Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Scared of telling my dad - I'm 32 years old!

27 replies

Crystal049 · 14/02/2015 20:05

I know it's pathetic but scared of telling my dad because he doesn't really show emotion and he hasn't met my husband even though I've been with him 15 years (long story) anyway, so scared. How did you tell your parents especially your dad?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PoppySausage · 14/02/2015 20:12

Your situation sounds quite different to mine, but I presented the scan picture

Flissity83 · 14/02/2015 20:16

I hated telling my dad as it was admitting I was having sex. My dad actually made a comment about the weather when i did eventually tell him. It took about 3 months before it sunk in and now he's a great grandfather. Good luck.

mousmous · 14/02/2015 20:19

you don't have to tell him...

LittleMiss77 · 14/02/2015 20:30

I was the same, told everyone but not my dad cos it was like telling him his little girl was having sex as a PP said. when I told him he just went 'oh, that's nice. congratulations'

Whatabout · 14/02/2015 20:46

My dad and I ordered a cheese board with all the banned cheeses on. When it arrived I blurted out "I can't eat that". He guessed

mrsdos · 14/02/2015 20:54

I was terrified about telling my dad too! Told him on his birthday after having an early scan, he's a farmer and quickly changed the subject to his cows! Then to end the phone call, he told me he had to sort his sandwich which was toasting! According to my Mum, he is happy and excited about becoming a grandad. Once I told him I felt silly for being so nervous. Good luck OP

cunexttuesonline · 14/02/2015 21:13

1st time I just phoned him and told him he was going to be a grandad, 2nd time I texted!!

Zsazsabinks · 14/02/2015 21:29

Oh there's nothing worse than telling your parents in some ways. First time I'd only been with (now) DH for about three months. I told my Dad first and to my absolute amazement he said "Oh! Well I would like to say 'well done, good girl', but we'd better see what your Mother has to say first"!!!

Second time was great, completely planned baby, had already been married for a few years and had DD1. Both parents were thrilled.

Third time was a bit hairy, baby quite obviously was not planned but I pretended that it was, a pretense I continue to maintain to this day. It's one thing for them to know that we have sex for conception purposes, but an accidental baby is evidence of sex for fun and there's some things your parents don't need to know!!!!

Do it over the phone and do it quickly, you might be surprised by his reaction!

Good luck!

Jackieharris · 14/02/2015 21:39

Same worry here!

We should be telling people now but I really don't want to tell my parents!

It's dc3, been together long term, should be all smiles but I still feel 'embarrassed'.

My DM is quite anti childraising and said 'why would you want to do that?' When I told her I was having dc2. She may well faint at the prospect of a third!

We'll tell DP s family first so we can use peer pressure to make my parents behave!

MillieMoodle · 14/02/2015 22:05

I was petrified of telling my parents when I was pregnant with DS. I was 27 and married, so it wasn't unexpected. I told them over the phone, my mum was beside herself with excitement. I told my dad he was going to be a grandpa and he said "oh yes, very good, yes indeed, very good, yes, congratulations". Bless him. I don't think he knew what to do! He wasn't hugely interested throughout my pregnancy, lots more "very good, yes indeed" comments at scan photos etc. He's not very good with "women's things" as he puts it. He's the best grandpa though DS is the apple of his eye - they spend hours playing Lego and digging in the garden.
Good luck OP, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Gillian1980 · 14/02/2015 22:37

I told him we were trying, then told him every time I thought I might be... by the time we had a bfp he was probably bored of the whole ordeal! But he was still excited :)

Cornberry · 14/02/2015 22:38

When I told my dad he was so uncomfortable he actually looked at my boyfriend and said "you're the father I presume?" I would have been offended but I could see he was uncomfortable. But once it had sunk in he was very supportive. When I told my mum she said "oh fuck" (I'm 33). Don't be disappointed if you don't get the reaction you were hoping for. Eventually he'll be delighted even if it's a shock.

MuddyWellyNelly · 14/02/2015 22:52

I too was terrified - partly about the admitting the sex part, and partly just because my Dad isn't always that emotional. I also think he assumed we didn't want children, due to me being 40! So I just wasn't sure if he'd be genuinely thrilled, or a bit ambivalent about it. As it was, he was great and has been very supportive.

