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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Is my relationship over?

77 replies

yeahyeah75 · 02/12/2013 11:59

My BF wants kids NOW and I'm just not "there" yet, hence 9 year relationship might be over.

Will I ever be "there?" What if I don't want children but I have one to please him and I hate it but it's too late? He is 33 and I'm 28 so I feel like I still have time. :0(

At the minute it is destroying us and forgotten how to be happy together.

OP posts:
MadBusLady · 02/12/2013 16:54

Thank you, Twinkle, that is the question I am incompetently dancing round.

I have no problem with ultimatums themselves - if he really can't go another minute without TTC for some reason, then he can't. That's a legitimate position for him. What's not legitimate is trying to guilt you, or persuade you with spurious arguments, and failing to acknowledge your (totally reasonable) fears. It doesn't suggest to me a person with your best interests absolutely at heart.

I've noticed it's easy to be confident and secure if you generally arrange your life to suit yourself and expect everybody else to jump.

Twinklestein · 02/12/2013 17:13

I think you & I have similar question marks about this MadBusLady, I agree with all your posts.

I just wonder whether he is really so broody that he can't wait another second to hold a baby in his arms, or whether he's trying to get the OP up the duff for more obscure motives. To tie her to him. To give himself a role in life as SAHD. To create a family because he doesn't have any friends.

I don't like the isolation that she's in - that can be the MO of men who can't cope with their partner having any life apart from them, and getting them pregnant is very much part of that.

That maybe unfair - I've no idea. But at the very least, this is all about his wants.

yeahyeah75 · 02/12/2013 17:24

Thanks both for your input, I am very independent (other than having no friends!).

He feels as though I've led him on in the relationship, he see's all of his friends settling down and having a family and said that's what he wants for us. Also said that he likes the fact that we'd be tied together for life.

We have had a hard few years with him in and out of work and he has a job now which he doesn't really enjoy. I think he'd rather be at home bringing up a child, even though I reckon it's a lot harder than he thinks it is.

He actually said that me giving him a child would give him more motivation to succeed in his life, but I don't need a child to want to do well, I want to do well for myself anyway if that makes sense?

I have been selfish at times in the relationship I'll admit that, going out with friends etc, but I didn't realise he was hanging on for this amazing family life which he has in his head and now I feel terrible :0(

OP posts:
Cabrinha · 02/12/2013 17:32

What's selfish about going out with friends?
Is that part of why your friendships have drifted? You go out less because something (someone...?) makes you feel it's selfish?

Fair enough, if he wants kids and you don't, you have to let him go. But you're both still young. Doesn't he love you enough to give you more time, without pressure? If he doesn't love you that much, he doesn't love you enough to be the father for your child.

livingzuid · 02/12/2013 17:40

Wait, what? He expects you to give him a child so he can have focus and succeed in life??

Sorry but if he hasn't figured out as a grown adult how to motivate himself then I don't see how having a kid will improve that. You are bang on when you say he doesn't realise how much work it is - and you will be left picking up the pieces. Children are not a magical fix.

It's a bit harsh but it sounds like he wants a family for all the wrong reasons. If he really cared about you he would wait.

And you have every right to go out with friends how is that selfish? He is being selfish in demanding you change your entire life to suit his needs.

wordyBird · 02/12/2013 17:43

I don't like the sound of him saying you've led him on, regarding having a family. It has an accusatory tone.
And he likes the fact you'd be tied together for life? Hmm ..is that a good or valid reason for wanting children? Twinkle's 17:13 post is starting to reflect what I'm thinking.

wordyBird · 02/12/2013 17:51

I'm very, very wary of this too
He actually said that me giving him a child would give him more motivation to succeed in his life
As you rightly say, you want to succeed for yourself. Children aren't a motivational tool.

Twinklestein · 02/12/2013 17:52

Hmm... that's kind of what I feared.

First, being 'tied together for life' is not a good reason to have a child. Why does he need this? Is he quite insecure? Why not ask you to marry him?

Secondly, being unhappy in a job is not a good reason to have a child. Some people are not suited to looking after children full time. Has he had any experience of looking after younger relations or a job involving children?

Thirdly, hoping for motivation is not a good reason to have a child. You either motivation or you don't, another person can't really give it to you.

So three negative reasons rather than positive ones: you'd be tied to him, he'd get out of his job & he might get some motivation.

It also concerns me that you think going out with your friends is 'selfish'. Is that what he told you? It's not, it's completely normal.

