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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think he should have mentioned having a child even if didn't raise her?

175 replies

Laylabee · 24/08/2024 14:11

I'll start with context, I'm 37, I have 2 children with my ex husband who are 6 and 4, I've been divorced two years.
About 6 months ago I started seeing a man, he's older than I am (49). He told me he has no children, I remember specifically asking. He was married for 15 years but they divorced 4 years ago.
I am 12 weeks pregnant with his child, totally unexpected. I was on the pill, so never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen. I won't terminate the pregnancy and he has agreed to be supportive and involved.

Last night (bear in mind we are 6 months in) he said I need to talk to you about something. This is when he told me has a daughter, she's 22 in a week. Her mother was a student from France when she was born, neither of them really raised her. 0-4 her mothers parents raised her, then 4-8 she lived with his parents and went to school here, then she started weekly boarding at 8 and full boarding at 11. Weekends and short breaks with his parents, long breaks in France with her mother's family. Her mother passed away when she was 15.
She now is at uni and lives with his aunt in London.
She doesn't call him dad never has but he does provide her with money every month, has always paid her school fees etc.

Now I feel quite flabbergasted that he never told me. He said it never seems relevant as he didn't raise her and she doesn't view him as a dad.

AIBU to think this is a red flag? I don't know what to do now!

OP posts:
SquirrelBlue · 24/08/2024 14:14

Massive red flags!! Yes he should have told you sometime before the 6 months mark. Also he should have stepped up and taken some responsibility for the poor girl. No wonder she doesn't call him dad. He sounds useless. She's only 22 and has had no stable primary caregiver at all during that time. The poor girl. I can't imagine how she deals with relationships

coldbroc · 24/08/2024 14:15

oh dear

and you’re pregnant

oh dear

ConsuelaHammock · 24/08/2024 14:15

He should have mentioned it but he didn’t. You have 4 choices.
Stay with him and have the baby.
Leave him and have the baby.
Don't have the baby and leave him.
Don’t have the baby and stay with him.

For future reference if you don’t mind ant a baby, the pill isn’t enough. Use condoms too.

It does sound like he’s financially solvent so at least he will help with the cost of raising his child. Good luck in whatever you decide

coldbroc · 24/08/2024 14:16

there are lots of “should”s applicable to this scenario OP

ConsuelaHammock · 24/08/2024 14:17

Do you love him and does he love you?

TheFormidableMrsC · 24/08/2024 14:17

Bloody hell, that poor kid. There is not much you are going to be able to do now but I'd be prepared for him to be not involved nor supportive. What an awful excuse of a father. That would put me right off somebody. Dreadful.

ginasevern · 24/08/2024 14:22

Of course he should've told you and of course it's bloody relevant. What else is he hiding? How much of the story about the girl's life is even true? It sounds as though she's had rather a sad life, and that reflects badly on him.

What a shame you're pregnant. Personally I'd run for the hills and probably not go ahead with the pregnancy unless you're desperate for another baby no matter who the father is.

MintyNew · 24/08/2024 14:25

Such a shame now that you're pregnant when you barely know him. I feel for your kids too who now have this random man and a new baby on the way when the divorce was only 2 years ago. This is a huge flag. I wouldn't be able to move past that. He was also 27 so not a young teen. What a mess.

ThePrologue · 24/08/2024 14:28

Will this poor girl ever know that she will have a step-sibling by the father she only knows as a wallet?
I would want to be told about an existing child if I was about to have a child with that person

TomatoSandwiches · 24/08/2024 14:28

Well.... at least you have some idea how things may end up when the baby gets here.

TinyYellow · 24/08/2024 14:28

Yes he should have told you, but then depending on how deep your relationship is so early on, he might not have thought it necessary. Both of you should have ensured you didn’t create a pregnancy six months into a relationship. Clearly everyone makes mistakes.

AutumnBride · 24/08/2024 14:28

What a bizarre story, why would you have a baby with this man?

pinkfleece · 24/08/2024 14:29

Personally I'd terminate in this situation. How can you ever trust him?

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 24/08/2024 14:29

Wow ! Does HE ever see her ?!!! You say about aunts / grandparents etc, but not if HE sees her.

Poor poor girl has lost her mother too.

TheFoz · 24/08/2024 14:29

I would seriously consider if it is a good idea to go through with this pregnancy.

BruceAndNosh · 24/08/2024 14:30

It's pretty relevant to your current situation as a) he's proved he's a useless father and b) He's financially supporting her (a little)

ChaToilLeam · 24/08/2024 14:30

Well, if you decide to have this baby, you know what to expect.

SadieDadie · 24/08/2024 14:31

I'd assume he didn't want to tell you through embarrassment of not having an active part in her life. I think its understandable.

PolePrince55 · 24/08/2024 14:31

I think the reason he didn't tell you was he didn't want to feel shamed by answering any questions you may have.
I don't think it was personal.
I'd be annoyed but it's not a deal breaker.

Boxina · 24/08/2024 14:33

This reflects so badly on him I would be ending the relationship and thinking about whether I wanted to have his baby even on my own.

There is no way to spin this to make him look even vaguely good. That poor girl! He completely abandoned her and he lied to you about having no children. He knew what you were asking and he chose to lie.

I couldn't be with such a poor excuse for a human. I would be concerned what other terrible character traits have yet to be revealed.

Boxina · 24/08/2024 14:34

PolePrince55 · 24/08/2024 14:31

I think the reason he didn't tell you was he didn't want to feel shamed by answering any questions you may have.
I don't think it was personal.
I'd be annoyed but it's not a deal breaker.

He bloody well should feel ashamed!

TomatoSandwiches · 24/08/2024 14:34

If he was upfront about how appallingly he has treated his daughter on the first date would you have still continued to see him?
This to me is a relationship based on false pretences, he had no intention of telling you, this man lies and is fine not being present in his child's life.

Think very carefully about what you should do and what's best for the children you already have.

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 24/08/2024 14:34

Red flags all over this.

PaminaMozart · 24/08/2024 14:36

Why did he choose to tell you now?

What are his plans/intentions going forward - with you, the baby and his daughter?

LocalHobo · 24/08/2024 14:36

Wow! How is your relationship with his parents and his aunt who have effectively brought up his child?
He obviously didn't see you as an important relationship having not given you the respect to know him fully, but the pregnancy has changed this.You will not consider termination so he has no choice in this - presumably the same situation as 22 years ago. Do people never learn...
He has shown responsibility of some kind, even if just financial, to his DD.

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