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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want him present at the birth

111 replies

1950s1 · 18/01/2021 20:35

The father of our children and I keep rebounding. He loves me and knows that I have emotionally disconnected from him which he says he is desperate to fix. He is the childrens bestfriend and we want to stay together to conveniently remain as a family unit which I don't have an issue with. He came back to live with us today, because it makes things more convenient. Everyone I've spoken to about this says they would leave, but I'm not asking for advice on that, I really don't want to leave. My partner has a close female best-friend, they've known eachother for aproximetly four years, but my partner and I have known eachother much longer. He swears they just have a
brother-sister bond. Admittedly though I don't understand what one of those is. I'm uncomfortable with their relationship, There are no boundaries when they have conversations, she says they don't keep anything from eachother, and presses him when he has tried to keep my information away from her. He says he doesn't see anything wrong with this, they are friends, he should be able to trust her. She is obssesed with him, and knows all the details about his entire life. He has revealed too much to her, their conversations can be personal and deep. She passive aggresively said she was happy for him if I was what he wanted. It made me assume that she fancied him. I confronted them both, they swore they didn't feel that way towards eachother. Ever since knowing about me, she has asked for my
personal information, has spoken off-the-scales unnaceptably about me, gotten the wrong end of the stick when our relationship issues arise in their conversations and has painted me as a toxic monster and has labeled me controlling for not wanting her in his life anymore. She has used what she knows about him to her advantage, convinced him that I am no good for him and somehow manipulated him into leaving me. On top of that, she hacked into his phone and
social medias by bypassing the google security questions linked to his accounts from knowing him so well, accessed my personal information and revealed it to her friends in a groupchat. I lost my shit, told her I wish for her to get very hurt and die for all I care. she said if she knew where I lived (we were living seperately at this time) she'd have the police at my door and make me loose my job and any chance of getting a better one in the future. Eventually he came back, I was very hurt still, he said he missed me, and he said if we were to
be together I had to allow them to stay friends and talk. I said no, layed it all out, to try and get him to see her for what she is, He said he doesnt see it but realised what he was losing and agreed not to talk to her to be with me, but said that he still wanted her as his friend. He swore two different times they weren't talking anymore, he was each time behind my back. The first time, he could feel me getting emotionally distant, the second time, I had almost completely emotionally disconnected. I wasn't being nearly as affectionate as usual, he doubted that I even loved him anymore, and honestly, I was doubting that I loved him anymore. He has sworn a 3rd time he has removed her from his life to stand a chance at making things normal again. I don't believe that he has, he doesn't let me have his passwords or access to his social medias or phone, and he still wants her (has openly admitted to it) and talks fondly of her when we try and talk about why I'm disconnected from him. I've felt angry and sick for a long time, but I've sort of accepted that this is the situation that I'm in and don't feel such heated overwhelming emotions. If I do start to feel like that again I remind myself of how ill it makes me and start to find ways to calm down. Then I feel numb towards him again.
I feel as though, so long as he still wants her, I'm not safe to allow myself feel anything towards him. He said he doesn't see what's wrong with their relationship, and said he doesn't know right from wrong because of his bad upbringing. It's important to him that he has a close relationship with his children, he has said that when our other child is born he wants to be present at the birth or the child would grow up thinking that their father didn't want them if he wasn't
there when they were born. I resent him on a deep level, If I try to connect to him on an intimate level it makes me feel sick so I don't bother putting myself through that anymore. I would feel too vulnerable to have him there but I don't want him to resent me for it which he would, it would make our situation overall worse. So I'm not sure what I'm asking, I feel torn.

OP posts:
blissfulllife · 19/01/2021 11:57

You are damaging your children irreparably. Take this from a foster mom who's cared for children from households similar to your own. They grow up unable to have stable, loving and caring relationships of their own. Because they've never witnessed this themselves. Never been put first, never had their needs prioritised. Just bought up by immature selfish parents. Happy to live in some strange situation where no one feels safe or stable.

You won't take on any criticism or advice I can see. So just know, you will see how this effects your children when it's too late, hope that guilt doesn't bite too much. Best of luck

LaBellina · 19/01/2021 11:59

It sounds utterly toxic and exhausting to be in this love triangle.
I would get out of this relationship asap also for the sake of the DC.
Theirs and your own future self will thank you for it.

