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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to sometimes feel like crap with my boyfriend?

49 replies

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 06:57

I sometimes feel like crap with my partner and I don't know why

Let me start by saying that my partner(40 M) has been a good and supportive one and cares and loves me about me (37 F) a lot. We don't know each other for long, 1 year but I fell pregnant early in the relationship. I feel like sometimes he does invalidate my feelings and experiences. He said to me that he wants to get married with me when our kid can be a bridesmaid so that she can deliver the rings. This is his vision according to him.

I understand that and everything. We live together and have joint accounts, my name is on the tenancy agreement as a permitted occupant (not as tenant, we said that on March 2025 when the contract renews I will be in the tenancy agreement). My name is on the council tax with his name and on some of the bills. The past 2 days I asked him what is his intention from now on since we have a baby, cohabit and we are saving to buy a house. He told me that he is surprised with this question as I already know that he wants to marry me. I explained that I would like to have some assurances since we aren't married such as to sign a cohabitation agreement. He refused to sign that as he said that he doesn't need a piece of paper to dictate his relationship with me. I told him I really need to know if he is serious about us and this is a stable relationship and he is not just gonna walk away and not pay any support if we break up. He said that our girl is on the birth certificate and in this event the law is gonna chase him for support. He assured me he would never avoid child support. He didn't understand why I need assurances at this stage despite I explained to him why.

Yesterday another event that happened as an icing on the cake is that I was with his mum at an all day event with the baby and on the way back my battery died but I did have a contactless card for the travel (UK) This didn't work on the first bus we took for some reason but it worked on the second. His mum said that she won't leave us to go home alone despite that she would get out of her way for home. I told her multiple times she doesn't need to do that as she had a long day and we would be fine. She said she wanted to come with us just to make sure we are safe regardless of the battery situation. When I went home he was angry because his mum came with us as my battery died and she was worried (that's what he understood). I told him this is not the case she wanted to make sure we are safe regardless. Then he went on saying how he is angry that his mum wasn't home because of me. Then I snapped and we argued but then we calmed down and had a normal convo. He thought that because of this event I'm asking for reassurances now with regards to our relationship as he thinks I'm scared that because I have no family in the UK and we aren't married, that his family will gang up on me and they will take my baby. I said its not that I just wanna make sure where we are heading as a family and as a couple. He said that I'm on the flat contract and he can add me in the rest of the bills if it makes me feel more comfortable but he said he never asked assurances of me as he trusts me and loves me a lot and he really intends to marry me as he views our relationship as forever.

Anyway these are some recent examples. Also his family and other people keep mentioning how our daughter looks so much like her dad. I can't help but be bothered about this as it feels invalidating and a bit not so nice to me really. They might not mean any harm but I don't feel good. I feel like I'm not equal. Also he helps with our daughter but not as much as I want. He helped quite a bit the first month as he was on paternity leave and I'm on maternity leave. I understand he is working but I would want him to hold her more.

This is what I feel currently. I don't know if all this is justified or a start of a postpartum depression.

tl;dr partner doesnt seem to want to give me security

OP posts:
MrsClatterbuck · 07/04/2024 08:51

With regard to the credit card he has made you an additional card holder. If he died what would happen the account would be frozen and both cards including yours would be canceled. The account is in his name only and any debt would be his and be paid out of his estate. You can't have a joint credit card account.
I would get a credit card in your own name so you can build up a credit history.

Redruby2020 · 07/04/2024 08:54

😆 Sorry Op, ask all the other mothers whose father of their children are on the birth certificates, and what good that has done 🤦‍♀️ he's talking rubbish.

Redruby2020 · 07/04/2024 08:57

Kittenkitty · 07/04/2024 07:09

All that adding you to bills and credit cards is doing is making you responsible for any debt, I really wouldn’t want that in your position.

I can understand why you feel vulnerable but it’s really too late to do much about it. He won’t marry you and you already have a baby 🤷‍♀️

Agree with this,

He is adding you to things Op in an attempt to make it look like he is committed, wrong things to be adding you to/including you in.

It's like these guys who get engaged to their gf's, but some through force and have no intention of marrying them.

Velvian · 07/04/2024 08:59

Whose last name does your baby have @Chrissie377 ? Xxx

5128gap · 07/04/2024 09:09

You are very insecure in your relationship and have entered into a viscious circle whereby you constantly push for the things that will reassure you, your partner then becomes irritated and behaves in ways that increase your anxiety. The only way to break this is to increase your own independence so you're not reliant on his choices and create a plan B so you know how you'd cope if he doesn't come through for you. Research your rights regarding your child, your status in the country and any entitlement you'd have if he left you. If you can work I'd strongly suggest you prioritise that so you have some financial independence and can save your own money. Build a network of other women, reach out to support groups if making friends is difficult. Basically, build a walk of protection around yourself so you're not dependent on this man. Nothing he promises can guarantee your safety, its just words.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 10:51

He always said he wants to marry me without me asking. Also he said his intention for this relationship is forever and its important that we are on the same page about this. So I'm not pushing him to marry me

OP posts:
Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 10:51

Both of our last names. I wanted it that way and he agreed.

OP posts:
Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 10:54

I'm quite secure as.in I have a career and friends. My mum can come from Greece to support me if something bad happens. However I'm not sure.if his presence on the birth certificate is enough for him to be liable for support. The reason I wanted the cohabitation agreement is to outline the type of relationship we have and what happens with finances, shared accounts, bills etc in any unfortunate event.

