Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you sacrifice marriage and children for love?

161 replies

Cheeeseeverywhere · 28/11/2023 16:55

Just curious. Say if you really wanted to be married and have a child, and your partner didn't for whatever reason (just wasn't ready or didn't want the commitment). Would you be prepared to forgive and stay as a girlfriend/boyfriend forever?

OP posts:
Rainbowshit · 01/12/2023 22:06

Absolutely not. Not having children would have been an absolute dealbreaker for me.

Workawayxx · 01/12/2023 22:08

No I couldn’t. If my DH (at the time) turned out to be infertile and didn’t want to use a speed donor or adopt, that would be one thing and I probably would have stayed and made the best of our lives. But just “don’t want the same thing…”, I’d have worried that I’d grow resentful at my needs not being met or we’d split after I was too old to conceive and he’d go on to have a family with someone younger. Too much risk.

StarDolphins · 01/12/2023 22:12

I would sacrifice marriage absolutely but not kids.

ExTheCheater · 02/12/2023 00:37

I left an ex for this reason. My grandad died and I realised what an amazing family I have, and panicked at the thought of never having that so dumped him as he wanted no children. My grandad had 6 kids, 18 grandkids, 17 great grandchildren, and we all thought the absolute world of him. Best man we have ever met. He was loved by so many. I want to be just like him when I'm an old lady. Loved by my family. I'd be devastated at not having any children.

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 02/12/2023 00:42

I could have lived without marriage but not children. I’ve always wanted children more than anything. My DH wouldn’t have made it to a second date with me if he didn’t want children. And he’s always known that if he were to ever change his mind about children I would leave him straight away. Thankfully our first child was born this year so he can’t change his mind now.

Overloadimplode · 02/12/2023 00:46

No. That amazing magnetism to someone is incredible. It simply cannot compare to a whole life of children though. I wanted children more than anything else.

Duckeggbluebutton · 02/12/2023 00:52

No.

Growlybear83 · 02/12/2023 00:56

I wouldn't have stayed with my husband indefinitely if he hadn't have wanted to get married. I was the one who didn't want children for many years.

OnlyTheBravest · 02/12/2023 01:18

Child,
Career,
Relationship,
Marriage

For me my children were more important than a relationship and I put career above a partner because it is too easy for men to walk away from their responsibilities.

Paddleboarder · 02/12/2023 01:19

I wanted children more than anything, so no.

TangerinePlate · 02/12/2023 01:27

No. I love my children and feel very priviledged to have them. I love them and I’m loved (so I think). Their hugs are awesome and are full of love.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page