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Selfish OH

16 replies

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 00:57

OH and I have been together for almost four years, and we have eight month old DD. On meeting, OH stated wanting two children whereas I was on the fence about having any at all as it had never appealed to me. After buying a house together two years ago, OH more or less gave me an ultimatum to make my mind up about having a child (being in our early 30s) or we'd need to reconsider the long term validity of our relationship. Evidently I went with rather than without.

DD is a high needs child. She is EBF, we co-sleep because sleep is and always has been terrible, suffered a lot with reflux and bowel troubles, and she often requires a lot of attention while awake. On the positive side, she has a beautiful nature and has been giving full on hugs and kisses for over a month already.

Our relationship is not what it was, which probably goes without saying. I personally don't think too much about it - I'm so preoccupied with trying to nurture DD the best I can and simultaneously trying to become self employed during my maternity leave (with the vision of getting OH out of working 4 x 14 hour days per week too) that sex and intimacy with OH is not currently a priority.

OH loves DD, but it's quite apparent that the distance and differences that have been created between us has almost made OH wish we'd never had a child. He now categorically states there will not be a second. He also is not the father I had hoped or anticipated - will sit on his phone or watching TV when minding DD rather than engaging with her, doesn't like taking her out because being out in public frustrates him and nature bores him, and would rather give her to MIL to look after (another story but the way MIL deals with DD concerns me). He made no effort at Christmas because "she won't remember", neither did he make any effort whatsoever for me (suggested weeks in advance that we don't bother, which is what he's said every year so far) but has bought himself new clothes.

OH has always admitted he can be selfish and it's clear that he's only satisfied when (any)things are on his terms, but having a child has magnified just how selfish he is... to the point where (for other reasons also, like a general intolerance for other people, lack of empathy, and regular negative demeanour) I now feel as though I resent him as a partner and I'm not sure this is reversible. I have no hard feelings and wouldn't wish to cause trouble, I just really don't feel like this is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.

My ideal scenario and current plan is to earn enough from my new venture to buy our current house, give it to him, and then move on with my life with DD (and co-parent).

I don't know if I'm just frustrated and maybe still hormonally dysregulated with still breastfeeding and having lost a lot of weight, or whether my feelings are justified by his behaviour.

Sorry for the long post, I really just need to get this off my chest as I don't feel I can trust this information to anyone I know personally.

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 30/12/2022 01:03

Why will you be buying him a house?

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 01:08

@Theunamedcat Because I don't have any desire to screw him over further than walking away would do. Giving him the house would be my attempt at damage limitation.

OP posts:
MolliciousIntent · 30/12/2022 01:30

Buying him a house is ridiculous. Don't do that.

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baublesandbreakdowns · 30/12/2022 01:35

Absolutely do not give him a house! He convinced you to have a child you were unsure about having and is now a shitty dad and partner.

As you're not married, what's the financial situation? Did you contribute equally to buying the house and to the mortgage?

CoffeeBeansGalore · 30/12/2022 01:36

He demanded a child he now can't be arsed with and you want to give him a house?
Good grief. NO.
Buy him out & give your dd a stable home. That's damage limitation.

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 01:43

@baublesandbreakdowns The deposit was entirely mine, but we have otherwise contributed equally to paying the mortgage.

When I reach the point of being financially secure enough to leave the relationship, I will be able to afford to give him the house, which is why I see no need to make matters worse by turfing him out and making him start afresh.

OP posts:
bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 01:44

@CoffeeBeansGalore DD would always have a stable home; she is after all my priority. It wouldn't be a case of he would have the house and we'd have nothing.

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 30/12/2022 01:45

You want to buy him a house!! Why the fuck would you do that? Don't be ridiculous. That would be damage maximisation, not limitation.

Buy a house for yourself and your DD. He can look after himself.

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 01:48

Okay I think it's worth clarifying, in the hope people see this before commenting, that I would be in a position to ensure both DD and I had our own house, as well as allowing OH to remain in our existing house without the chaos selling it and its contents would cause.

OP posts:
GoldenCagedBird · 30/12/2022 01:55

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 01:48

Okay I think it's worth clarifying, in the hope people see this before commenting, that I would be in a position to ensure both DD and I had our own house, as well as allowing OH to remain in our existing house without the chaos selling it and its contents would cause.

It’s still lunacy

This is a man who is lazy, gives DD to his mum to parent and instead of commending and supporting what wonderful, child-centred parenting you are doing….resents you

wanting to leave the relationship isn’t ‘screwing him over’

you don’t owe him anything

if anything, he’s screwed you over and conned you into having a child with a lacklustre parent

you sell the house and you both start afresh on your own terms

wanting to ‘not screw him over’ comes from a very weird and submissive place

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 02:05

@GoldenCagedBird I can see it from the perspective you've given, and I appreciate very few people would be in a position to just give a house away so the suggestion of doing so is likely to seem strange.

Selling the house would involve a lot of legalities in splitting the money, considerably more effort splitting the contents, and then DD likely wouldn't be able to visit for some time whilst he got himself re-established.

If anyone wishes to see it as "submissive" then I suppose that's their prerogative, it's just really not worth the aggro (moreso in terms of circumstantial hassle) for me when I could just walk away and start fresh without that.

OP posts:
AutumnVibes · 30/12/2022 02:46

This is odd. How do you both have so much money that giving away a house is an option and simultaneously have to save up from newly established freelance work. Genuine question? What is your financial setup?
I think I would seek advice from Women’s Aid or similar before you do this as your logic is so odd that I’d be concerned you were being manipulated or controlled.

Batbatbatty · 30/12/2022 07:16

Haha I call absolute bullshit.

On your previous thread you have a 6 month old son. Now you have an 8 month old daughter.

Nosleepforthismum · 30/12/2022 07:27

bluebellaa · 30/12/2022 02:05

@GoldenCagedBird I can see it from the perspective you've given, and I appreciate very few people would be in a position to just give a house away so the suggestion of doing so is likely to seem strange.

Selling the house would involve a lot of legalities in splitting the money, considerably more effort splitting the contents, and then DD likely wouldn't be able to visit for some time whilst he got himself re-established.

If anyone wishes to see it as "submissive" then I suppose that's their prerogative, it's just really not worth the aggro (moreso in terms of circumstantial hassle) for me when I could just walk away and start fresh without that.

I used to be a conveyancer before having my child and there would still be as much legal paperwork to sort out if you “gave” him the property for free. It doesn’t sound as though you are married and a split of your finances would be straightforward if you sold your house. Please don’t give up your hard earned money to him, you need to think of your DD’s future.

strawberrysummer19 · 30/12/2022 07:28

@Batbatbatty I don't know where why people find the time for this 🙄

Batbatbatty · 30/12/2022 09:10

@strawberrysummer19 it annoys me because people take the time to read and respond. 😑

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