Do you ever wonder how a parent can deny the existence of their own child?

[lottieandmia]

And walk away from them totally, never wondering how they are, where they are or even what they look like?

I think it's really hard to understand how anyone could happily do this. My youngest daughter has never met her father. He ran off when I was pregnant and refused to even talk to me about her. He denies that she's his to his family and anyone else. Strangely his family do believe that she's his and contact me now and then to see how she is.

When dd was a baby I thought, naively perhaps, that it would be ok that she won't ever know her real dad. But now she's nearly 4 she's started saying things like 'I want to have a dad' and I feel bad because I made the choice to have a relationship with him in the first place iyswim. I hope she doesn't try to look for him when she grows up as I fear she'll be disappointed with what she finds.

I wonder that too... my DD's father has never seen her, never found out whether I went through with the pregnancy... nothing.... I assume it's because he doesn't want the responsibility and TBH, it's better that way. It means I can parent without stress from him.

It's a shame but absent fathers by choice miss out on amazing children and everything that goes with it, it's our jobs as mothers to ensure they are loved enough for two.

Could you get his family more involved?
I'm sorry you and your dd are in this position
You shouldn't feel guilty tho

I wonder this all the time, now ex ds has been in and out of ds life since he was 4 weeks old, I threw him out 7 weeks ago because he punched through the tv infront of ds who not even 2 yet, and he hasn't seen him/asked how he is or nothing.... he a fucking twat and I don't understand why he hasn't fought for us!!

yes I wonder this about my dds dad all the time. I don't know with him whether it is just that he doesn't believe she is his or just doesn't care

It is his loss but also it is a loss for my dd, she would love a dad and really struggles with not having one at times. She definately goes through phases where this matters more than others and I try to just support her through it. I tell her it is sad and it's o.kay for her to feel upset/confused/angry etc.

I think its important to try and be as honest as poss but also to try and be positive about the situation you are in. For example she gets mummy all to herself.

It's really hard isn't it, ds hasn't seen his dad since 4 months old (although does speak to him regularly on the phone, he doesn't live in this country) and every now and again gets really really upset. The last time was after christmas and he woke up crying his heart out for him

I sometimes wonder how my situation will play out, I have 3 children with my stbexh and am pregnant with no.4. He was the one to suggest no.4 but left when I was 3 months pregnant. He now doesn't want anything to do with this baby, yes I realise things may change in the future, but I doubt it. How do I one day explain to this child that yes, that's your daddy taking your brother and sisters out but no you can't go? Do I even tell them who their daddy is?

Same boat.
Mine left after 8 yeas when I was pregnant as I was ruining "his" life. Did explain that aborting my potential first child at 33 might ruin mine but he wasn't convinced. Not seen him since.

I feel a bit two ways about it. One side of me knows he was actually an OK bloke and that I am really disappointed his son will miss out (and maybe that he is missing out too). The other side thinks we have it easy because it is so black and white. No missed visits, let downs,worry about maintenance etc.

I am amazed that he has no interest. He was a middle class, intelligent, kind partner and I really can't understand him (and his family) having no interest at all. I don't really miss anything TBH as I have plenty of friends, family etc but I am confused as to his reasoning.

Well I think I can comfort you all by sharing so,

I have never met my dad, never seen a pic or anything I could walk past him in the street an I would nt know.

I did, as a kid regularly say I wanted him, I vividly remember crying loudly AT my mum about wishing he was around. I also vividly remember that for all the tears etc I didn't actually feel anything real or specific about it because I didn't know what I was missing.

He faked his own death to avoid the responsibility of me, I wouldn't even know to this day if the Csa hadn't found him and DNA tested us. I was 15 when I found this out and for me he died that day.
I have zero desire to go looking for him, even since having dc myself.

I could of had him added to my birth certificate, I didn't

My mum was my everything, she was more than enough. She had literally nothing materially to give me as she left care pregnant and lost what little she had in a fire before i was a year. It really didn't matter, she devoted herself to me and i owe her everything i am. She is an incredible woman who I have the utmost respect for.

I used to be pretty angry with my 'dad' but not any more, I don't feel anything for him anymore, in fact until I read this thread I can't remember the last time I thought about him.

Hope that helps

What about the ones who walk out when you are in your twenties and 15 years later have never met their grandson who looks just like him? it's unbelievable really.

Herrena you don't know how much that helps.

Exdp is not allowed to see us, has to keep away but court of law. I struggle with this daily.

There was a point where she was saying she didn't have a dad, that my dad was her dad as well (hm, odd, but sort of has a point I guess) but we talked through it recently and I showed her a picture of him. For all the fear and dread of that conversation, it took 2 seconds and she looked and then asked if she could watch telly. Hasn't asked about him or wanted to see his picture since!!!!

I try and let her speak freely about it but deep down I'm happy he isn't bothered.

Some very sad experiences here thanks for sharing them. Faked his own death Herrena? honestly words fail me.

I suppose none of us will ever know or understand how another person's mind actually works. My dd's dad is a very selfish man. He really believes that the world spins for his exclusive benefit - he should be able to do and say exactly what he wants and everyone else's needs come way down the list after his. I don't believe he would be able to give my dd anything. I suppose my regret is that her father wasn't someone else! As for his family, they live abroad. At least they have some concern about the fact she actually exists. He is furious that they know about her and after they had contacted me to ask about her he sent me abusive and threatening emails.

Pleased to help

Your dc can't have different fathers and be who they are don't feel guilty for giving them life.

We all have our crosses to bear in life, it makes us strong and gives us depth of character, every one (including our precious kids) must suffer sometimes or become an insufferable brat!

