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Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

i need some advice about my new relationship and my daughter

85 replies

lilworthy · 10/12/2013 14:33

can any one give me some advice about my new relationship. do you think it was too early for my boyfriend to meet my daughter only after a month. my daughter loves him. and her dad did the same. so im confused her dad cant say nothing as he did the same. but i would like someones views on it. no negative comments please

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WhatEverZen · 10/12/2013 18:12

Your dd loves him...after such a short time? Please listen to what youre saying. Are you encouraging your dd to think this way

Children do form attachments quickly but this shouldnt be forced or rushed. Your dd could end up being hurt here

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KingRollo · 10/12/2013 18:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:20

Yeah ok thats my mistake w.e we all make mistakes.

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:20

Not like I can change it now!

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:23

Im not rushing my dd into anything.
She keeps talking about him!.
Asking where he is.
What he is doing ect...

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wannaBe · 10/12/2013 18:25

the reality is that you don't know whether it's too soon until you know whether or not the relationship will last iyswim. So you could introduce her after four weeks and you could spend the rest of your lives together, in which case the point at which you introduced them is irrelevant really. but the thing is that you won't know that until you either stay together or don't, so you need to think about the likelihood of a relationship being serious after just four weeks, which tbh you don't know, so it's best to wait until you are certain of your position within that relationship iyswim.

My ds was introduced to my now dp after six weeks through the instigation of my xh. For me it was far too soon - I had no intentions of introducing them for several months, but xh told me that ds had a right to know I was seeing someone and that if I didn't tell him, he would so I had no choice. But at that stage we were still early into a relationship and if it hadn't worked and ds had become attached I would have been the one left to pick up the pieces.

The thing is that the deed is done now and your dd has met your bf. so what you now need to do is exercise some damage limitation until you know whether this relationship is likely to last. so perhaps don't encourage excessive contact, make it more about your friendship than anything else, she's four, she doesn't need to know that he's your boyfriend for instance.

Only time will give you the answer on this one really, but if you take things slowly then you can limit the upset to your dd if things don't work out long-term.

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:28

Well she likes him then. And he thinks the world of her aswel.
And he dont play the father role at all he wouldn't come ever as he knows. I wouldn't let that happen.
I was in this situation before with my dds dad. Didn't think it was gonna work. This was before dd was born. And its was when she was born it started to fall apart. ive told him I wouldn't want him to just disappear out of her life if it was to worse was to happen. He said that won't happen.

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:32

We are taking things slowly. And my dd doesnt know we are together I dont show affection infront of her and he understands that. In my dds eyes we are just friends that care for each other.

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Casmama · 10/12/2013 18:32

He can't possibly promise this one month in!

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:34

We spoke about it a couple of times.

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Casmama · 10/12/2013 18:35

What do you want from this thread OP?

You can't turn back time, they have met. I would limit he time they spend together and get to know him Better yourself before increasing the time they spend together.

Also don't expect them to love each other

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:37

They don't spend that much time together.
And im always getting to know him .
Ive been talking to him for about a year or so.

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CheckedPjs · 10/12/2013 18:37

It's up to you!

I got judged on here by a lot of MNers for knowing someone for a year, then letting him meet my LO and it's been 4 months.

Just do what's right for you.

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:38

Thanks.

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Rosencrantz · 10/12/2013 18:40

I don't understand. If your daughter has met him, and like him - you have already introduced the boyfriend and your daughter.

It doesn't matter if she knows what your official relationship status is... She's met a man who mummy likes and is attached.

Damage is already done.

OP... I think most people ask this question before the DD meets the man at all, not before he is introduced as 'mummy's boyfriend.' Your priorities seem in the wrong order if you ask me.

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WhatEverZen · 10/12/2013 18:43

You've had some good advice on here about how to deal with things given that your dd and bf have met.. I hope you're able to work things out. . Good luck OP

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:43

Yeah ok w.e judgement again.
I know alot of people that do more damage than this to their kids.
That bring a new man in every week.
So what do you think the damage is there?.
Its my mistake and tbh I will learn from it if I think this is not going to work.

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CheckedPjs · 10/12/2013 18:45

Lilworthy

Just don't worry about it. You care for your LO and you love her.

Most people will tell you that you don't care about your LO and that your only wanting a man and your priorities are wrong but your asking to be judged by a bunch of woman that wouldn't know you if you wore a name tag.

If they've met once then just carry on with your normal life, maybe arrange a play date type thing at a local soft play where she can meet new kids as well as interact with your partners DC

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:45

Yeah but most people of here think my bf and my dd spend alot of time together but they don't and she likes him

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sutekidane · 10/12/2013 18:46

Even if she doesn't know you are a couple, she still loves him. She's attached already. How long after she "met" him did he begin playing with her? How can they not spend much time together but she loves him? It's all a bit drip drip contradictory really.

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Rosencrantz · 10/12/2013 18:47

'The damage' is a term meaning the effects. The effects you are concerned about have already happened, is what I'm saying. Whether those effects will be positive or negative in the long run, no one knows.

Also OP, you cannot ever justify your choices by saying other people do worse. A murderer that kills one person isn't good in comparison to a serial killer. They both are bad.

Why did you ask what people thought if you didn't want to hear honest opinions? Which is all any of these posts are btw - opinions - they don't matter whatsoever in the grand scheme of how you parent your children.

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lilworthy · 10/12/2013 18:47

Thanks. And that it what we are sorting out.

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CheckedPjs · 10/12/2013 18:50

If they've only met once, it's nothing major.

Just tell her he's out, working, busy etc. People learn by their mistakes it doesn't make you a bad mother so don't worry.

As long as your not acting all lovely in front of her like you said you haven't then you're just friends..

I personally will see a friend once a week for a couple of weeks then they have to work for a while so i don't see them again. My LO doesn't forget him at all, isn't emotionally scared etc.

Don't worry

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CheckedPjs · 10/12/2013 18:51

Opinions - they don't matter whatsoever in the grand scheme of how you parent your children.

This!

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OneStepCloser · 10/12/2013 18:53

I think dont worry too much about introducing him as such, in her eyes hes already yours (and hers) friend, so I would just leave it at that and let it develop naturally. She doesnt need to know anything else at the moment does she, he can come for tea and watch tv and such as mummies friend. The word boyfriend wont actually mean much to her really.

I would hold off with him staying over for a while, too protect you as much as her in an early relationship.

You`ve obviously been cautious during the last few years, little and gently is the way forward.

Good luck and enjoy your new relationship.