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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he should be more supportive?

25 replies

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 09:59

Back in November, I found out I was pregnant with my partner of 2 years. This came as a shock to both of us but I was happy as I have always wanted to be a mom. I also thought my partner would be happy as we had talked about having kids before and it seemed like something we were both excited for in the future. However, my partner reacted really badly to this news and accused me of "trapping him" and that I had gotten pregnant on purpose. He accused me of deceiving him and being dishonest. He had this view because we had slept together unprotected as I had (naively) told him it was fine as I was not ovulating around that time (so I thought). I already know that this was irresponsible of me but I would never purposely get pregnant to try and "trap" someone. I was just as shocked as him when I found out.

Following this, he did not speak to me/see me for days and gave me no emotional support. Eventually he contacted me while I was at work and told me that I needed "to get rid of it (the baby)" and if I wanted our "relationship to survive" then I must go ahead with an abortion. I felt backed into a corner and loved him so much that I didn't want to lose him, so in my emotional state I initially agreed. After reflecting on this for a few days, I realised that it was something I couldn't go through with and would never forgive myself for choosing a man over my baby. I communicated this with him and was then labelled as "toxic" and accused of messing him around. He said he could not believe that I had gone against him. We then had no contact for 2 months.

Fast forward to January of this year, he makes contact and comes to the 12 week scan. He apologises for previous behaviour and says the things he said to me were "evil". He tells me he wants to be a part of our baby's life and will be there for me. He promises to cook for me, book massages for me...basically said he would give me anything I want! I was happy that my baby would have a father in her life.

I am now 31 weeks pregnant. He has not fulfilled any of those promises and also hasn't even bought anything for our baby. My family and I have bought everything for her. He even asked me to pay him almost £300 to get food for the baby shower. He claims this is because he has "no money" yet he's out with his friends every week. I have confronted him about this and he shouted at me and said he can't believe how "disrespectful" I am.

AIBU to have expected him to contribute more for his child despite the fact that it's not what he initially wanted?

(Sorry for the long post!)

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 09/05/2022 10:03

You are being unreasonable for expecting him to contribute because he’s already shown you that he’s not going to!

I would focus on getting something formalised for child support and contact when the baby is born and don’t expect anything else beyond that. I can’t understand why you’re still in a relationship with him. He’s shown you who he is.

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 10:05

PurpleDaisies · 09/05/2022 10:03

You are being unreasonable for expecting him to contribute because he’s already shown you that he’s not going to!

I would focus on getting something formalised for child support and contact when the baby is born and don’t expect anything else beyond that. I can’t understand why you’re still in a relationship with him. He’s shown you who he is.

Thank for you your reply.

We are no longer in a relationship, but I was trying to have a civil relationship with him for our daughter.

OP posts:
YilingMatriarch · 09/05/2022 10:07

Best to realise now he is not going to change his mind. Best you can hope for is he will be forced to contribute financially to the care of his DC. Do not expect any help to be freely offered basically.

I think you saw his truth when he said that he wanted you to get an abortion, and he may or may not involve himself in his Child's life but if he does it will be on his terms. Set your expectations exceeding low.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 09/05/2022 10:07

Yanbu to want him to contribute to his child. Yabu to expect him to do anything to support you as the mother, in terms of massages, looking after you etc; although it would be nice, it is muddying the waters since you're not together and it's the kind of thing someone does for someone close to them. Also why would you want any contact let alone support from someone who treated you so badly. It is ok for someone to tell you their feelings on having a baby but not ok to try and pressure and manipulate someone into having an abortion.

I think you need to lower your expectations, and assume you're doing it alone. He may want to see the baby but doesn't sound like he wants to prioritise supporting it. I think he will see it as buying things for you, and tell you he will buy stuff for the baby to use at his house or something. I'd be looking at putting a child maintenance claim in

Merryoldgoat · 09/05/2022 10:09

This is a toxic man and will bring no good to your life or your child’s.

Tell him you’ll let him know when the baby is born, leave him off the birth certificate and ensure you are close to your support network.

He is not worth the 5 mins you spent typing this.

What a complete prick.

