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How do you deal with your children looking like your ex?

13 replies

CherylAnnTweedy · 28/07/2010 20:08

I feel awful because at times I just can't look at my boys at times without seeing their dad and my reaction scares me, and I worry that I'm not going to be able to look at them when they're older.

DS1 is starting now to resemble my side of the family, but when he was younger he was the spit of his father adn in particular when he was angry. There were many times when I'd have to walk out of the room for fear of lashing out at him.

DS2 now is starting to look a lot more like his dad and it makes my blood boil when he does. Again it's mostly when he's angry or playing up that it's most noticable, but it seems that every day he's physically turning into his dad more and more.

Today scared the hell out of me. The boys were winding each other up and while I was telling them off ds2 was stood there with a smirk on his face and he looked just like his dad. I just flew at him . I wanted to slap him and claw his face off. I stopped myself fortunately, but what if I hadn't?

I couldn't see my little boy, just an abusive man. He has the exact same expressions as my ex too which doesn't help.

I'm just so worried that as they grow up they're going to look just like him and I'm not going to be able to look at them and see past his features.

How do you see past that and see your wonderful children for the people that they are without seeing your ex staring back at you?

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 29/07/2010 09:58

you need to get some counselling to deal with this - ask GP to refer for NHS counselling.

they are themselves, you can look at it as the one thing you grateful to your ex for, providing you with the children.....

CherylAnnTweedy · 29/07/2010 10:44

I've been having counselling, having my last session this week. nhs only allows you 6 sessions but my counsellor managed to stretch it to 8, but can't do any more than that.

Am I really the only person that can see hte resemblence of their ex in their childrens faces?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 29/07/2010 10:47

this happens with me too.....i see alot of dd2's dad in her. alot of traits too,similarities,not just looks....which is a worry in itself,but hardly a case for 'counselling'.....

Wilts · 29/07/2010 10:50

My Ds1 looks just like his father, except hair colouring.
However, he is not his father, he is my gorgeous boy, so that is the end of that as far as I am concerned.

Niceguy2 · 29/07/2010 11:28

Is there any way you can perhaps get more counselling either privately or for another cough reason?

I really think you need it. Was your ex violent to you? Forgive my bluntness but your reaction is extreme.

I see some of my ex in my kids too. Esp with my DD who sometimes has the same mannerisms and the occasional look I think "ooh thats so like your mum"

But like Wilts, 99.999% of the time, they are their own person.

cestlavielife · 29/07/2010 11:30

" I wanted to slap him and claw his face off" (for looking like his dad)

"How do you see past that "

seriously you need some CBT type counselling to get round this , i really do think op needs help...

yes i can see resemblance and truly it is the one thing i thank him for - i have friends who have been thru IVF hell/paying for donor eggs etc to get kids... i paid nothing for mine

also you once loved him enough to sleep with him and make babies, right? so see the resemblance as memories of good times, not the bad...

cherish the good memories, let go of the bad...

MollieO · 29/07/2010 11:39

I see my ex in ds but he is the combination of the best bits of the two of us. I agree with others that you need to deal with this reaction and get professional help.

maxine5 · 29/07/2010 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Janos · 29/07/2010 13:25

My DS looks very like his Dad (who treated me atrociously) but I can't say that I find it upsetting in any way at all.

I look at him and just see my gorgeous boy that I love to bits.

As others have said, he is his own person. Please don't blame him for his Dad's horrible behaviour.

Its it's concerning you this much then do get outside help because it could potentially damage your relationship with your DS.

Janos · 29/07/2010 13:25

Sorry, 'If it's', in the last line.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 29/07/2010 13:36

Please, never ever let your children know. I look so much like my Dad and my siblings very different and like my mum. After mum and dad split up I hated not looking like them and a couple of times when mum was cross with me she shouted about me being 'so much like your Dad'. . I still remember how it made me feel. I went through some bad shit as a kid but for some reason this really stuck out. If mum didn't love Dad anymore how could she love me looking so much like him? You may feel it, I get that but please never put your feelings about your Ex on the shoulders of those little children.

NicknameTaken · 29/07/2010 13:44

A tiny suggestion - have you any photos where the dcs look particularly like you (or at least, not like your ex?) Can you put them up in a place where you see them, and at moments like you described, try to mentally substitute the photo image for what you are seeing?

I don't think it's a replacement for counselling or other outside help - it's obviously best if you can also access that.

CherylAnnTweedy · 29/07/2010 17:55

Just wanted to post to say I have read the posts, no chance to respond rtight now, will do in a biut

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