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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

OH 19yo has just made contact with him - is it bad to leave him for it?

271 replies

stepmummytoomany · 15/09/2020 08:02

My OH and I have been together for 2 years. He is 40 and I am 26, we get on really well, he has 2 children from a previous relationship they are 5 and 3. We have split custody of them so they live with us half of the month. I am very involved in their lives and love being their step mummy. I am very happy with our little blended family. I do not have any children of my own yet but I want them.

I recently found out (about 4 months ago) that my OH has another 2 children from a 1 night stand when he was 20, making them 19 now. He has never met them or seen them, he paid CSA for them but the mum didnt want him in their life, they thought another man was their Dad so were none the wiser. This year 1 of them got ill so they found out the truth about their dad being their step dad from a blood test. 1 of them has recently made contact with my OH. I am happy that she has made contact because I know it has always been on my OH mind, but I dont know if I'm strong enough to handle the fact he now has 4 children actively in his life. I dont know if I can be 5th on his love list. rightfully so the children should come before me but I think its all too much for me. I dont know what to do as I am so involved with the 2 younger children. Also does not help that my OH has had a vasectomy, he has always said he would get it reversed so he could biologically be the father of my child/children, but if it doesn't work can I cope knowing im the only one he doesnt have biological children with? Advice needed please. Please dont tell me im acting shallow, I already know that I just need to think of myself for a minute.

OP posts:
DarkmilkAddict · 15/09/2020 10:08

If he kept them a secret for so long, he must’ve thought there’s a chance you’d leave him over it.

But if he acted so honourably as you describe, why would he fear that? I’m wondering if you know the whole truth yet.

God if I was your age again, I wouldn’t do this to myself. Life is hard enough believe me, and believe the other women in here

mcmooberry · 15/09/2020 10:09

I would advise you to leave this relationship. My DH has had 2 vasectomy reversals to have our children (first one they could only do one side as needed a GA for the second one and I also needed ivf for the second as sperm count was still low) and being part of a fertility forum discussing them, they very often did not work. If you definitely want children yourself then I wouldn't stay with this man with everything taken together.

wink1970 · 15/09/2020 10:10

And yes, sorry but you are far too involved in his younger children's lives after only being together 2 years. You aren't a step mummy.

What a bitchy post. She's been in their lives for MOST of their lives and clearly loves them.

OP, you sound lovely, and will make a great mum some day. I agree it may be time to move on, you can keep in touch with your stepchildren, it's do-able if you want it to work.

ancientgran · 15/09/2020 10:12

I don't see it quite like most people seem to. I think the issue with the vasectomy is massive, how successful are reversals? The fact he clearly separated from his previous wife/partner when they had two very young children is also a big issue.

However, a one night stand when he was 20 isn't a big deal. Not having anything to do with the children for 11 years as he didn't know they existed isn't his fault. Deciding to not rock the boat for the children when they had a "father" in their lives who clearly wanted them might not be the decision everyone would make although I do know someone who did the same, it was a mother who decided she couldn't cope and walked out when they were babies, her husband remarried and the children grew up believing their step mother was their mother and she only saw them 2 or 3 times when she attended family events and was just introduced as daddy's cousin. They were told at 18, met their mother and got on well, she was happier being a mum of teenagers than babies. Initially they were shocked but accepted it for what it was.

So on balance I'd say be very careful, how will you feel if the reversal doesn't work and do you feel secure that he will stay if you do have children.

Rosebel · 15/09/2020 10:12

I haven't read all the replies but I would find it weird going out with someone who's children were only 7 years younger than me. It would just feel wrong.
I don't totally blame him for not being in their lives but he knew about them when you met and wasn't honest with you.
It's a massive lie, what else has he lied about.
Find someone who can be honest with you and give you the family you crave.

Nicetableinnit · 15/09/2020 10:15

You sound like you're going to ignore most of the advice and stay with him - you'll end up wasting 5/6/10 years of your life on this man if you aren't careful and then realise what a mistake it was. Age gap, kids, the lies. You'll want kids yourself and he won't.
As for being a step mum - You aren't. And you have no legal responsibility for those children and no rights over them. If he ditches you in a few years time because you want a kid. and he ( having 4 already) doesn't you'll never see those children again.
If you're genuinely worried about how it will affect them if you aren't in their lives anymore then nows the time to go.
It's lovely that they're attached to you but the reality is they need their mum, and their dad and everyone else is surplus to that.

aSofaNearYou · 15/09/2020 10:15

Not shallow at all. This isn't what you signed up for and you were already being overly tolerant of baggage, this would just be taking the piss.

I don't agree with all the other posters saying he should now be so consumed by parenting these adults that you should expect to be put at the bottom of his priorities if you stay with him. They are fully grown adults he has just met, he should be able to build a relationship with them without any noticeable change to his relationship with you/lack of care and effort put into any joint children you go on to have.

But despite that, I think it's absolutely reasonable to run for the hills.

Dontbeme · 15/09/2020 10:16

Clearly from his actions this man would have no issue fathering more children, his issue seems to lie with hanging around to parent his children. He left twins to be parented by another man and now he has walked away from a newborn and toddler with his ex-wife, he had you lined up to parent them for his convenience. Do you not see a pattern here OP?

As for his ex-wife knowing all this and not mentioning it to you when you say you are close and get along, that also raises alarm bells for me, maybe she knows he won't hang around to parent her two without help from a younger willing girlfriend. This whole thing is a huge clusterfuck, run for the hills girl, what do your parents and friends think of all this, and the idea of adding more kids to the mix?

Thehouseofmarvels · 15/09/2020 10:17

@stepmummytoomany

How many children do you want?

Just if you have one baby of your own you might want another but he may not?

If you want baby number 2 and he says no I have four kids already that might be tough.

CarpetDiem · 15/09/2020 10:18

You say you want children but have not specified with him. Being a SM is nice- but not the same as being a mum to your own DCs. So I think it’s time to move on, start afresh. Any man who can actively ignore TWO of his own DCs for near 20 years is not the type of person to start a family with.

FinallyHere · 15/09/2020 10:21

Fourteen years older than you, four kids by two mothers and a vasectomy. If you want children, he is not a great prospect.

Even if you had a child now, he would be seventy by the time your child is twenty.

Don't let the bond you have developed with his younger DC hold you back from finding someone who is a better match for you.

Wr have the same age gap. It means nothing until after he was seventy, now even without children it really isn't idea. If you want to throw children into the mix ....

Nomorepies · 15/09/2020 10:24

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

OiSortItOwt · 15/09/2020 10:24

@wink1970

And yes, sorry but you are far too involved in his younger children's lives after only being together 2 years. You aren't a step mummy.

What a bitchy post. She's been in their lives for MOST of their lives and clearly loves them.

OP, you sound lovely, and will make a great mum some day. I agree it may be time to move on, you can keep in touch with your stepchildren, it's do-able if you want it to work.

It's not bitchy. It's been 2 years. And I'm assuming she hasn't (hopefully) been living with them for the entirety of that time either so even less than that really.

OP is basing her inability to leave on being 'in too deep' and a 'step mummy' to his kids. You shouldn't be in too deep to leave after 2 years together.

And as harsh as it is, the kids have a mum. They will get over OP leaving. That may not be nice for OP to hear but she has become far too involved (I imagine with her partner pushing it) with these kids far too quickly talking about all 4 people parenting together etc... She's been there for 2 years and as I say, likely hasn't lived full time with them for all of that either.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 15/09/2020 10:24

If a man has a vasectomy he doesn't want more kids. It's not a subtle hint.

Cut your losses. Stay in touch with SCs.

Happynow001 · 15/09/2020 10:25

Dear @stepmummytoomany

I really think you need to give yourself some physical, as well as mental space here. At least on a temporary basis, perhaps consider moving out for a few months and talk to someone IRL, either a trusted friend, your parents or a professional counsellor, who you could be totally open and honest with.

At the moment you are living the step-mum life in the same space as your partner, going round and round this situation. You know he lied by omission in not telling you about his older children, don't you? Give yourself some breathing space to consider this.

Also don't subscribe to the sunk costs fallacy and allow the timetable of your partner's hopeful vasectomy reversal to dictate what will happen to you for, perhaps, many years to come. What's that phrase: "act in haste, repent at leisure"? Don't let that be your future.

I'm unsure what the balance is between the hours you work and the time you give to looking after your partner's children, compared to what he does or whether you own your home together. Is it his house?

Please take some time, and some good advice, on the very important decisions you need to take next.

Good luck OP. 🌹

bridgetreilly · 15/09/2020 10:27

I think it's a bit quick to decide to leave him before you know how it's going to work out, tbh. Adult children he doesn't even know aren't likely to have a huge impact on his day to day life. They might be curious to meet him once and then that's more or less it. I'd give it a while and see what difference it actually does make.

MamaGothel · 15/09/2020 10:28

Much older man, 4 kids... honestly you are so young, you should find somebody who is in the same stage of life as you. I say that as a stepmum myself. It will be hard to leave the kids but I think you will be saving yourself a lot of heartache in the long run.

ShellsAndSunrises · 15/09/2020 10:29

Ah love. He’s spun you a yarn with the custody stuff, it doesn’t make sense. The most recent version seems the most likely - there was no legal battle, as the 11 year olds would definitely have been involved - he made a private arrangement with their mother to ghost out and let her partner father the kids.

But you’re 26. That’s 4 years younger than me and I’d have a run a mile at a man with 2 young kids, 2 older kids, and who had had a vasectomy. It’s just too much baggage. There’s too much chaos to sort out before you even get to the idea of him reversing the vasectomy and having more children with you.

I’m sorry it’s turned out this way Flowers

stepmummytoomany · 15/09/2020 10:32

Wow, I really wasnt expecting such a strong response to this post. Thank you to everyone who has posted. I think reading some of your messages has actually dragged the wool from eyes a little bit.

My parents know of our age gap, of his ex wife and his 2 youngest children. They was not happy at the beginning but they are happy now. They can see how happy we make each other and they want to be involved with the younger children knowing how involved I am. I do not have the heart to tell them about the 'secret twins' yet as I know they will 1000% tell me to Run.

Just to update my previous updates. I found out 4 months ago about the secret twins. They have only messaged recently (well Sunday evening!). He told me because he got an email from the mother that 1 of them was ill and needed to know if he had any heart conditions in the family. His face went pale and I instantly knew something was wrong. Once he told me we talked through it, I was debating leaving then.

That was when he showed me everything he knew of them, all of the courts paperwork, the messages between him and the mother. The DNA test. Basically the mother was another man (the step father) she cheated on the step father with my OH, she got pregnant. My OH never spoke to her again. She stayed with the step father, they went through the whole process of having the twins. He looked after them theyre entire young life. They split up when the twins were 11, the step dad went for custoday (he thought he was the real dad, his name is on the birth certifcate) the mother turned around and said they werent his, it went to the courts. My OH had to have a blood test along with 3 other people. He found out he was the father. His whole world was flipped on its head 8 years ago. He did not decide to abbondon said twins despite what people think. They went to court he wanted access, she did not, the step father didnt want him to either. My OH the mother and the step father all met and decided it was best that the twins not know who my OH was. The Step Father wanted to remain the Dad and carry on being the Dad for them. My OH hadnt been apart of their lives for 11 years, he did not want to crash and burn and ruin 2, 11 year olds lives for the sake of an hours supervised visit a week. He was getting married he was going to start his own family. No one can say he is a bad person for that.

When I say 'found out they were 18' he obviously knew when they were 18, I just meant when he realised they were 18 he wanted to get in contact. He messaged the mother first ( I have read these messages) she still said she didnt think it was a good idea. The twins still did not know of his existence.

