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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being unreasonable asking for child maintenance

406 replies

Bri102 · 25/07/2021 09:31

First time writing a post and it's a bit long so apologies.

I fell pregnant with my son during lockdown, bit of a surprise as I was on birth control. The father straight away said I should get an abortion due to the fact he was unplanned, im so grateful everyday I didn't as my son is a beautiful funny little 6 month old now. The dad has never met him and had changed his mind a few times about meeting him but this has come to a head and he now says it's impossible for him to meet my son, due to the fact I have asked for child maintenance, my maternity leave is ending soon and it is going to cost £600 a month for nursery fees alone.

Whilst I was pregnant I reached out to the father's mum to ask if she wanted a relationship with my son, she jumped at the chance and we have been seeing each other frequently since I was pregnant. Shortly after my son was born she said if she was me she would go for child maintenance, as her son should take some sort of responsibility for my son. However, she came to see my son yesterday and told me im morally wrong to ask for any maintenance as her son did not wish for me to continue the pregnancy and it was my decision and mine alone, he did not have any choice in the matter. She said I should not have continued the pregnancy if I could not financially support the baby myself. I can support the baby and my other son but after the nursery fees, we will not have much left for food and everyday needs. She asked me if I would drop the case as her son has given her the ultimatum of him and her other 2 grandchildren or my son and she is going to chose her son the babys dad, and she is prepared to walk out of my sons life. I'm devastated for my son not only will he feel abandoned by his father but now by his family also. My sons father has also never met his dad and recently tried to contact him and his dad didn't want to know him and denied having a son, it has apparently really effected him, but he is willing to do it to his own son which I cannot understand. Don't know if it's worth noting he already has two other children who he sees twice a week and pays child maintenance for to his ex.

I just want to know if I am in the wrong and should just drop the child maintenance and basically walk away from the family before my son is old enough to remember his nan and aunties who are willing to walk away if the dad is adamant on the ultimatum.

Thanks for reading and any advice, sorry it was long.

OP posts:
queenofcandleford · 25/07/2021 21:10

I would claim, but can he deny that he is the father?

frazzledasarock · 25/07/2021 21:12

He can deny he’s the father CMS require him to do a paternity test to prove he isn’t.

watingroom2 · 25/07/2021 21:23

Was he wearing a condom that split?
Did he get you the MAP?

OR was he relying on your birth control to work?

Either way the child is his financial responsibility now - Claim the CM.

QueenBee52 · 25/07/2021 21:30

@queenofcandleford

I would claim, but can he deny that he is the father?
He sure can, but then you just get a DNA test... Flowers
Bri102 · 25/07/2021 21:38

Thankyou so much for everyone that has responded, the good the bad and the offensive. I appreciate them all and have been shocked at the amount of replies, wasn't sure I would get one! I will be going ahead with maintenance, much to the disgust of some of you, but it is what it is. You don't know all the ins and outs of what's happened and what's been said, it would take me forever to write that all down 😳 but to answer a question someone asked if I am not able to get anything or next to nothing then I will manage, as all parents do, extra shifts at work cut back on what I can etc so my boys don't go without but yeah thanks all. Last thing if someone says they won't wear a condom along with your own contraception tell them to piss right off!!! Xx

OP posts:
GalaxyGirl24 · 25/07/2021 21:41

Good on you OP! Glad to hear you'll be claiming it! 🙌🏽

pointythings · 25/07/2021 21:54

I'm glad your claiming it. It's all about your DC.

pheonixrebirth · 25/07/2021 21:55

@Bri102

Thankyou so much for everyone that has responded, the good the bad and the offensive. I appreciate them all and have been shocked at the amount of replies, wasn't sure I would get one! I will be going ahead with maintenance, much to the disgust of some of you, but it is what it is. You don't know all the ins and outs of what's happened and what's been said, it would take me forever to write that all down 😳 but to answer a question someone asked if I am not able to get anything or next to nothing then I will manage, as all parents do, extra shifts at work cut back on what I can etc so my boys don't go without but yeah thanks all. Last thing if someone says they won't wear a condom along with your own contraception tell them to piss right off!!! Xx
👏👏👏👏👏👏
QueenBee52 · 25/07/2021 21:57

@Bri102

Good on you.. and goof luck to you and your beautiful Child Flowers

QueenBee52 · 25/07/2021 21:58

Good luck even ... lol Flowers

toocold54 · 25/07/2021 22:07

Good to hear the thread has been helpful OP Flowers

Naunet · 25/07/2021 22:07

FFS they are both to blame but he chose not to go through with the pregnancy and she chose to

What is this madness?! He chose not to go through with the pregnancy?!! Was he pregnant too then? 😂

Every time a fertile woman has sex, she is taking the risk of pregnancy. Every time, she’s unable to avoid the possible consequences, be that an abortion or a child - both options holding risks of their own. Why some women think men should be able to have unprotected sex and not be held to these same standards is beyond me.

