with his ex, but my spidey senses actually make me think she plays on his behaviour a bit.

For example, when we first began dating she would send him pictures of his daughter in the middle of the night when we were together 11pm/12am. The holiday as I mentioned she sent him pictures of his daughter crying, surely knowing how he would react.

It's funny because he told me the girl before me he briefly dated also had a problem with it. Apparently she once called him when he was out with his ex and daughter at a bday party and asked him how he was. His reply was that he was with his daughter doing such and such...her response was "I didn't ask about your daughter". He also said she made strange faces when he was showing off pictures of his daughter his ex had sent. I thought it was rude at the time, but all this time later I think there were other issues she picked up on like myself.

The replies on this thread have given me a lot to think about, and basically confirmed that no contact is probably the best way forward. Initially I was desperate to establish some kind of friendship (we were good friends at first) and for him to see the baby. As time has gone on, I agree with those who said my daughter may never compete with his eldest...I wouldn't want her to pick up on that or to feel inferior because of his own peculiarities. I was going to inform him about the birth, but I don't know whether it's even worth it. She's actually due at the same time as his eldest's bday which is probably yet another insult to him.

The situation will always remain strange to me because like I said, he is a part time teaching assistant and loves his job. He also has two nieces and a goddaughter and he also loves them to death...not like his daughter, but he plays a father-like role in their lives. He even confessed to me that he sees his eldest niece more than her own father (his brother) sees her. When his brother attacked her mother at 8 months pregnant he took her in, and when his brother refused to attend scans - he went with her. Yet he refused to attend mine, and also said he doesn't want his name on the birth certificate.

"IT [the baby] is all yours" was his response to that!

OP posts:
TheVictorian · 14/03/2014 18:21

He seems a bit strange.

Intrigued14 · 14/03/2014 18:28

MistressDeeCee Yep, he said he isn't interested, but has also said that it is me personally that he has the problem with (no explanation as to why) and not the baby, and that he has bought her things...that he would never neglect a child etc. He has looked up my new postcode to find out where I am living (by calling a cab station I used).

Then the next minute he is basically telling me good luck with my life and please p-off. He even wanted to arrange a 'meeting' at one point with myself, a friend of mine, and a family member of his to state this openly...so everyone knew. That was bizarre to me and I refused to meet him.

There have been some mixed messages, so I am not sure whether there is a possibility he may pop up at some point after the birth to be nosy, to be involved in her life, or if he truly does not want to be involved...which seems most likely at the moment.

The more I'm writing down, the more I actually think I need to just move on sharpish.

OP posts:
hoobypickypicky · 14/03/2014 18:29

"Maybe she will want to know her dad? For all his faults and come to that conclusion herself?"

Yes, because the judgement of a small child in possession of only half the facts is far more sensible than that of an adult woman with the child's best interests at heart and all the facts at her disposal, isn't it?

To quote LetterToHermioneGrainger, "I do think a child's well-being and safety trumps their 'right to know their father'."

HandsOffMyGazBaz · 14/03/2014 18:30

Do you want to get back with him OP?

hoobypickypicky · 14/03/2014 18:30

"He has looked up my new postcode to find out where I am living (by calling a cab station I used)."

WTF? Intrigued14, run. Just run.

MistressDeeCee · 14/03/2014 18:38

Intrigued14 he probably wouldnt have a problem with you personally if you were happy and comfortable with him fawning over his daughter to an extent that is most strange. You sound pretty astute - go on with your life and raise your DD as best you can. What he has done is a real shame, and thats putting it mildly..but at least you wont have his strangeness to put up with. I dont think many women WOULD be able to put up with him, actually. Build the best lives for yourselves that you can

hoobypickypicky

"Maybe she will want to know her dad? For all his faults and come to that conclusion herself?"

Yes, because the judgement of a small child in possession of only half the facts is far more sensible than that of an adult woman with the child's best interests at heart and all the facts at her disposal, isn't it?

Exactly.

TeaAndALemonTart · 14/03/2014 18:49

He sounds like a lunatic

Fifyfomum · 14/03/2014 18:58

I cannot see anywhere that suggests this man would be abusive or a danger to his child.