OP posts:
Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 11:00

I just saw the poll results and the majority said I'm being unreasonable? I honestly don't feel like I am in this situation. Thought things thru and I lll proceed getting british citizenship and naturalise my daughter. Also seek legal advice with regards to my rights as a potential single mum

OP posts:
OrlandointheWilderness · 07/04/2024 11:03

You've only been together a year! I'm assuming in the kindest possible way that your DC wasn't a planned event? It's very very soon to be marrying.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 11:07

She was not.planned. However when I presented him the option of abortion, since we didn't know each other really, he said that he couldn't tell me what to do as it is my body, but he wouldn't really wish for me to abort. So he wanted this baby and later on he said that this is what we both wanted it just came quicker which I agree.

Look I'm not saying he doesn't love me or anything I just don't trust anyone 100% because life has shown me time and time again that people can be unreliable

OP posts:
Whycantiwinmillionsandsquillions · 07/04/2024 11:29

What advice are you looking for op?
Do you want someone to come along and say they were in your exact situation once, and now 50 years later they are blissfully happy and still with the same bloke?
I don’t know, I imagine many people who get pregnant to someone they barely know end up alone.
What did you do for money before you met him?
I think you have been given good advice about sorting yourself out and not relying on anyone else.
Oh and being on the birth certificate means absolutely nothing when it comes to paying child maintenance.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 11:32

Why wouldn't it mean anything if they are legally the father? I wouldn't want anything from him apart from him to contribute towards my child.

I'm fine on my own financially I just wouldn't want to be a single mum if I can especially for her first few yrs

OP posts:
ThirtyThrillionThreeTrees · 07/04/2024 11:46

If I were him, I wouldn't marry you yet either.

8 weeks dating, a pregnancywnd a baby in less than a year is a lot of change in anyone's life.

Unless he has other children or a ex wife or anyone with any other entitlement, your child will get everything if he dies. You also have a job and should be fine financially without him.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 11:57

I don't want anything from him financially. But a lot of people here seem to say that him being the father on the certificate doesn't mean much. Plus I would like the acknowledgement of the relationship type we have as I don't think we are just bf/gf if we share accounts and everything else. Also he went straight to marriage without any interim situation. So basically from bf/gf straight to marriage

OP posts:
Whycantiwinmillionsandsquillions · 07/04/2024 12:10

There isn’t any relationship other than boyfriend/girlfriend though.
You are not married.
There is no middle ground.
Tbh you sound very needy.
I don’t think your boyfriend has done anything wrong here.
You got pregnant without knowing him, he has stood by you, his family sound accepting of you, just enjoy your time as a new mother.
And to reiterate the only thing him being on the birth certificate has done is given him rights about his child.
He can now prevent you taking your child out of the country for example.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 12:15

Whycantiwinmillionsandsquillions · 07/04/2024 12:10

There isn’t any relationship other than boyfriend/girlfriend though.
You are not married.
There is no middle ground.
Tbh you sound very needy.
I don’t think your boyfriend has done anything wrong here.
You got pregnant without knowing him, he has stood by you, his family sound accepting of you, just enjoy your time as a new mother.
And to reiterate the only thing him being on the birth certificate has done is given him rights about his child.
He can now prevent you taking your child out of the country for example.

With all due respect, I do not think I sound needy. These are valid concerns. I really believe he could sign a cohabitation agreement with me but if this is too much commitment for him then why is he saying he loves me and wants this forever? Cohabitation agreement is not marriage or engagement

OP posts:
pimplebum · 07/04/2024 13:09

You are either married or not no middle ground
He can sign a relationship contract with you and you can pay half the bills but at the end of the day he can kick you out and leave you with nothing

Sorry you are feeling insecure but rushing into a marriage would not help

hellsBells246 · 07/04/2024 15:42

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 11:57

I don't want anything from him financially. But a lot of people here seem to say that him being the father on the certificate doesn't mean much. Plus I would like the acknowledgement of the relationship type we have as I don't think we are just bf/gf if we share accounts and everything else. Also he went straight to marriage without any interim situation. So basically from bf/gf straight to marriage

But in British law there is no other type of relationship. There's just marriage, in a religious or civil ceremony.

So it doesn't matter how many bills you share, there is nothing legally binding you.

It sounds like you got pregnant far too soon and decided to keep the baby because your new bf wanted you to, without thinking it all through, and now you're feeling insecure?

I wouldn't want to add myself to my bf's credit card bill or any bills. You don't want to be liable for his debts. Why not seek advice from CAB?

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 16:01

The birth certificate makes him liable for child maintenance but yes there's nothing legally binding. I'm not sure engagement protects with anything

OP posts:
lazyarse123 · 07/04/2024 16:15

I don't even know what a "cohabitation agreement" is. But in the kindest way possible marriage does not make men responsible if they're not already committed.
There is no interim between BG/gf and marriage. Unless I've missed something in the past 60odd years. You can't include engagements as they're not in any way legally binding which seems to be what you want.

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 17:23

lazyarse123 · 07/04/2024 16:15

I don't even know what a "cohabitation agreement" is. But in the kindest way possible marriage does not make men responsible if they're not already committed.
There is no interim between BG/gf and marriage. Unless I've missed something in the past 60odd years. You can't include engagements as they're not in any way legally binding which seems to be what you want.

Well he has told me he is really committed so I don't know what the issue is with an agreement between us. Cohabitation agreement is a contract between an unmarried couple

OP posts:
SOxon · 07/04/2024 18:01

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 10:51

He always said he wants to marry me without me asking. Also he said his intention for this relationship is forever and its important that we are on the same page about this. So I'm not pushing him to marry me

Words cost nothing, OP

Chrissie377 · 07/04/2024 18:57

SOxon · 07/04/2024 18:01

Words cost nothing, OP

Well he is my partner and I have to trust him on his word to be honest

OP posts:
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