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Parenting

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Should I give my daughter her crazy dads surname

70 replies

cresida · 19/02/2021 06:17

Please read fully.

So I had a new partner and I got pregnant pretty soon after we got together. I'd known him for years as we once worked on a project together back in 2014. We tried to date before but I had other life things going on. We stayed in touch and during lockdown we began a relationship. He was excited about the pregnancy to begin with as this was his first child. After a few weeks he started to distance himself and things got awkward. I think he has his friends warning him against going all in with the family plan he'd proposed in the beginning because they've had bad experiences. Within 6 weeks of me finding out we were broken up.

We had quite a big altercation, I wish I could explain what happened on here but it's too specific and if he ever stumbled across this he would know this is about him, but long story short his behaviour was craaaaazy that day.
I sent him updates about the baby at his families request throughout pregnancy which he ignored.
My 7yr old son and I (different father) ended up being HOMELESS because he convinced me to give notice on my beautiful apartment and then before the breakup he backed out of our plan to move in together. My landlord refused to cancel my notice and due to being so sick during the whole pregnancy I had to shut my business down.
Throughout my pregnancy his family knew I was in hospital for a lot of it. He NEVER checked on me or the baby from 9 weeks (when we broke up)

The day I went into labour I called him and told him I was in labour. I had to convince him to
Come. He came and was excellent. I was determined to put all the issues to the side and ignore the fact that he hadn't been here, hadn't done anything he said he's do and had been spreading rumors about me to make himself sound better after the breakup.

When the baby was born he was great the first 24 hours. I chose the baby's name a few months before she was born. Let's say her name is Lily Rose Andrews, (middle name after my mother). He didn't say anything initially but within a week he started to say he didn't like the name and he wants her to have his surname. Let's pretend it's Frenelucia (it's an equally odd and hard to pronounce name). I was annoyed at this but I compromised and agreed to double barrel and let him also come up with another middle name. He also wanted to change babies FIRST name to Margaret.
He didn't like this idea and argued with me saying I wasn't compromising.

The day after the argument he said he wanted a DNA test because I've refused to compromise??? There had never been a question of paternity. He also said he didn't want to talk until that was done. I was fine with that because it meant peace. He then went on to send my family and I a slew of messages, harassing us.
When I went to the DNA centre, he had told them the baby's name is Margaret Frenelucia😒😒
I corrected them and told them her actual name.
So just to recap, he hadn't been around during the pregnancy, he hasn't contributed anything financially aside from a pack of vests. Lily is 2 months old and he's seen her once since birth.
I now don't want him on the birth certificate because of his unpredictable behaviour or to give her a double barrel name.

Please tell me what you think

OP posts:
Norwester · 19/02/2021 07:18

Obviously don't change your dd's name. And congratulations on her birth!

But seriously, you need to take a long, hard look at the choices you have made. Even on this thread, you are minimising and excusing your own lack of boundaries - giving up your flat, inviting him to the birth, giving his bizarre name request any headspace whatsoever, going for the DNA test.

He is a waste of space in your heart, head and lives. Do not make any future decisions that are not

  1. For the benefit of your dd
  2. For your benefit, including your mental and emotional health. His desires do not get a look-in.

Get onto the CMA and sort out financial support. He needs to financially support the child that he created. And remember that paying the government-ordered minimum gives him no say at all in your decision-making.

If he truly wants to be part of his dd's life, then he will take the necessary legal steps to do so.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 19/02/2021 07:19

Why ate you bending over backwards for this fecking eejit? Dont put his name on the birth certificate and dont give your baby his surname. Toughen up woman and distance yourself from this fool.

MotorwayDiva · 19/02/2021 07:20

Your name, if he wants the same surname as his DD he can change his own

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Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:21

@Norwester

Obviously don't change your dd's name. And congratulations on her birth!

But seriously, you need to take a long, hard look at the choices you have made. Even on this thread, you are minimising and excusing your own lack of boundaries - giving up your flat, inviting him to the birth, giving his bizarre name request any headspace whatsoever, going for the DNA test.

He is a waste of space in your heart, head and lives. Do not make any future decisions that are not

  1. For the benefit of your dd
  2. For your benefit, including your mental and emotional health. His desires do not get a look-in.

Get onto the CMA and sort out financial support. He needs to financially support the child that he created. And remember that paying the government-ordered minimum gives him no say at all in your decision-making.

If he truly wants to be part of his dd's life, then he will take the necessary legal steps to do so.

@Norwester

You're right. Thank you

OP posts:
Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:22

@MotorwayDiva
😂🤣🤣

OP posts:
Lobsterquadrille2 · 19/02/2021 07:24

I was in a slightly similar position many years ago. I was very close to giving my DD her father's surname - we were engaged but the signs were not good. I am so very glad that my sister convinced me otherwise; this was pre Mumsnet but she's a lawyer and it made so much more sense for us to have the same name. I was still clinging to the idea that we'd be the happy family he'd assured me we would be at times convenient to him. I actually regret giving DD a bizarre middle name because I thought he'd feel involved, but there you go.

In 23 years he's not paid a penny, lives in another country and doesn't have any contact so it was definitely the right decision for us. If things work out differently, surnames can always be changed further down the line.