Cherrysoup · 19/01/2021 12:00

Are you completely lacking in emotional intelligence? Do your think your children are blind? Of course this sort of dysfunctional relationship will affect your dc. Dear god.

This man obviously values the friendship of this woman above your relationship. This will never change. You are being horribly selfish to force your dc to endure this in their house.

BadBear · 19/01/2021 12:12

Kids don't need just civil, they need love and a model for what a good relationship feels like.

Just cut out all the drama from your life and get rid of him as a partner. He can still be a good dad and you can come to an arrangement where he spends time with his kids.

ursuslemonade · 19/01/2021 12:12

Well, PPs have already made excellent and valid points.
You are deluding yourself on a spectacular level.
What makes you think that your kids benefit from growing up in a 'family unit' like this?
If you 'partner' wanted to be around his kids all the time, maybe he should start with quitting the close 'friendship'.
Both of you are at fault, perhaps it would be best to let him go and get counselling for you.

hardboiledeggs · 19/01/2021 12:12

Your poor kids, you think they don't but believe me they do. You need to be careful that they don't resent you both one day for it. Your relationship is never going to work even for ease. Put your kids first and end it but let him be a Father as long as he continues to be a good one.

Heyahun · 19/01/2021 12:21

you are being ridiculous - nobody here can help you because what you are doing is the worst thing for you and your kids and you wont be told otherwise so I actually dont see the point of you post

You need to leave him obviously - share custody of the children and move on with your life!

It really is that simple!

Plasticfish · 19/01/2021 12:24

Oh lord you seem determined to bury your head in the sand. When your kids are teens and all the ill-effects of this come out will you be saying "why didn't anyone warn me?!"

GabsAlot · 19/01/2021 12:38

of course they will know theyrenot stupid-parents are loving to each other not civil if theyre meant to be together

he cant see anything wrong with her hacking into personal accounts?

Carysmatthews · 19/01/2021 12:41

@1950s1

I don't think it's effecting the children that much. They're joyful to have him around and we all have great times together playing. We can remain civil towards eachother. We don't argue and when we have conversations they're not in the same house because we don't want them to know. We think it would be too complicated for them, that they wouldn't understand
Don’t kid yourself into thinking your children haven’t picked up on the tensions and weird goings on. They are very good at sensing when things are off.
MojoMoon · 19/01/2021 12:43

Good lord, is this real? Or are you inventing Jeremy Kyle style scenarios because you are bored?

On the off chance it is real

  1. have whoever you want at the birth. The child won't know.
  2. separate properly from this man. Live separately and stop discussing anything beyond the welfare of your children. You can civilly co-parent while living separately.
  3. you need to consider having therapy and counselling to learn what a healthy relationship looks like. Probably your kids could benefit from family therapy as well
cherrypie111 · 19/01/2021 12:44

Start saving for therapy as your children are going to bloody need it

MatildaTheCat · 19/01/2021 12:55

You have posted all of this before and got the same answers. You clearly won’t take heed of what is being said over and over again that this is toxic. He needs to move out and establish regular contact with the children. One where he parents them not be a best friend.

Of course you don’t have to have him at the birth. His argument is utterly stupid- no child can remember who was there. The mother always can strangely enough.

However I imagine you will ignore this and allow him to manipulate you to seeing his way the world works best. Again.

ToffeePennie · 19/01/2021 13:09

Seriously?
Your kids deserve better.
You deserve better.
He is putting you through absolute hell because he can, whilst you and this other woman dance attendance on him. He is literally having his cake and eating it.
Do you honestly think you are shielding the children from this? Because you are not. Your children will quickly realise that other parents actually love each other, that they aren’t just “civil”. They already probably know that something is wrong, and they will grow up thinking that it is normal for a bloke to vanish and come back as and when he chooses.
You haven’t disconnected from him because if you had you would see he is toxic.
You wouldn’t be wishing he would just pick you. You wouldn’t be concerned about this other woman.
You desperately need to Chuck him out properly, get rid of him and actually, finally take control of your own life.
This is not a “family unit” loving or otherwise. This is a shit show.

