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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that if he doesn't want a baby it won't work?

15 replies

MapleTree2 · 18/06/2014 21:18

Need some advice! My DP is a bit older than me and at a very different stage in his life. He has two teenage children and has been through a rather nasty divorce. He attributes many of the problems him and his XW experienced to when they had children. He felt they both changed, his EW became depressed and so did he, he felt isolated from the children and also any social life etc. overall, although he adores his children now and doesn't blame them per se, he feels like having them forced him and EW apart and exposed their differences. It was a negative experience and he's extremely scarred by it.

Problem is I want children. Tbh it's a make or break for me. I just can't imagine a future without them and never had done. And I'm starting to feel ready for them. But, Whenever I broach the subject he rattles off all the negatives I listed above and more. when I push the subject and say that I have to have them, he says that he will have them for me and that he would never want to deny me the chance of having them. But this just isn't enough for me. I want him to want them, and not just because we may not stay together if we don't have them.

He doesn't understand that I worry that if he's not remotely positive about having more kids then perhaps it won't work. Aren't we just setting ourselves up for a disaster? Won't he just resent me if he's unhappy? Am I being unreasonable to need him to want them rather than just agree to have them so I don't break up the relationship?

OP posts:
tumbletumble · 18/06/2014 21:21

I'm really sorry Maple, but I think it may be best to finish this relationship now. YANBU and neither is he.

ICanSeeTheSun · 18/06/2014 21:24

how old are you maple.

DoJo · 18/06/2014 21:24

It doesn't sound like a great idea to stay together to be honest - you both have your reasons for wanting what you want, and they are valid but incompatible. Would you really enjoy pregnancy and having a baby if you thought he was 'putting up' with the situation just to keep your relationship afloat? Because I'm not sure how long I could cope in either position if I'm honest. Best of luck to you - it sounds like you've got some hard decisions to make.

Booooooooooooooooooooo · 18/06/2014 21:35

I've seen so many friends spend time with men who thought it wasnt the right time, thought it wasn't for them, let's just wait a bit etc and then split up with them in their late 30s/early 40s. I think you're right to want to have kids with a man who wants them. Don't waste your time.

As an aside, imagine if you did have kids with him. Every sleepless night, feeding problem, toilet training issue would result in "well you wanted them".

MapleTree2 · 18/06/2014 21:36

Thanks for your comments - although it's not great news :( I'm 28, we've been together for 3 years and live together.

OP posts:
BolshierAyraStark · 18/06/2014 21:37

You're right, it won't work. Sorry.

ICanSeeTheSun · 18/06/2014 21:45

time is on your side you have 10+ years to have a baby.

You will have the time to form a new relationship with somebody who wants a baby.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2014 21:49

End the relationship asap. He won't change, you deserve so much more than this, too. Just tell him, 'I want kids, you don't, so we both need to move on,' and discuss who will move out. Don't let him talk you round. It's a dealbreaker, as you said.

Don't delay, either. I ended a marriage at that age because the man never wanted kids. By the time I found someone else who wanted them, I was 32.

MintyChops · 18/06/2014 21:50

Horrible situation, I don't think it will work. At least you know what you want.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 18/06/2014 21:51

Him agreeing to children reluctantly just to keep you happy sounds like a recipe for disaster. Hanging on isn't likely to make him change his mind.

Standinginline · 18/06/2014 21:53

How long have you two been together ? I had been with partner nearly a year when he said that he didn't want baby more kids ,that's why him and his ex split. I was young and not really thinking about children ,him being older already had kids from his previous marriage. It wasn't until about a year and a half into out relationship he said he wanted children with me. Sometimes you have your kind set on sonething until that certain person walks into your life and changes that.

MapleTree2 · 18/06/2014 22:06

We've been together three years. I guess I'm hoping the same will happen standinginline. He does say sometimes that perhaps it will be different with me, or because he as learnt from his mistakes. But this is usually only after I've become upset after he's been negative about it.

I really do love him very much. We would both be devastated to break up :(

OP posts:
MsVestibule · 18/06/2014 22:16

You love each other and he's prepared to have a baby together if that's what you want. TBH, I don't think that's a bad starting point. He does seem to have a rather 'extreme' attitude to the negatives of parenting young children. Do you think he would consider counselling to find out why that is?

If he was dead set against the idea, my advice would be very different, but it seems a shame to throw away a good relationship when this problem could possibly be resolved.

reindeesandchristmastrees · 18/06/2014 22:23

When my husband and I got together I was 25 - same age you were? He was (still is!) 10 years my senior, divorced with a child. I made it very clear to him then that I wanted children and we didn't have a future if he didn't. He assured me it wasn't a problem but he kept putting it off until we had a month or so of stand off in my early 30's - I explained that I loved him very much but the baby thing was a deal breaker, if I stayed with him despite the fact that he didn't want children I knew that I would resent him in the future and as such our future was doomed even though I loved him so much - he is now the proud parent of two more children. We have had a few sticky patches, kids do cause their fair share of problems in relationship terms but I have been lucky.
I know that if I hadn't had the opportunity of being a mum I would not be the happy and content woman I am know. Think you may need a stand off but it maybe that you need to cut your losses and look for the father of your babies?
Good luck

SquattingNeville · 18/06/2014 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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