PurpleDaisies · 09/05/2022 10:26

He tells me he wants to be a part of our baby's life and will be there for me. He promises to cook for me, book massages for me...basically said he would give me anything I want!

I assumed you were back in a relationship with him because being there for you is a relationship thing. So is cooking for you, paying for massages for you and giving you anything you want. Why is he involved with a baby shower for you?

He’s behaved like an arse but you really need to change your focus to how he will support the baby. It’s not about you.

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 10:30

I think because there was still some feelings there, I allowed him to come back into my life and promise me all these things.

He's involved with the baby shower because he said he wanted to be, and I didn't think I had the right to deny him that opportunity as he is the father.

But now looking back on everything I think I just need to cut contact altogether and focus on me and my child.

OP posts:
Copperpottle · 09/05/2022 10:32

Why on earth are you with this man? You had unprotected sex, he is as stupid to have believed your 'ovulation' line as you were to say it, but then behaved appallingly and abusively, threatening you.

You break up with people like this. You don't try and play happy families with them.

He has no interest in you or your baby. You're not in a relationship so stop expecting anything from him.

A sodding massage, honestly. Own your decisions.

PurpleDaisies · 09/05/2022 10:37

He's involved with the baby shower because he said he wanted to be, and I didn't think I had the right to deny him that opportunity as he is the father.

What a load of rubbish. Men have a right to be involved in baby showers now? You’re setting yourself up for a lot of heartache here.

You need to be really honest with yourself about what kind of relationship you thought you were getting back in to and work out what’s the right thing for your baby.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 09/05/2022 10:38

Again a baby shower is really for the parents not the baby. And yea if you have a great relationship then it's fine to include him, if you're not then you are under absolutely no obligation at all to even inform him. I would also make sure the baby has your name and he is not on the birth certificate etc as I think this will save you a lot of heartache later down the line

PurpleDaisies · 09/05/2022 10:40

Again a baby shower is really for the parents not the baby.

Not even the parents-the mum.

HappyCup · 09/05/2022 10:49

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 09/05/2022 10:38

Again a baby shower is really for the parents not the baby. And yea if you have a great relationship then it's fine to include him, if you're not then you are under absolutely no obligation at all to even inform him. I would also make sure the baby has your name and he is not on the birth certificate etc as I think this will save you a lot of heartache later down the line

I agree with this. Absolutely do not give the child his surname.

AchatAVendre · 09/05/2022 10:56

It might be best to come to an agreement with your partner on having kids before getting pregnant if you want a supportive partner. The man clearly doesn't want to have a kid and didn't really give many indications that he would be a choice of being a great father. I don't know why you're acting surprised by this - did you think he would come round in time and you would all play happy families?

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 10:57

I am a first time mom and still young with not that much relationship experience, so I'm just trying to navigate this situation as best I can. I always imagined I would be happily married when I had kids but it's turned out the complete opposite and I was struggling with this for a while. I also had an amazing childhood and grew up in a 2 parent home and wanted to be able to give my child the same. I think this is why I enabled him to come back into my life as I hoped he would change and we would be able to be together again. However this situation has allowed me to finally realise that through my pregnancy and our relationship, he has been quite emotionally abusive and I don't want that for mine or my child's life.

Thank you for all your advice, I will definitely be taking it on board.

OP posts:
Rainbowqueeen · 09/05/2022 11:08

Give baby your surname. It will make your life easier.
put in a claim for cms as soon as baby is born.

Start thinking now about how contact will work. Little and often is recommended for tiny babies. I would not recommend having it at your home. You need to keep your own space.

It sounds like he might not be in the picture for long anyway. Don’t chase him to try to keep contact with your child. A disinterested father is no better than an absent father. Your job is to make baby available for contact at the agreed times, not to bend over backwards for him and allow him to turn up whenever he feels like it. Contact times should be agreed and stuck to. If he misses a time then he waits until the next scheduled time. Be firm with this as you need to be able to plan your own life.

And congrats.

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 11:10

AchatAVendre · 09/05/2022 10:56

It might be best to come to an agreement with your partner on having kids before getting pregnant if you want a supportive partner. The man clearly doesn't want to have a kid and didn't really give many indications that he would be a choice of being a great father. I don't know why you're acting surprised by this - did you think he would come round in time and you would all play happy families?