MaliceOrgan · 19/01/2021 13:23

You really don't sound remotely disconnected. This sounds SO horrible for your poor kids

1950s1 · 19/01/2021 15:35

I am with him for the childrens sake, how could anyone think otherwise. And even if we didn't live together, he'd still be involved in our lives. He can watch over them whilst I get stuff done, the children enjoy his company. I'm not asking for advice on wether or not to leave him, I don't think I should. There are examples of loving relationships all around them, we have friends and extended family , why do we need to be in love for them to not need therapy as an adult? They're not neglected, and if anything they're being put first because I'd rather that he wasn't here. They have said they don't want him to leave. Seeing him makes me have flashbacks. I spiral in bad thoughts every night and it's making me restless. How is our broken relationship going to effect them? They are loved by both of us

OP posts:
cherrypie111 · 19/01/2021 15:58

@1950s1

I am with him for the childrens sake, how could anyone think otherwise. And even if we didn't live together, he'd still be involved in our lives. He can watch over them whilst I get stuff done, the children enjoy his company. I'm not asking for advice on wether or not to leave him, I don't think I should. There are examples of loving relationships all around them, we have friends and extended family , why do we need to be in love for them to not need therapy as an adult? They're not neglected, and if anything they're being put first because I'd rather that he wasn't here. They have said they don't want him to leave. Seeing him makes me have flashbacks. I spiral in bad thoughts every night and it's making me restless. How is our broken relationship going to effect them? They are loved by both of us
If you're genuinely asking how your bullshit relationship effects them you really need a head wobble.

Your children will pick up on all this shit and it's incredibly stupid to think they won't

TheTrashBagIsOursCmonTrashBag · 19/01/2021 16:09

Sack him off once and for all. The going back and forth is terribly unsettling for your children, they deserve better than this. And no, don’t have him at the baby’s birth- a birth partner is meant to be supportive and make you feel safe and relaxed as possible. He is incapable of that.

Who knows if he and his friend are intimate with each other but I do think it sounds like almost an abusive relationship between them- she’s hacking into his Social media, attempting to turn him against you (and possibly others who don’t like her much?) and sounds like a very domineering person. But. You can’t change that, you can’t change him, it sounds like he’s chosen her over you so the best thing to do for your sake and your children is a clean break and make sure the only thing you discuss is your children’s welfare. Block them both on social media and her number and go cold turkey from thinking about them and their weird as fuck friendship.

Petitmum · 19/01/2021 16:14

This situation is seriously fucked up...................You need to start putting the needs of your children first .

Starlightstarbright1 · 19/01/2021 16:29

I will conbect when i feel safe ??? Jesus get some self respect..

I won't waste my breath on tge relarionship..however birth us somewhere you should feel supported.. you are at your most vunerable .. it might do you good to stand up to him.. but in terms of the baby whether hevis there or not is the least of your worries

TheTrashBagIsOursCmonTrashBag · 19/01/2021 16:31

Your kids will know. If not now then soon. When I left my abusive ex I was adamant to start with that my children had no idea of anything at all. He didn’t hurt me, rape me, scream at me or call me names in front of them. But they know he did horrible things and that I was miserable before I left with them. It seemed to be subtle things if anything.

SpilltheTea · 19/01/2021 16:32

What's the point posting when you can't see reason?

1950s1 · 19/01/2021 16:32

Would it be better if we remained living together (it's practical) but stopped being 'together', tell the children that and explain to them how relationships are meant to be

OP posts:
hammeringinmyhead · 19/01/2021 16:35

He can watch over them whilst I get stuff done

That's ok then, as long as the washing up gets done. Great priorities there from both of you.

1950s1 · 19/01/2021 16:40

I like to make informed decisions. So instead of unhelpfully labelling me stupid when no one is born knowing everything, sympathise that different life experiences and factors go into making us who we are, that we aren't all wired to think the same, and tell me exactly why staying with him is going to effect them badly, instead of just telling me that it will. I don't see how it will, when there are other influences in their lives to take examples from. They can learn what a healthy relationship looks like as they get older through research and obersevation. Why would they only consider our broken relationship?

OP posts: