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Aussie and NZ Mumsnetters

Welcome to Aussie & NZ Mumsnetters - discuss all aspects of parenting life in Australia and New Zealand, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Urgent Help - Partner

32 replies

DandyBlueBird · 27/07/2025 20:11

I’m not sure if this is the right forum but I am in desperate need of some advice. This is a bit of a doozy.

I am a kiwi that has lived in the UK since 2019. I met my British partner and we had a baby last year.
Whilst I absolutely love and adore being a mum, our relationship has been absolutely decimated. We have fought constantly pretty much since week 2 of having the baby. It’s been the best year and by far the worst year at the same time.

I had a c-section so had that recovery to deal with as well as pretty bad baby blues. He was very uncaring and unsupportive during that time. I was told that my “bad mood” was bringing him down. I booked the registration appointment for the week after I gave birth and accidentally mixed up the days, and ended up arriving at the appointment for them to say I was meant to come the day prior. Instead of my partner understanding that I’d made a mistake in a very fragile time of sleep deprivation and major surgery recovery, he said to me “how the fuck did you get that wrong” because he was tired and hot from carrying the baby 150m up the road.

He’s told me things like he would happily give me custody of the baby and then reconnect with him when the baby is 18 because our newborn “annoyed him.” Our baby is now 12 months old and to this day my partner has not once gotten the baby up in the morning or offered to do so for me to have a lie in. He took the baby out by himself for the first time 2 weeks ago. He will happily sit on the couch on his phone while I am cooking every single meal all 3 of us eat, feeding the baby, cleaning up, getting the baby ready for bed, and doing bedtime. He told me that he is not doing anything at night during the week as he needs to work. He has chosen to play video games when I’ve been in our room with our screaming baby on my own - and has then gotten mad at me for asking for some help as that was interrupting his me time.

We have had the most horrendous arguments (never physical) that escalate into me sobbing and sobbing by myself while he sits on the couch on his phone. He rolls his eyes and tuts when I cry and has told me before it annoys him when I get upset. I just don’t know what to do. He told me my looks have deteriorated and also told me my nipples during pregnancy gave him the ick and then tries to tell me it’s a joke, and gets angry at me for not being able to take a joke when I say it hurt my feelings.

I’ve recently expressed to him how deeply unhappy I am here in the UK being away from my family. He absolutely refuses to even contemplate moving to New Zealand and also doesn’t want us going every year as it’s “a lot to ask of him.” We aren’t married and he won’t let me take our baby home by myself for Christmas this year as he thinks it’s too much for the baby.

I am just at a complete loss and feeling very much like I’ve ruined my life. It’s of course not all bad and he is a bit better these days, however I have sooooo much anger and resentment built up that I’m finding it harder and harder to make sacrifices for my family when I feel I’m the only doing so. I’m finding myself less and less in love with him as each day progresses.

Just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and got through it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Pollqueen · 27/07/2025 20:19

I honestly think the best thing you can do is pack yourself and the baby up and go home. I wouldn't even tell him, just pack and go when he's at work

Has baby got a passport? I appreciate there are practicalities to that advice, but I am sure it's doable. Please don't waste your precious youth on this man, he's a piece of shit and that's praising him

heldinadream · 27/07/2025 20:23

God leave him. He's treating you and your baby appallingly.
I'm so sorry, it must be so hard and upsetting. He doesn't deserve you.

DandyBlueBird · 27/07/2025 20:30

Baby does have a passport but a UK one. I’m not sure I can leave to go home as the baby has dad’s surname and it would be seen as abduction without written consent from dad 😔

OP posts:
Pollqueen · 27/07/2025 22:07

I think it's a risk I would take to be honest. You're not married so that's in your favour. Can you speak to a DV helpline?

Iizzyb · 27/07/2025 23:12

Just to add to the above advice I’ve taken DS12 abroad on my own plenty of times over the years - nobody has ever questioned me or asked for that letter of consent people on MN are always asking about.

I’d just leave and not tell him. He sounds awful & it’s no life for you. He’ll just destroy every ounce of confidence you have if you stay with him. Go home to your family x

Tauranga · 27/07/2025 23:15

Go home. Get a passport for baby in secret and go. Don't leave details, just go.
Get home.

If he cares he will find a way.
If he doesn't, good riddance.

Tauranga · 27/07/2025 23:17

Tauranga · 27/07/2025 23:15

Go home. Get a passport for baby in secret and go. Don't leave details, just go.
Get home.

If he cares he will find a way.
If he doesn't, good riddance.

And to add, you can easily change the babies name back with a wee form. Then get baby an NZ passport. Then go.

Don't tell dad.
You have given up enough.

thebluehour · 27/07/2025 23:19

Go home.

If he cares he can come over to NZ to see you and try to win you back, promise to reform, spend actual time with your baby...

I wouldn't worry about the niceties of leaving, just get out of there.

suburberphobe · 27/07/2025 23:25

Just to add to the above advice I’ve taken DS12 abroad on my own plenty of times over the years - nobody has ever questioned me or asked for that letter of consent people on MN are always asking about.

Yep, done it loads too, he even has his dad's surname. And he's biracial. No-one ever questioned us travelling abroad. Granted, I have my ex's name as my married name in my passport (Not a British one).

Find support and go. You and your child will thank you in the future.

So sorry you are going through this. Sending hugs. I feel for you.