Which are the only reasons to refuse to allow a relationship between a parent and a child.

Beyond that, it is simply not your choice to make, it is the childs choice to make.

Odaat · 14/03/2014 19:18

Yeh he sounds weird ...
Initially felt sad for him, as I know how I would feel if I couldn't see my dd as much as Id like. But all the other stuff you talk of suggests he is just a big bowl of wrong!

theeternalstudent · 14/03/2014 19:35

Correct me if I'm wrong but you can't put the fathers name on the birth certificate if he is not there at the time. So, unless he goes with the OP to the registrars there will be no opportunity to name him on the birth certificate.

Fifyfomum · 14/03/2014 21:37

You're right theeternal but you also can't morally stand in the way of a parent/child relationship just because you are worried the father might dote too much.

That is not good enough reason to refuse all contact, if in the future he asks for contact. If he doesn't want to get to know his second child than that is his cross to bear and explain.

MrsKermittSmith · 15/03/2014 13:57

I think you may need more advice on this than Mumsnet can give, he sounds to me as if he is unstable and has some kind of mental health issue (I am not qualified to say of course but the red flags are practically a whole washing line of red duvet covers). He sounds stalkery.

WilsonFrickett · 15/03/2014 14:10

Are posters missing the fact that op wanted contact, it is the X who is telling op to feck off? Yes, contact with a parent should be the child's decision but it is the X who is taking this choice away, not op.

Op I would go nc as far as registering the birth. Do not put him in the birth cert. but I do think you should give him one more chance once the baby is here. If he doesn't take it, fine. Close the door.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 14:47

if he doesn't take the chance after the baby is born and he is paying maintenance (that tends to wake people to the reality of the child being ill) then at that point i really would move away if i could and not allow him my address.

the danger is that he will use your child if/when he gets to see less of his first dd due to his ex starting a new family or moving away or even his dd growing up and asserting some boundaries and him becoming the scorned lover and rejecting her in return. then suddenly he may want to play daddy with your child and come with all the initial weirdness plus the extra baggage of one dd having disappointed him by not being the perfect object of his affections already.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 14:49

and no i don't think women should have to put with weirdos and massive disturbances to their lives and that of their children in order to support 'the right to know one's father'. if a child when old enough expresses a desire to see them and understands the issues and is emotionally able to handle it then i'd facilitate them seeing them. i wouldn't just inflict it on a baby and myself out of principle if i genuinely thought we'd be better off without his madness in our lives.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 14:52

sorry another post!

i also think this 'rights of the child to know their father' is complete and utter false labeling.

a child has zero rights to know it's father who can walk away and never see them and isn't even legally compelled in common law to financially support them. what we really have is men's rights to see their child no matter whether it is best for the child or not, even if they've ignored the child for ten years and their arrival will cause massive disruption, even if they have drug and alcohol problems, even if they've been physically or sexually abusive in the past etc.

calling it the child's right to see their father is beyond a misnomer - it's perverse really.

DracuLaura · 15/03/2014 15:18

He can see "things" in her eyes. How fucking bizarre.

If I were you OP I would run and not look back, especially after the postcode incident.

DracuLaura · 15/03/2014 15:20

Brilliant post, HoneyBadger. Agree whole heartedly.

Imnotmadeofeyes · 15/03/2014 16:00

He does sound, well, very maternal.

Even from the reactions on this thread I can see how it would be difficult for a man to reconcile those emotions when it's clearly not something society really recognises as a fathers role. Reading through the op with him cast as a female, it comes across as ott, but I don't think it'd attract more than a withering pfb eye roll tbh.

As for the pregnancy, i knew a woman equally pfb about her ds and when pregnant with her second was very forthcoming with anyone about how she wasn't convinced she could love anyone as much as her ds. I understand that's quite a common worry even if it's not talked about.

Overall he sounds quite emotionally immature to me at the very least, never mind the effects of his break-up, so I completely understand the op choosing to disengage.

I don't think he's weird, I think he's hard work and there's no obligation for the op to 'fix' him.

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