Stop looking at other families and thinking you've failed because your doing it by yourself, it's not as cut and dried as that.
I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would manage as a single mum,
I didn't feel cowed into staying in an abusive relationship (and teaching my dd to expect that from future partners)
I had seen my mum do a better job as a single mum than the majority of couples bother to do

I'm waffling now but I think what I'm trying to get to is being a single parent is harder on you than on the kids.

why oh why o why do people keep calling them absent 'parents' feckless 'fathers' or 'mothers?'

These people are NOT PARENTS. they have no right or HONOUR to be called such.

PARENT/MOTHER/FATHER/MUM/DAD is NOT a label, its a verb, its a privelage, and the utmost homour anyone could have.

PLEASE stop calling them dads/fathers/mums/mothers.

they are reckless sperm donors or breeders or anything BUT a parent.....and breathe.

As far as DCs concerned, there was a man but thats all he was, and as lonely and longing as I am, id rather be on my own this way with DC ANYTIME.

marjproops - I completely agree they are not actually parents. There definitely are advantages to being a lone parent - I get to decide everything. He wouldn't be able to give meaningful input. I think I feel sad for my daughter because her sisters have a father who is involved, who pays child maintenance and takes an interest in her.

glad you agree, OP, sometimes i think im just Uber-sensitive.Its sad for your daughter, of course it is, OP, in an ideal world wed all be happy families, complete mum dad and kids families. but its not an ideal world and people are not perfect.

I feel angry at 'abandoners' (another word for them) but also sad, theyll never know what it is to love and be loved by a child, the greatest love there is.

DCs asked me ONCE 'do i have a daddy' and I wont lie, i wont sugar coat it, but for now i say 'its okay, you and me are family, we're a team'. i explain that 1 of my sibs is a single parent too and i say some kids have mums, some have dads, and thats better than having no one at all.

seriously, i get boiling mad when the term parent is used in sucha frivolous way, like on the news eg, baby P, the childs mother....er...no, not mother, the childs abuser.

same with 'birth' and 'biological' 'parents' too. no, a parent is the one who loves/nurtures/brings up the child.

btw, your daughter is lucky to get the attention from your other daughters dad.

I haven't seen my biological father (and I'll call him what I like, thanks) since I was three. I heard on the grapevine that he has 3 more daughters and is a raging alcoholic and not a very nice man. Lovely. I always knew I wasn't missing out on much.
I've never wanted to see him, couldn't care less.
I've said before, but you really don't miss what you've never had.

perplex of course, thats totally up to you.

i jsut think sometimes people may say that as they long to have known/know someone as a parent.

eg- id love to have a husband, and say, Im MRS Husbandsname, i have ahUsband. (if that makes any sense)..

I work with someone who has not seen his (now adult) son for 20ish years I believe, but not through want of trying. He rarely talks about it, but usually tells people that he has not DC, to stop an y further questions. I was briefly his line manager and he did open up to me a bit. I understood then why he would deny having a child.

Well, I'm glad XP isn't around anymore as he was pretty bloody awful. But I do wonder how often he thinks about the dc's. They wouldn't know him if they saw him in the street and I doubt he would recognise 6yo DS these days, he has never known DD apart from when she was 6 months old.

He had endless chances to buck his ideas up and stay together as a family but he couldn't do it.

Yes, I also wonder how often/if they ever really think about their kids. I can't imagine they can with any clarity as they don't know what they are missing. Ex hasn't seen DD since she was 6mo and has only asked for one pic of her since moving in with his new g.f. I do always think he has no idea how much he is missing out on, but I doubt he ever will to be honest. These people just don't think like that.

DD is only 19mo and calls my dad Papa which is a bit embarrassing - he looks pretty young and I have given up explaining to people in restaurants etc that we are not a couple Any advice on how to sort that out She also gets very upset when he walks out of the room, which she used to do to me as well, and I worry this is some attachment to males thing (he visits about once a month).

Beckett -I had a similar situation with no.3. Out of interest did he go off with someone else? After a year I put my foot down & said all three or none having explained to dds that it's only fair to their beloved sibling & it worked & he now sees all 3. BUT I have to say the relationship isn't overly strong!!

Bike - in this day & age there is no excuse not to see your child, courts are very sympathetic to the right of a child to see BOTH parents & I could never say I had no kids when I did so maybe take some of what he is saying with a pinch of salt!!

In a lot of cases the truth of the OP's question is that they `make stuff up' and rewrite history. They have to live with themselves every day and so they have to do that, as the truth isn't very nice or acceptable to society.

As Red says, courts are very pro two parents so no excuse.
And then if it suits later down the line and they want to see their child or give you some sh*t they rewrite history again. Just make sure you know your own truth, don't dwell on any of it and enjoy your life, they sure has hell make sure they are doing what they want to do at all times.

Yes, very true about rewriting history. He wrote me an email saying he didn't believe she was his - he knows full well that she is his.

Last night I was talking with my parents about tracing him for child maintenance via the CSA. He is working in the UK again and I am pretty sure I know where. My parents were of the opinion that if I don't want him to see dd and given his past violent tendencies, I should leave well alone and not contact him in any way, even via the CSA as it could open a can of worms.

Have you all decided to leave child maintenance?

My eldest Ds's dad walked away from them 10 years ago, they were about 4 and 6 at the time. He hasn't seen them since!

He poked ds2 on Facebook a couple of years ago so I sent a short sharp MSG telling him to fuck off! Then we all blocked him!
And I did go to Csa, thank god just before he disappeared although he pays a pittance!