Thatwentbadly · 19/02/2021 07:24

Even without reading the post I would always say babies should have their mothers surname.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 19/02/2021 07:27

Stick to the name you chose. Do not double barrel.

However I am a believer of putting dads name on birth certificate. This is a record of her birth, her history and her family connections. He can always go to court to get added if he was so inclined.

If she is two months old though, haven't you already registered her?

DinosaurDiana · 19/02/2021 07:28

No to the birth certificate, and your surname.

Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:30

@waitingpatientlyforspring

Because of Covid, the only appointments were quite far away. The appointment is not for a few more weeks.

I already didn't want to but I'm now 100% sure I won't involve him in that as everyone has confirmed what I thought concerning the parental rights he'll have.

OP posts:
GloriousGoosebumps · 19/02/2021 07:31

Congratulations on your new baby! I can see why you hope your ex will step up and be a good father to his daughter but I think he'd have done so by now if he was going to . Please don't change her name or give her his surname because it seems quite clear that he isn't going to be part of her life, which is bad enough, but if he's on the birth certificate he can make your life so much harder.

Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:32

@waitingpatientlyforspring I can always tell her about him whether he's on the birth certificate or not. But the idea of him having any sort of control over what I do with her is just a big fat no. I'm aware he can still get parental rights through court but I won't assist him in attaining those rights

OP posts:
lalalalands · 19/02/2021 07:33

Omg!!! Of course don't give her any of the names he suggested!!!! Wtf is he thinking! Fwiw I would have never invited him to the birth either!

Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:37

@GloriousGoosebumps

Congratulations on your new baby! I can see why you hope your ex will step up and be a good father to his daughter but I think he'd have done so by now if he was going to . Please don't change her name or give her his surname because it seems quite clear that he isn't going to be part of her life, which is bad enough, but if he's on the birth certificate he can make your life so much harder.
In all honesty, my wish is that he would disappear and leave us alone. He pretends for now that after the DNA results come back he will step up. I'm hoping not. If he didn't know where I lived I would have blocked him and continued life in peace. However he knows where I live now. He's so unpredictable and controlling, I don't want to poke the bear.
OP posts:
Morgan12 · 19/02/2021 07:37

Absolutely not.

I had my mother's surname. No big deal.

He sounds a right dick.

And congratulations!

Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:37

And thank you 😊 @GloriousGoosebumps

OP posts:
timeisnotaline · 19/02/2021 07:38

I’m not sure you’re right that assertiveness is not an issue for you. Letting him watch you push a baby out of your vagina isn't going to make him a better father, that was your decision to make for you. Even considering double barreling with this controlling flake and wondering if you are being reasonable are also not particularly assertive. Your baby has you, your baby can have you on their birth certificate and your name, and he can earn his way to being a dad, which he hasn’t tried to do yet.

Usagi12 · 19/02/2021 07:41

No please don't do this, your baby, your name. It's pretty clear this child is only going to have one reliable and loving parent, she should have the name you choose for her. He doesn't deserve a say.

Cresida · 19/02/2021 07:46

@timeisnotaline
No where did I say I invited him to make him a better father or anything to that effect. I said I invited him so he couldn't say he wasn't given the opportunity. However if he had behaved in a way that was inappropriate my sister who works in the hospital, was down the corridor ready to step in.
I am more or less sure of my decision about the name but a close relative of mine disagreed. Which made me want confirmation that I'm not being unreasonable. However I'll put it down to the fact that this relative is very old and maybe that's how they did things back then

OP posts:
TartanGoose · 19/02/2021 07:49

You'd be mad to even double barrel in my opinion. You are going to be bringing Lily up. You. He can't even maintain interest in her when she's a newborn.

You need to start taking far less notice of this clown.

TartanGoose · 19/02/2021 07:54

Your relative is daft.

It's not traditional for babies to have the surname of a man who their mothers aren't married to.

Has your elderly relative not seen Game of Thrones??? Grin Having the surname of your biological father was the ultimate honour!

DudeistPriest · 19/02/2021 08:02

He's treated you badly from the start don't give him anything and try to avoid contact with him. It will be easier and more relaxed without his involvement as he does nothing to help and just makes selfish demands on you.

Cresida · 19/02/2021 08:04

@DudeistPriest
Agreed.
I wish I could go into detail about the headache he has caused 😕

OP posts:
Cresida · 19/02/2021 08:05

@TartanGoose
🤣🤣🤣

OP posts:
xsamix86 · 19/02/2021 08:10

Op I understand your need to be able to tell your baby girl that you did all you could in the future, and have done everything you can now to encourage his participation but its time to stop. You have enough on your plate with 2 children, without having to keep thinking about updating the absentee father. If he gives a damn then he should be doing the leg work. Your priority is your child and newborn baby, not fighting to give him information, taking her for DNA tests because he's been a twat, or giving updates to someone who obviously doesn't care enough to find out himself. As others have said at least the DNA test will save having to fight for maintenance! Get this ball rolling and when the time comes put the name you chose on the BC. As a side note, if you are not married you cannot put a fathers name on the BC if he is not at the appointment. When you are able, get her registered with the name you chose. Maybe if you have to tell him the date and time of the appointment, but tell him that the name she will be registered with is the one you chose and nothing else, if he doesn't like it he doesn't go to the appointment (I have a feeling he won't attend anyway).

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