You say 'he has in his head this amazing idea of family life' as I suspect the reality will be very different from the fantasy.

Twinklestein · 02/12/2013 17:54

Lots of xposts.

MadBusLady · 02/12/2013 17:57

Ah. So what other "selfish" things have you done and who has told you that they are selfish?

LittlePeaPod · 02/12/2013 18:17

Op I never wanted children at your age. I was much more focused on my career etc. I am so glad that I didn't have children with my ex (having been together for 11 years). My instincts where right. It wasn't till I met DH that I decided that I wanted children. I am now pregnant with our first and I am 37 years old.

Don't do it. Don't have a child unless you are 100% sure your DP is right for you and you are 100% ready to have children. Don't allow yourself to be pressured by anyone. You are not been selfish by not having children...

livingzuid · 02/12/2013 18:23

It also sounds as if he wants to use the child as an excuse not to work and be a stay at home dad. Is he aware that is more work than a full time job?

Reading this again and I have to say he doesn't sound like he is at all realistic. Everyone has different needs and wants in life and it sounds as if you've always been up front. If he didn't like it he could have left a long time ago.

whoselifeisitanyway · 02/12/2013 18:57

Something that sets off alarm bells for me is that you will work full time and he will be SAHD. Have you really discussed how this will work in practice. Are you sure this is what you want? Also be prepared for changing your mind after you have had the baby.

Could it be possible he is looking for a 'role' (especially that you say your lives are lonely?) Or would it be convenient for you to work so he doesn't have the responsibility of being the wage earner.

Twinklestein · 02/12/2013 19:09

I totally agree whoselife - it could be potentially disastrous.

OP if you bond with your baby to the point that you decide you want to look after it, what will happen then? However career focused you are now, you cannot predict how you will feel until you're there. My sister was a highflying banker, intended to go back, that all changed when she had her first baby & she's now a SAHM to 3 kids.

This scenario means you have no option to change your mind & look after your own child, because there will be no-one to earn the money. And if your partner accepts going back to work, it may be grudgingly.

I also question the fact you say he's 'secure in himself'. He's been in and out of work and now is in a job he doesn't like, clearly doesn't know what he wants career-wise - otherwise he would enjoy it more - maybe security is precisely what he's looking for?

Either way - good boyfriend material and good husband/father material are very different things.

yeahyeah75 · 03/12/2013 09:40

Thanks all for your input. He is very much in the mindset that he can't give me anymore time as I will keep "putting it off".

I know that I'll never be 100% sure of having children that is just my nature, but I'd like it to be at least a joint decision and not forced upon me.

So I guess I have two choices, each one is terrifying at the moment!

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 03/12/2013 09:43

"don't waste your youth"

Youth? Hmm

You've got to be kidding. Op is way past her youth.

OP, if you dont want to have kids, dont have them, but please stop being selfish and cling on to this relationship. If you have reached the grand age of 28 without wanting kids, it is unlikely to change with this boyfriend at least. Let him go and find somebody who shares his values.

LittlePeaPod · 03/12/2013 09:53

Op don't listen to anyone that calls you selfish. It's BS! Ths is your life! It's selfish when others try to force and make you feel guilty because you are not ready for a child. If he is not happy with your decision that you are not ready and may never be ready then his a grown man and he can make a decision to mve on.

I used to be called selfish all the time because I refused to have a child with my ex. 11 years together or not. I wasn't ready and he knew it. Hs choice to stick around so I feel/felt no guilt when I ended the relationship and he blamed me for wasting years waiting for a child.

JoinYourPlayfellows · 03/12/2013 10:08

I think this guy sounds like a bossy, domineering, manipulative creep.

Trying to coerce a woman into a pregnancy she doesn't want is just not what decent men do.

MadBusLady · 03/12/2013 10:12

Lol at 28 being "way past youth".

OP, strongly consider the possibility that you can't imagine loving anyone else as much because you've been with this man basically since you reached adulthood. You don't have any adult experience of romantic relationships apart from him. So do not let that be a factor in your decision.

hellsbellsmelons · 03/12/2013 10:51

'Selfish' for going out with friends????
Geewizzz!!!
I must be the epitome of selfish then.

That is 'normal' - not selfish!

Why don't you have any friends?
Red flag here for me - sorry.

ImperialBlether · 03/12/2013 11:10

Hang on a second!

He wants you to have a baby so that he can be a SAHD and take care of him/her while you go out to work?

Your relationship doesn't sound very strong, tbh. Do you realise that if you go ahead and do this, if you do split up he will be able to keep the child and you will have to find yourself somewhere else to live, continue to go out to work and pay maintenance?

And yes, I would say this if you were a man. Your relationship isn't strong enough. Do you really want to have a child to give to him?

WallaceWindsock · 03/12/2013 11:40

What Imperial said. You would be in an incredibly vulnerable position if you did this.

You aren't married, he wants to be a SAHD. The main carer (which he would be if he's. SAHD) almost always gets residency. So if you split, which is highly likely as he doesn't sound like he's thinking about your feelings AT ALL, you would have to move out, leaving your child, would be awarded contact at set times and have to pay maintenance.

I feel that he is just seeing you as an incubator. Think about this for a minute. He doesn't say that he wants to start a family WITH you, that he wants to wait til you're ready. He wants a baby to make HIM motivated, so that HE can stay at home. This is all about him and he is pressuring you because it sounds like he's decided a baby will fix all his problems. I would even speculate, based on his comments about going out being selfish, that he wants to make you a little less independent. He did say that you would be "tied together for life". That's not what people normally say when discussing TTC!

I really don't like the sound of this man. Especially the pressuring. A huge percentage of relationships where abuse (emotional, financial so not just physical) is present see this abuse start during or following pregnancy. It's a time when you are indeed tied to and reliant on your partner. Labour can leave you physically unwell, recovering from major surgery. You need a partner you know you can rely on 100% to take care of you and not see it as a chance to begin controlling behaviour.

I also want you to consider the impact on you of having a baby. I've had two unplanned pregnancies. I wasn't sure I wanted either of them at first and at times during pregnancy found it very hard to accept the decision I'd made to continue those pregnancies. The thing that you don't realise however, is the impact the change to your body will have on you. Everyone told me that because I was young (twenties) that my body wouldn't change much, I'd "snap back" afterwards etc. It didn't and hasn't. My breasts are utterly ruined. They have zero fat in them, in a bra look normal but they honestly say down several inches when I take that bra off. I can't reverse that without surgery.

I'm not trying to scare you or be horrid (honest Grin). What I'm trying to say is that when you are READY and really WANT a baby you won't care about things like that, well you will, but it's worth it. Going through a pregnancy you aren't sure you want and those things are amplified and incredibly hard to accept. I ended up with severe PND because I hadn't processed the reality of having a baby and couldn't cope. The PND meant I rarely left the house so certainly didn't make friends. And I wouldn't have been anywhere near well enough to go back to work, I struggled to shower daily and eat three meals I was so unwell.

It is not just "having a baby". It's life changing and irreversible and has so many impacts on so many aspects of your life. I love my children very much however if I had the choice to go back I would have them ten years later. I really really would. I adore them and they are my world but my god it's so bloody hard and my relationship with DP has been incredibly rocky since I got that first positive pregnancy test.

You don't want a baby yet. Don't do it. And tell this silly man you are with to fuck off. Honestly, pressuring you like that. He clearly hasn't thought for one second about how bloody stupid it is to persuade someone into a pregnancy they don't want. You are more likely to become isolated, more likely to develop PND, more likely to struggle with the impact on your body of carrying a child. He isn't thinking about you at all, it's all him, and that's not right.

Oh god I've just read this back and it's very long! Sorry OP, I think your OP has hit a raw nerve with me Grin

QuintessentialShadows · 03/12/2013 11:59

Listen to what your gut feeling is telling you!

yeahyeah75 · 03/12/2013 12:03

Thanks for the response Wallace. He is in no way abusive and is a lovely man, I don't want it to come across like he is controlling me or abusive as he definitely isn't.

He is very much thinking have a baby and go with the flow type thing. I'd like to own our own place first, have some security. I have a good job but I suspect everything would fall to me in terms of responsibility and I'm not sure if I'm up for that. I know how life-changing it is and that's why I want to go into it with my eyes wide open and not half-heartedly just to please him.

I guess I'm worried that when I am ready he will have found someone else and had a baby with them and I will have missed my chance, but again I don't think 28 is that old really, even though some people think it is.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 03/12/2013 12:07

You are not ready for a baby with this man.

Who cares whether he has a baby with somebody else or not when you are ready. By then you have hopefully man with more similar values and ideas as yourself.