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

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My life is a mess and I don’t know what to do

15 replies

whayamess · 16/11/2024 15:06

About three years ago I got pregnant in a a relationship of under two years. We had talked about kids (both in thirties at the time) and that was I guess the plan but in no way was it a plan for that time. Ex strongly suggested an abortion which I said I couldn’t go through with and that ultimately destroyed the relationship. I had my child and ex stepped up eventually. Ds is now nearly 3 and ex has been consistent on all fronts for around 2.5 years.

I was completely broken by the end of the relationship in my pregnancy and it was a dark time of my life. It’s taken me a good couple of years to try to recover and of course I have had ds to think of. My and ex are in as good as place as we can be… we have days out with ds together but also ds spends days out with his dad alone too. Ds has never stayed with ex as ex moves around almost every few months for work so it just isn’t possible. He pays decent chunks towards ds and often covers all his expenses… being blunt this has been a huge help to me as it takes away one stress of being a single parent. Obviously I am aware this is not a fixed situation and ex’s circumstances could change or he could stop being decent at any point.

Anyway, I turn 38 next week and I feel so sad about the fact that I haven’t had more children or even built a family unit. Ex is quite happy to come to my home and take ds out and we do support one another with things going on at work etc but there is nothing there romantically. I know lots of people will jump in here and tell me he will find someone and be gone for dust but you’ll have to take my word for it that it is unlikely… he’s very introverted, not particularly sexual and absolutely work obsessed. At 46 I was his only relationship. I think he is perfectly happy with the arrangement we have now… he does things with ds to give me time and he pays a lot towards DS’s care. He enjoys it when I join days out and I just know that he is fine with the status quo… he’s fine with this set up. Recently I had surgery and he was there to take care of things and stocked the fridge etc. but there is just no romance here, no love etc.

So this leads me to my dilemma… if i suddenly pull the plug on this I expect him to say he will have to pay for hotels to see ds and then he will stop paying so much to me (which I guess is fair enough). Things will inevitably become a little bit hostile as he won’t like that I am dating. This will have a knock on effect to ds and it will make my life harder in lots of ways. And all for the risk of not actually meeting anyone, or let’s face it, meeting someone and it not working out.

I know some friends think I have it pretty good and why rock the boat for a relationship that may even happen. But then I look to the future and think wow, so many years alone? In the deeper sense of being alone? I don’t know. This is jumbled, I am quite upset and feel my options are limited anyway on the child front as it is.

OP posts:
whayamess · 16/11/2024 15:07

*45 not 46! Not that it makes much difference! 😅

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 16/11/2024 15:15

Really struggling to see how your life is a mess. But it sounds like you haven't even found anyone to date? Find someone to date first and then see what happens next. You don't have to
'Pull the plug' if you start dating someone, and it sounds like he pays more than enough maintenance so if he eventually paid less to stay in hotels you'd be ok. If you want to date start with that rather than spiralling over 'what ifs' that may never happen.

BackinBlack24 · 16/11/2024 15:24

You have to move on with your life OP you can't stay in this non relationship you deserve to be loved and have someone who loves you and obviously your DS. How many bedrooms are in your house , where does he sleep when he comes to see DS ? If he is in a spare room then until you actually get serious with someone else I don't see why it would have to stop .

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/11/2024 15:25

It sounds like you have a comfortable co-parenting relationship, which is great for your child. Why would you be looking to pull the plug? If you want to date, start dating - you don’t need to share details of your life with your ex or any new partner until a relationship becomes serious, with a child in the mix that’s going to take time.

It’s ok to want to date, and it’s ok to have a friendly/friendship with your ex - it doesn’t sound messy to me.

CrookedStick · 16/11/2024 15:28

I’m trying to understand the problem. You can’t date because your ex, who abandoned you when pregnant, wouldn’t like it? Fuck that.

Go to court and get a proper child access arrangement and maintenance. It’s not your problem that he ‘moves around every few months’ . If he wants to be a present Dad, he’ll have to find more stability.