1 of the twins fell ill in January and had to have a series of blood tests, she found out she was not the same blood type as her mum or her 'Dad' this sparked an awkward conversation where the mum had to tell her the truth. She refused to tell the twin of my OH name and would only tell her his first name and told her he was still friends with one the mums friends.

She found him on fb from searching through her mums friend friends list on his first name. Saw a number say 5 people with his first name and messaged the one she thought looked like her. They have been constantly messaging one another since sunday evening.

Yes I work, my OH works too. Luckily we WFH most of the week and work are flexible with our hours, my OH works his hours around picking up the youngest children. (He goes and picks them up and takes them to school ect) I am heavily involved in their life but my life does not revolve solely around them. I try to go out with my friends on the weekends he has the girls so that they still have Daddy time without me, they do not need me here constantly as I am not their mother and no I have not just taken on the mother/wife role in our house. It is split very evenly if not swayed more towards him because they are his children ect.

He wants children with me because he knows how much of a good step mum I am and he knows I want children of my own. Agreed the vasectomy is far from ideal in our relationship and I have told him if the vasectomy does not work I wont be able to stick around. He has given plenty of options, IVF, sperm donor ect, he wants to be on the birth certificate and has said that he will be the father to our child whether is it biological his or not. This was always fine for me, if that vasectomy never worked I could handle that because I know how much of a good Dad he is. But now the twins have made contact I don't think I can accept the fact that our child might biologically not be his.

I know 26 i still very young but Ive had a hard f'd up life and im more mature than most 26yo my age. My mum had a mid life crisis when she split from my dad when I was 12 and I had to look after my youngest brother, cook, clean and take him to school when I was only a child myself... so looking after someone elses children at 26 isnt a burden for me. Sorry for the rant just hoping this will clear up some peoples questions.

OP posts:
Jeremyironseverything · 15/09/2020 10:32

Why did you only find out 4 months ago if he's known about them for 8 years.
He's not been honest with you. That would be my number one issue. What else hasn't he told you? Trust is paramount.

TenDays · 15/09/2020 10:35

You deserve better than this man can offer and are young enough to start afresh.

Having a family, your OWN family, seems to be uppermost in your thoughts. I'd advise putting the last couple of years down to experience and moving on.

Not easy, especially as you have bonded with the SC, but think where you'll be 10 years down the line if you stay.

Will the vasectomy be reversed? Maybe. Will you have a child? If not, how long will you wait? If so, will he stay with you? He didn't stay with the mother of his last two children or the ones before that.

None of this is under your control, whereas leaving and making your own life is.

MeridaTheBold · 15/09/2020 10:36

It's time to walk away. Not because of the age difference but because of the life differences. You are both at completely different stages and the 'twins' resurfacing has just made it more difficult for you to ignore those differences.
Also, not to repeat PPs, but his story doesn't add up. He didn't lose custody in the courts, he walked away because it was easier. Now, he might have told you it was easier for the twins if he walked away or he might have blamed their DM. But the fact is he did walk away, he didn't pursue custody, he didn't write to them, he didn't maintain contact in any way.
There is too much to unpack here and you will never be able to get to the bottom of it all. It also shouldn't be your life's work to unpack your DP's past. And it would be much better for his younger DCs that you leave now than try to limp on ignoring your misgivings, building an even more entwined relationship with them.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 15/09/2020 10:37

I don't generally think large age gaps are an issue but you are so young, if you ended up having kids with him when you are 30, he would be nearly 50. So by the time you finish caring for your kids it will be time to care for him in his old age. Sounds a bit shit to me really.

TheFormidableMrsC · 15/09/2020 10:38

@AvonCallingBarksdale

So you’ve been together 2 years and his youngest child is 3, meaning he fucked off when they were still a baby. Nice. What a catch. You’re 26 - honestly, go now.
My thoughts exactly 👀
DarkmilkAddict · 15/09/2020 10:38

OP I feel for you. Those of us with “hard f’d up lives” do tend to go on and create more problems for ourselves in adulthood. I mean this kindly. Please give yourself a nice easy life from here on Flowers

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