Naunet · 25/07/2021 22:11

@Lostandlonely94

Men are fertile all the time and a vasectomy comes with so many more risks.. a woman is fertile when the egg is released so during the ovulation period.

Maybe every woman should be made to track this regularly so that when they are close to the ovulation time of the month they abstain.

🤣 right, and we’ll ignore the fact that female contraception, abortion and childbirth all carry risks too…
Naunet · 25/07/2021 22:14

[quote Lostandlonely94]@QueenBee52- oh well that makes it okay then 🙄

As the OP says she was told it was morally wrong to ask for it and I agree with the father and his mother! It is morally wrong to ask for CMS when he stated he was not going to be involved!

People talk about sexual relationships such as coercion but forcing a man to have a baby he doesn’t want.. apart from a medical procedure which makes it unethical to force it on a woman.. forcing a woman to not have a baby is morally the same thing.

That is my opinion and nothing is going to change that. I sympathise with men so shoot me! Hmm[/quote]
Do you think it’s morally wrong for men to try to use abortion as a form of contraception over condoms?

tallduckandhandsome · 25/07/2021 23:01

@Lostandlonely94

Men are fertile all the time and a vasectomy comes with so many more risks.. a woman is fertile when the egg is released so during the ovulation period.

Maybe every woman should be made to track this regularly so that when they are close to the ovulation time of the month they abstain.

Should be made to abstain? What with, a chastity belt linked to an app tracking her cycle?!
HalzTangz · 25/07/2021 23:23

Whether he wanted a termination is irrelevant

He's the father, he's responsible for the child's upbringing

Make the claim

I'm sure GP will still find a way to visit even if in secret

Conchitastrawberry · 25/07/2021 23:24

God what a horrible family ☹️ Can’t believe his mother is ok with it.

HalzTangz · 25/07/2021 23:33

He should have worn a condom.

What gives him the right to tell a woman to have evasive procedure just because he didn't act in a responsible manner?

HalzTangz · 25/07/2021 23:37

Absolute rubbish.

If he chooses to spunk inside someone knowing that can cause pregnancy, then he has to pay for that child, whether he wanted it or not

NowEvenBetter · 26/07/2021 00:14

This isn’t even an issue. The sperminator pays for the people he shagged into existence. If his mother wants to see his offspring he can obviously arrange that himself, it’s his issue. Maybe by the time he’s bred several more kids, he will figure out how to not impregnate women. If he can wipe his tears away long enough to use basic contraception.

NowEvenBetter · 26/07/2021 00:18

The people this man has bred are entitled to be paid for by him. His mother, his feelings are irrelevant. He keeps ejaculating in to women and then whining about his lifestyle choices, like it’s someone else’s problem 😁 pathetic.

dadshere · 26/07/2021 00:21

If you had unprotected sex with someone, he knows that there is a chance you will conceive. It is a dificult question without knowing the full story- but basically, he left his sperm inside of you, his choice, now he needs to take responsibility for that. Make him pay.

Wh0Knew · 26/07/2021 00:34

Glad to read your update, @Bri102.
Wishing you and your 2 boys all the best!

caringcarer · 26/07/2021 00:43

First he tries to pressurise you to have an abortion, then he refuses to meet his son, then he sends Mummy to threaten you. Be strong, claim maintenance for your son, remember he is innocent and deserves that maintenance money. You dodged a bullet by getting rid of that poor excuse of a man as father to your child. I would cut out his Mummy too. She made her choice too. Don't let your ex bully you.

Maggiemay92 · 26/07/2021 01:35

It would be morally wrong of you to not claim maintainance, as well as cowardly and just an all round awful decision. Your children would suffer for the lack of money, theyd have to go without, and for what? Ao your deadbeat ex doesn't have to pay? If his mother thinks he shouldn't pay, she's a bad person and your child is better off without any of them in his life.

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