We had spoken about children and always said we were excited to have them, hence why I thought he would be happy about it.

Yes in an ideal world, everyone would be with amazing men who would be great fathers for their child and everyone would be a happy family, but unfortunately it doesn't work out like that for everyone.

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 09/05/2022 11:15

It might be best to come to an agreement with your partner on having kids before getting pregnant if you want a supportive partner

In what way is this comment helpful considering OP has clearly explained the circumstances which led to the pregnancy?

AchatAVendre · 09/05/2022 11:20

cadburyegg · 09/05/2022 11:15

It might be best to come to an agreement with your partner on having kids before getting pregnant if you want a supportive partner

In what way is this comment helpful considering OP has clearly explained the circumstances which led to the pregnancy?

Because the OP sounds so surprised that her ex is behaving in the way he is, and I don't think she accepts that the (romantic) relationship between them is over.

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 11:24

I am fully aware that our romantic relationship is over. As stated in one of my previous posts, I don't want someone like him in my/my child's life.

The least I was expecting was for him to have at least contributed in some way to his child as he is the one that made contact with me again and stated that he wanted to be involved.

OP posts:
Squillerman · 09/05/2022 11:26

As a couple of other PP’s have said, please give the baby your surname. I don’t think this guy will be a decent Dad which is sad but something I’m afraid you will have to accept. He isn’t invested in you or your child at all. Contact CMS as soon as the baby is born too, he sounds like the sort who will mess you around with maintenance or not pay at all.

Merryoldgoat · 09/05/2022 11:34

The least I was expecting was for him to have at least contributed in some way to his child as he is the one that made contact with me again and stated that he wanted to be involved.

I’m sorry OP but this extremely naive - you need to grow up quickly. He very clearly showed you the king on man he is when he told you to get an abortion.

Accept the truth and act according to the real life situation and not the fantasy.

Be honest - I suspect he showed signs of this before you got pregnant. That doesn’t mean anything is your fault - it’s just something to consider.

bridgetreilly · 09/05/2022 12:15

Missing the point entirely (he’s not worth the mental space, OP), I am struggling to imagine the kind of baby shower which requires £300 of food.

InTheClouds7 · 09/05/2022 12:18

bridgetreilly · 09/05/2022 12:15

Missing the point entirely (he’s not worth the mental space, OP), I am struggling to imagine the kind of baby shower which requires £300 of food.

I don't think he was going to spend all that money on food, I think he was charging me extra to spend some on food and keep some for himself if that makes sense! Totally out of order and I have of course said no!

OP posts:
toddlingabout · 10/05/2022 15:50

Nothing you do will make him a good dad, more involved etc. This is not on you, it's on him. Do not feel any guilt if he's not involved. If he doesn't want to be, then it's better for the baby that way. It will not cause any harm.

You need to concentrate on you and the baby. Get a CMS claim in. Do not expect any financial support over and above this. If he wants to be involved he will show it with actions over time. Do not expect it though.

He will forever blame you for getting pregnant, he won't understand that you both chose to have unprotected sex, knowing there is always a chance of pregnancy. He will blame you for not doing what he told you and having an abortion. It is not your fault. You made the right decision, both in keeping the baby (because you wanted to) and leaving him.

toddlingabout · 10/05/2022 15:54

Rainbowqueeen · 09/05/2022 11:08

Give baby your surname. It will make your life easier.
put in a claim for cms as soon as baby is born.

Start thinking now about how contact will work. Little and often is recommended for tiny babies. I would not recommend having it at your home. You need to keep your own space.

It sounds like he might not be in the picture for long anyway. Don’t chase him to try to keep contact with your child. A disinterested father is no better than an absent father. Your job is to make baby available for contact at the agreed times, not to bend over backwards for him and allow him to turn up whenever he feels like it. Contact times should be agreed and stuck to. If he misses a time then he waits until the next scheduled time. Be firm with this as you need to be able to plan your own life.

And congrats.

And all of this ^

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