Ironically not only is this an IVF baby (so no sex involved), but it's from a Donor Egg, and DH deposited his sperm at the clinic 6 months earlier. It couldn't have been further from "me having sex with husband" if we'd tried!

Bex174 · 15/02/2015 00:18

Do you know what, I was exactly the same! My in laws if knew would be over the moon, but my parents are very stoic and not overly into showing emotion.
Plucked up the courage and sat down with them and somehow made the conversation come around so I could say "well I can't do that for another few months as guess what, I'm expecting!"
I'd predicted deathly silence and at best an "oh that's quite nice", instead they were overjoyed! My father leapt up to give me a hug saying he never thought he'd see the day, my mother has been fantastic with advice ever since and they love it now I finally have a bump
I'm 31, so similar to you. But mine was totally unplanned, we're not married (but together 7yrs, own house etc) and a hiccup with time zones and contraception means we're expecting, all things I thought would mean I was in for a hard time breaking the news! So don't worry, you'll probably get a much better reaction than you expect :)

happygojo · 15/02/2015 10:13

When we first told my bfs parents, my bf was petrified. we are in our late 20s and own a house together and are very settled, but he said it made him feel like he was 16 years old and telling them he had got me in 'trouble' lol. Even when we went to go and buy a 2nd preg test he was so shifty! And made me put it between 2 magazines in the bag in case anyone saw! All parents involved were over the moon....
Maybe even tok excited at times

rosedavo · 15/02/2015 14:24

I told my dad and he was literally speachless it was weird he was like erm well done, great, eell done lol

Original poster

Crystal049 · 15/02/2015 17:09

Dad update: told him today he was very happy and he said aren't you a bit too young! I said dad I'm 33 this year and he said oh ok then! He gave me a hug I was so relieved I'm so happy I feel like a weight had been lifted of my shoulders x

OP posts:

Stinkersmum · 15/02/2015 18:32

I told my dad over the phone (I'm in KSA, he's in Spain). He cried with happiness. I was overwhelmed in the best way with his response. I knew he'd be happy, but not as emotional as he was. Makes me well up thinking about it

batfish · 15/02/2015 18:42

I told my mum and dad a few days ago (only 6 weeks at the moment) and also found it very cringey - I have a great relationship with my dad and so does my hubby but he is not at all touchy feely! He looked very awkward bless him and actually said 'oh dear how did that happen?' Which led my husband to say 'Would you like me to explain it to you?' Oh god just kill me now haha.

batfish · 15/02/2015 18:43

Hi stinkers from the UAE!

Stinkersmum · 15/02/2015 18:45

Hi batfish. Cool name btw. Are you preggers and terrified of having a baby in the Middle East like me?'

BelleBear12 · 15/02/2015 19:19

On my first my dad, was in major shock and said as long as was happy. The 2nd I miscarried and he didn't really know how to be there for me but I'm on my 3rd he went really quiet and said he would call me back. 5 mins later I answered the phone to 'congratulations and celebrations' being sung to me!! I guess it's hard for dad's after all we are there little girls

GoldenPenguin · 16/02/2015 08:07

Was totally the same. Absolutely bricking it over telling both my mum and dad when I was 30.

Surprisingly my mum was THRILLED! My dad, to be honest, just said well done and that was it. For a man with the worst temper on earth I was surprised but I guess when your daughter reaches 30 you start to look a bit daft if you lose your temper over her starting a family!

Jackieharris · 17/02/2015 13:59

My dad didn't say anything about pregnancy 1.

The 2nd one he found out second hand from dc1. Didn't say anything to me.

We still haven't told any family.

I might tell dm somewhere public where she can't make a scene!

dillydollydarling · 17/02/2015 14:36

My OH told my dad via Skype by showing him the pregnancy book he'd bought me for Christmas. I was terrified of telling him as I'm only 24 and the youngest of the 3 children! Turns out he's super excited to be a granddad

Flip

1 2