Coleman93 · 27/07/2025 23:25

So sorry you’re having such a rough time. It may be worth contacting a charity to talk about what options you have practically, and what support is available. There is a national helpline for domestic violence you could call or citizens advice. (Quick google should come up with the numbers I think).

I absolutely agree with the other posters, it sounds like your partner is a waste of space, but also aware that you could face pretty serious legal issues if you take your little one abroad without agreement.

Could an alternative be spending the money you would’ve done to fly to NZ to fly a relative over here for some time to support you in leaving him?

SpryCat · 27/07/2025 23:25

He won't fight through the courts to get your baby back, I would change her surname, get her a NZ passport and once that’s sorted leave.

crumblingschools · 27/07/2025 23:28

Don’t just take the baby, you need legal advice, otherwise you could be in serious trouble

Coleman93 · 27/07/2025 23:29

Also to add - I’ve travelled with my niece (took a permission letter etc) abroad and didn’t get asked / questioned at all (different surnames, don’t look remotely alike) - but she was 13.

My sister (her mum) travelled quite a few times when she was much younger and got asked every time, they have different surnames although look identical (she has her dads surname) and each time my sister had to present the dads death certificate at passport control (as he had unfortunately passed away when my niece was a baby)

Yellowcakestand · 27/07/2025 23:33

You cant change the surname if the father is on the BC without his consent.

I'd chance it and attempt to go.
I was asked when I reentered the UK last time but I had my CAO with me.

How do they check if the letter of consent is authentic?

curious79 · 27/07/2025 23:35

Does NZ require written consent? I know eg South Africa does.
is your name on the birth certificate? Then the passport name won’t matter. But you can’t unilaterally change your child’s name.

you need to start getting a lot of stuff in place.

for instance…

  • can you get some kind of proof (by getting him to reply to an email) that he’s uninterested and does nothing eg send an email and say we need to talk about the fact you never look after X and what will help you want to do it? (Then hope he doesn’t deny it)
  • Get your child’s NZ passport as a matter of urgency. just so you have it
  • explore your rights / the agreements between UK /NZ
  • plan a short trip that could potentially accidentally turn into a long long stay

font just ‘go home’ - you’ll end up in the Daily Mail for no reason

Enough4me · 27/07/2025 23:35

What do you think he'd do if you left?
Has he ever said anything to give you background on whether he may be happier if you did go?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2025 23:46

Pollqueen · 27/07/2025 20:19

I honestly think the best thing you can do is pack yourself and the baby up and go home. I wouldn't even tell him, just pack and go when he's at work

Has baby got a passport? I appreciate there are practicalities to that advice, but I am sure it's doable. Please don't waste your precious youth on this man, he's a piece of shit and that's praising him

She could get done for child abduction and the nz authorities would send baby back and uk might not let her back in. Terrible advice. She needs to go about this properly and speak to a lawyer.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2025 23:52

Ps I think you need legal advice and you might need to break up first and prove that he isn't the main caregiver, or find some other way to document you are the main caregiver. At the moment on paper he is a 5050 equal parent although he does fuck all. All the stuff he has said about your child which was awful, no one will care if he's saying now he's a loving dad who doesn't want to be separated
Could you get a paper trail eg ask him if you can go away for the night to a hotel to get rest over text to get him to admit that he isn't used to or capable of doing baby's routine.

I think you'd have a stronger case of why you had to move back if you were already the main caregiver and you had no support here but you do in nz and also if there is anything that he is doing that equates to domestic violence have a paper trail of discussing this with professionals, as there is a lot more protection for dv victims

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2025 23:52

Ps my once 'loving' parter also told me I was too depressed and anxious while pregnant so he walked out for 'self preservation' apparently

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2025 23:54

I agree with pp that you need to put in writing to him something like

I am really struggling and I need you to step up and parent more. You have never put baby to bed, you play video games every night instead lf interacting and you never get up with baby in the morning. I want you to parent too. Please let me know which days you can do.

Watch him not deny it and turn down a chance to do it.

Then leave however you can, and offer him visits to the baby.

MeandBobbyMcGoo · 28/07/2025 00:00

Don't just take baby out of the country - that is terrible advice. Baby is a British citizen and you can get into serious trouble for abduction. I do agree with leaving your partner though, speak with your local council perhaps?

LunaTheCat · 28/07/2025 00:06

I am in NZ.
i am so sorry .. he sounds like a complete looser and abusive as well.
Lots abusive men become so after a baby arrives.
I would be tempted to just come back too but NZ is a signatory to The Hague Convention which means, should he challenge it , then you and the baby would be forced to return.
I think you should approach women’s aid and also a lawyer.

bumblecoach · 28/07/2025 00:09

Unfortunately, under the Hague convention if he is so inclined to do so New Zealand have signed up to agree to repatriate the baby if necessary

SequinsandSoleros · 28/07/2025 00:10

I assume he is on the birth certificate?
If yes, you cannot up and leave.
If no, you can.

You have the following options if no:

Insist you are going home for Xmas then tell him you do not wish to return. See if he cares enough to pursue it (but he may well do, to spite you).

Leave him and hope he loses interest then go home. Make sure he is paying full whack for his child - this may act as an incentive to let you go.

Get ducks in a row, and apply to the courts to go back home.

Obviously, the last one is the most sensible.