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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I accept proposal if I've never met his daughters?

482 replies

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:07

We have talked about marriage although bf is still going through his divorce. 3.5 years in, we live together with my kids (they call him step dad) he's met everyone on my side we are very very happy . His ex has said to him I will never be a part of their dd's lives (19&21yrs) still I have never met them because of this . They were living together when we met. They are still married going thru divorce. I have a feeling he will propose when divorce comes through.. my question is should I say yes if I've never met his girls ? I've met his parents , some friends. They live local he sees them every week , gives them money still . He's a brilliant dad . What are everyone's thoughts ?..

OP posts:
throwawayimplantchat · 15/03/2026 10:46

OP how soon after you started the affair did he meet your kids?

And how soon after first meeting them did he move into your home?

TwistedWonder · 15/03/2026 10:46

BaronessBomburst · 15/03/2026 10:38

No-one falls in love as quickly as a man who needs somewhere to live. Even more so if it comes with a housekeeper and sex on tap.

And especially so when his back is killing him
after a year sleeping on the floor

mrswomblesbusy · 15/03/2026 10:47

TwistedWonder · 15/03/2026 10:46

And especially so when his back is killing him
after a year sleeping on the floor

😂😂

daisychain01 · 15/03/2026 10:47

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 10:21

I have my own assets thank you here we go along the eastenders root again . I have my own business I am FAR from a gold digger

@ZanySheep youve misunderstood what was said. No one is saying you're a gold digger, but you need to consider that if you marry your OH, then your assets could be at risk in terms of your DC receiving whatever you want them to inherit, unless you make provision for them. This is in the case of you predeceasing your OH/DH.

Take it step by step. OHs divorce has to be finalised, nothing can move forward for you until that happens.

once the divorce is finalised, you need an honest conversation about wills, ensuring that even if you get married you both agree that your respective wills need to reflect your individual wishes for the assets you're both bringing into your marriage to go to your respective DC in the way you each choose. If you fail to address that, you're both setting yourselves up for a world of heartache later on. So many people fail to address this properly, they don't think about the implications for their children. You have the opportunity to do this at the right time, before you get married, so it's clear and agreed.

whether or not you have or have not met your OHs offspring is out of your hands. You have no control over the circumstances, nor what your OHs ex wife has discussed with them.

The fact you have never met them speaks to a very fractious and negative situation surrounding the break up of their parents marriage, you may or may not enjoy a warm, friendly relationship with them if their mother has influenced their perception so significantly (parental alienation could be at play). Is that something that will eat away at you and taint your relationship with your OH/DH or can you make peace with that situation? will it make future family gatherings impossible or unbearable and uncomfortable for you and your children? Only you can decide that.

Ifyouknowthough · 15/03/2026 10:47

I think yes you can marry him. You can’t make people want to be involved with your life though. Affairs hurt people and it may be his daughter’s choice. They are adults in time they may think differently. Only he can talk to them and try and make it better. He also needs to tell them if he intends to marry you.

notallymcbeal · 15/03/2026 10:48

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:26

He sees them every week and is there at a drop of a hat if they need him for anything

That doesn't make him a brilliant dad. He just turns up and hands over guilt money. Of course they're angry - no doubt they hate you and him, but especially you, because they probably think it's all your fault.

What if they never want to speak to you? How will you feel if they get married and their father is invited but you aren't? I don't think there's much chance of this resolving in your favour tbh.

Westfacing · 15/03/2026 10:51

TwistedWonder · 15/03/2026 10:46

And especially so when his back is killing him
after a year sleeping on the floor

Even more especially when OP has her own home, a business, and welcoming family and friends!

notallymcbeal · 15/03/2026 10:52

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:54

Yes he was his DD would make his bed up sometimes on the floor and ex would hide evidence in the cupboard so no one saw they were sleeping separately

So obviously he's the one feeding this line to you! As if he slept on the floor for a year - I'd love the wife and daughters take on this one!

tiv2020 · 15/03/2026 10:53

OP have you considered that if at some point down the line some big upheaval happens in his family, you could find yourself sharing a house with his dd(s) who (presumably) hate you and your kids?

IHeardItThroughTheJeremyVine · 15/03/2026 10:54

Amazing dads only exist in Mumsnetsphere. I've never heard the phrase said in real life.

Iloveluna · 15/03/2026 10:54

If you have a joint account then legally his wife is owed half of whatever is in that account. You sound incredibly naive.

BlueMum16 · 15/03/2026 10:55

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 10:21

I have my own assets thank you here we go along the eastenders root again . I have my own business I am FAR from a gold digger

Will you protect those assets?

Presumably you own your home, will this be protected for your DC or is everything rosey that your new DH would inherit should something happen to you?

You already have a joint account which seems really soon considering he's still married. Could she have a claim on any money in that joint account?

You say there is no drama but I sincerely hope you have taken steps to protect you and your children as you have worked so hard for it all.

notallymcbeal · 15/03/2026 10:57

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:58

dd is at u uni top grades consistently . The other dropped out of uni before we even met

If you've been 'together' for 3.5 years and the oldest DD is 21 and dropped out of Uni that might just have had something to do with their father doing a runner.

ItsNotMeItsMostDefinitelyYou · 15/03/2026 10:59

I can’t get over that he didn’t even always make his own floor bed….his daughter did it for him. What a pathetic man. How are there women willing to shag these complete losers?

TwistedWonder · 15/03/2026 10:59

IHeardItThroughTheJeremyVine · 15/03/2026 10:54

Amazing dads only exist in Mumsnetsphere. I've never heard the phrase said in real life.

And the bar for amazing dads is so low it’s subterranean.
On MN it seems to mean ‘serial shagger who is cocklodging with his latest new cozy family and does the bare minimum as a parent other than throw a few quid every now and again’

PhaedraWas · 15/03/2026 11:00

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 10:21

I have my own assets thank you here we go along the eastenders root again . I have my own business I am FAR from a gold digger

You've completely missed the point there.

outerspacepotato · 15/03/2026 11:02

IHeardItThroughTheJeremyVine · 15/03/2026 10:54

Amazing dads only exist in Mumsnetsphere. I've never heard the phrase said in real life.

True.

And they always turn out to be compete shits.

SoSoPredictable · 15/03/2026 11:03

so many layers to this
Firstly you’d be mad to marry him and risk your own kids getting cut out of inheritance. So whatever you do make sure you take legal advice on that

Secondly I get your ‘only one life’ but then so do his ex wife and DDs and their boundary is not having anything to do with the woman who they see as destroying their family. Obviously he has responsibilities there, if not more than you, but it’s sometimes easier to hate a stranger than your parent.

So if you marry and never meet or speak to the daughters what happens with grandchildren, major birthday, if he gets seriously ill, if they get seriously ill, when he dies. Honestly until you have worked through what relationship you could have with them even if it’s just very basic civility or acknowledging that even in all those situations you’ll have nothing to do with each other (which btw can be an option but at least go in to that with a clear discussion) then you’d be insane to marry him. And remember what ever happens when your kids as teenagers or young adults you’ll need to explain to them that their step dads family don’t speak to him, and they may not buy the “it was only a short affair/for our happiness “ argument either.

mrswomblesbusy · 15/03/2026 11:06

IHeardItThroughTheJeremyVine · 15/03/2026 10:54

Amazing dads only exist in Mumsnetsphere. I've never heard the phrase said in real life.

I heard of some on the Jeremy Kyle show once😃

askmenow · 15/03/2026 11:07

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:30

He's still paying the mortgage and wouldn't have been able to afford to rent also

Wow you need to let this all settle down!
Their divorce, splitting of assets and generally tiding loose ends with his ex before moving forward.
Secure your assets for the benefit of yourself and children in the meantime. Clarity from the outset is key.

PinkiOcelot · 15/03/2026 11:08

ZanySheep · 15/03/2026 08:33

i just know we are going to be together till we die we were both married over 20 years to our exes and we both grew apart . We aren't young I'm approaching 50 he's not a player !

Lol! He’s not a player?! Men can be players at any age. My brother (55) has just left his long term partner for a 37 year old- the idiot!

throwawayimplantchat · 15/03/2026 11:10

An amazing dad who let his teenage daughter make up his bed for him during his marriage breakdown. And told his affair partner about that. And she didn’t find it a huge turn off. Christ.

Evaka · 15/03/2026 11:12

Very disingenuous to say you were the other woman for a few weeks.

My dad could have written the script youve been fed about sleeping on the floor, growing apart etc. He and his second wife blew up our family and my mother's mental health, leaving her emotionally and financially fucked for life.

This happens and people heal but don't be baffled that his daughters want nothing to do with you. I promise you this is their choice as much as if not more than their mum's influence.

My sister and I were mid/late teens when my dad started his affair and it was so destructive.

Evaka · 15/03/2026 11:14

throwawayimplantchat · 15/03/2026 11:10

An amazing dad who let his teenage daughter make up his bed for him during his marriage breakdown. And told his affair partner about that. And she didn’t find it a huge turn off. Christ.

Yep. My dad dragged my sister and I into his drama - as teens - when he decided to leave my mum for a 22 year old. We are utterly scarred from the burden he dumped on us and his psycho attempts to keep us on side.

Westfacing · 15/03/2026 11:17

As an aside, just why do so many women with their own homes, and often young children, take in all these waif and stray men who are in need of somewhere to live.

There are any number of threads about partners not pulling their weight or being mean with money when having the luxury of a ready-made roof over their head. They seem more like lodgers who are taking advantage than partners.

Nothing wrong with moving on after divorce and looking for romance or love but try and find a guy with a bit of substance, at least one who has his own gaff!

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