The problem seems to be that you feel beholden to your ex. Why?

banananapancake · 16/11/2024 15:28

I think it would be perfectly acceptable to say you're not happy with the him staying with you arrangement. Blame your emotions or something

audweb · 16/11/2024 15:29

I don’t understand why what seems to be an amicable and good co parenting relationship means you can’t date other people? Nothing messy about that, he doesn’t need to know any details anyway.

whayamess · 16/11/2024 15:31

Sorry to clarify I don’t feel I can date etc when he is in my home. He stays separately so in now way are we ‘together’ in my home and it is very functional for ds. Luckily I have the space. But I feel that to properly move on I need to draw lines and in doing so he will know I am dating and it will change the dynamics.

OP posts:
whayamess · 16/11/2024 15:32

maybe I could start to date and if anything gets serious then raise it. Maybe I am worrying for no reason

OP posts:
MumOfOneAllAlone · 16/11/2024 15:33

I'm not giving advice here, op, even though I'm on an advice thread!

But I want one more. It's just me and my girl. If I could have another one with the same absent guy, so they've both got the same dad, then I would.

Have you thought about having another baby by him? Then you can focus on finding love after?

I'm not telling you what to do, or commenting on blended families etc, it's just based on my own experience, what I'd want for myself if it were an option

Sort of like khloe kardashian - she knew her man was useless but wanted another baby.

Anyway, would your ex be uncomfortable with you dating and try to sabotage things? If not, go ahead, that was the only thing to worry about x

audweb · 16/11/2024 15:34

By stays in your home do you mean live together? Or that when he visits he stays with you rather than a hotel? I think it makes a difference to how you approach it.

MojoMoon · 16/11/2024 15:34

When you say he comes to yours to see DS, is he staying there? Or visiting for the afternoon, playing with DS with his toys etc?

Your DS is plenty old enough now that you can start to move towards him taking him out rather than spending all his time at your house. They could stay in.a hotel together and go on trips away together. And you should be going out when he is with DS. You don't have to be dramatic about it - it doesn't have to be all or nothing but you can start.

I think it's great for separated parents to do some things together with their kid - birthday parties, special events. It means a lot to the child and it also models showing that you can have cordial adult relationships with former partners.

Why does he need to know you are dating at all? Unless you are going to say he stays in your house three days a week, how is he going to know who you are going out for dinner with? If it becomes serious enough that a new partner might be going to meet your son, you can discuss then but cross that bridge when you come to it

MumOfOneAllAlone · 16/11/2024 15:51

MumOfOneAllAlone · 16/11/2024 15:33

I'm not giving advice here, op, even though I'm on an advice thread!

But I want one more. It's just me and my girl. If I could have another one with the same absent guy, so they've both got the same dad, then I would.

Have you thought about having another baby by him? Then you can focus on finding love after?

I'm not telling you what to do, or commenting on blended families etc, it's just based on my own experience, what I'd want for myself if it were an option

Sort of like khloe kardashian - she knew her man was useless but wanted another baby.

Anyway, would your ex be uncomfortable with you dating and try to sabotage things? If not, go ahead, that was the only thing to worry about x

And if he would have an issue - take note, and then go out and date anyway!

BackForABit · 16/11/2024 17:39

I think he's being all nice because you're effectively a kept woman. He doesn't have to put the work into a relationship (although are you sure he hasn't slept with anyone?) but he can slot right back in to the family unit whenever he wants.

If you think he'd stop a lot of it if he found out you were dating, he's buying your compliance with an arrangement you didn't really choose. He's basically paying for you to not date other people, and you have no idea if he's dating or not.

But yes, if you ended up in a serious relationship with someone else, then your ex would (rightly) not be stocking up your fridge, staying at your home etc.

What do you want more?

anareen · 16/11/2024 17:49

This all sounds anxiety driven.
If you start dating don't introduce anyone into your life right away. You date and get to know them slowly such as when ex has DC for some time. Your life is allowed to be private until you are sure of things progressing and seeing yourself introducing someone into your and DC everyday life.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread