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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

How to get over the fact that I will never have children

325 replies

Whereismyb12 · 10/08/2014 16:44

Hi all. Hope to get some benefits from your collective wisdom.

I've been with my DP for nearly 5 years. He is my soul mate. He is the nicest, kindest human being I've known. He is my friend. I really like and respect him. He is the love of my life.

When we met we were both clear that we didn't want to do the 'traditional' stuff: get married, have children, get a dog, buy a house, settle down. We found it boring. We wanted to be together and have fun - live in different countries, follow our hobbies, feel young.

5 years down the line we are married (ok, it came as a surprise to both of us and we did it in a non-traditional way, but still) and in the process of buying a flat! We did it because we wanted it and that's ok. But there is another point on the 'never to do' list which we can't agree on: children.

A desire to have a child literally kicked me in the face (or rather in the uterus) overnight, around 2 years ago. I had always been disgusted/annoyed by kids and suddenly I wanted one! I couldn't get my head around it but the feeling was very strong. I spoke about it to DP: he was quite surprised but honestly responded that he didn't share my feelings and didn't know if he would feel differently one day. We had a similar conversation a few times afterwards and the outcome was always the same: he does not have a paternal instinct, doesn't mind the children of other people (in fact he's very good and caring with his nieces/nephews) but doesn't want his own child. I talked, I reasoned, I tried to persuade him. He seems honest that there is no other reason although I think in his eyes a child may be another step towards this terrifying idea of 'settling down'. Anyway his answer is no. Every conversation ended in me crying so I stopped talking about it but didn't stop longing for it.

Recently I observed some serious pregnancy symptoms. I was convinced that I was either pregnant or seriously ill as the symptoms were so out of the ordinary. I was ecstatic thinking that this could be my dream come true! When I talked to DP about my suspicions he reassured me that we would manage the situation if we were to have a child. He was very calm and supportive. Well, after a few weeks it turned out I wasn't pregnant. Stupid me, getting my hopes up so high.

It was like my own personal disaster. Like if something inside me broke and released the unstoppable desire for a baby that I tried to muffle for the last 2 years. It is constantly screaming inside my head. I can's look at children on the internet or in the street without thinking that I will never experience this. When I'm swimming I can't help thinking it's such a shame I will never teach my child to swim. When I'm running I'm imagining how I run with my daughter. When I see a bee I want to show it to my son and explain the world to him. I just think I have so much to share, WE have so much to share, me and DP, and that parenting would be a fantastic adventure for both of us. He would be an amazing parent as he's very patient and understanding, and young at heart. But we doesn't want to be a parent and I can't make him want it.

I fully respect his right to say no. I feel like this situation is my fault as I am the one who changed rules of the game and he doesn't have to accept them. But I feel so unhappy. I try to behave like before but often I will burst in tears out of nowhere or get snappy with him because sometimes something deep inside me feels that it's his fault I'm unhappy. But then I remind myself that he's not doing it deliberately. Which doesn't really change my situation.

Long introduction but my question is shorter: how can I get rid of my desire to have a baby? I need to do it to find peace. Will it fade with time? Is there anything I can do to persuade myself that this stupid longing for children will not happen so there is no point of focusing on it? Please don't tell me to LTB as this is not an option.

OP posts:
HopefulHamster · 13/08/2014 11:35

And just to be sappy and vom-inducing, children can be hard work but they are also amazing fun. And it's brilliant watching them grow into individuals with their own personality (that will a lot of the time form from what you and your partner do).

My son is only four but as well as tantrums we also have the best laughs together. My husband dropped some food on himself the other day at the dinner table (don't ask) and me and my son were in absolute stitches, laughing our heads off just as I would with someone my own age (as long as they were immature too).

They become interested in your interests too! My DH and I both have creative hobbies and just by virtue of doing them, my son is obsessed too :)

dreamingbohemian · 13/08/2014 11:38

Oh that's great, well done!!

I think it will be good to keep trying to make things 'real', use real-life examples, and remember that you don't have to do things like everyone else. You will still be the same people, you just have to adapt a bit in a way that works for you.

It might be good at some point to start a thread asking people how they juggled their art/hobbies after having kids, just to get a lot of real-life ideas. It sounds like that's very important to both of you and it will be good to have some strategies in place beforehand, and also get some reassurance.

cailindana · 13/08/2014 11:44

Great news OP. Ever the voice of doom, just be wary that, when you have a screaming newborn and no sleep that he doesn't insist of fecking off to do his "creative" thing while you're left exhausted and alone. He needs to be aware that when you have small children your spare time is extremely limited, and that it's normal to get little or nothing extra done until your child turns one. But then it gets far far easier and life gets back to more of an even keel. Be realistic about that bit, please, because I'd hate for you to be back at the end of next year saying you haven't had a single night's sleep while he's off out doing his thing.

deepest · 13/08/2014 11:47

I am so delighted for you BOTH. How exciting for you....and what a gift you will give him that he didnt even know he desired!!!!.....keep us posted...expect to see you on the ttc threads !!!

kaykayblue · 13/08/2014 12:02

Hi OP - I'm really happy that you managed to speak to your husband about this, and you seem to have found a solution that you are both happy with.

I would be slightly wary about two things - just to bear in mind:

  1. That he will turn around in the new year and push the deadline back again for ttc. Don't end up that woman whose husband is always saying "in six months...next year...when I finish this project" and before you know it, five years have gone by.

  2. Do make sure that you aren't left doing all the boring childcare shit whilst he is off doing "his hobby", and everything becomes very one sided. Since you have BOTH agreed to go for a child (rather than you forcing it on him), you will BOTH be responsible for it.

I really hope that this works out for the two of you. And I'm glad that you were both able to sit down and talk about it honestly and clearly.

deepest · 13/08/2014 13:19

OP get your folic acid now you need to be taking this before ttc!! Do you still need to go to counselling?...or are you letting sleeping dogs lie? What do you think you did/said different this time that made him change his mind?

Chunderella · 13/08/2014 14:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Estrellita · 13/08/2014 16:11

Great news OP! Hope all continues to go well for you. It sounds like the two of you are putting a lot of thought into this, and that's a great foundation for parenthood. Good luck to you both!

bananamilkshake1 · 13/08/2014 17:50

As someone who chose the man over the family - I can tell you that the sadness over what could have been will never truly go away.

My exh was unfront early on in our relationship that he "has no desire to precreate" (his words) & at the time I was 29, had no urges either way & was madly in love. So, we married & got on with our lives.

At first, everything was all fine but slowly all our friends started having children & I went through a lot of grief and anguish trying to change his mind. He actually said that if I got pregnant, then we wouldn't be together anymore. Later on in our marriage he has a vasectomy to make sure.

In the end, he left for someone else about 5 years ago. In time, I met a truly lovely man who by turn of fate never had any children either - sadly it's too late for both of us and whilst we have a perfectly lovely life together - it is a sadness for both of us & it is a hole in our lives. It broke my heart when he said how wonderful a mum I would have been.

Please don't make the same mistake I did - do not stay with a man (however much you love him) if you want that family & he doesn't.

ChocolateWombat · 13/08/2014 18:03

OP, thrilled to hear your news.
It just shows what clear communication can achieve! Brilliant!

Whilst you don't want to be going on about ttc in the New Year all the time, it would be good for DH to get the odd reminder that you want to stick with the timescale you agreed.

I would drop it into conversations about any future planning when they come up....ie if you discuss holidays for next year, be clear that very physical high octane active stuff might not be poss if you are pregnant by the summer.

It is always a good idea to pop to the Dr about 3 months before ttc. They can just check your general health and will advise you to take folic acid for 3 months before ttc. I went for that appointment with my DH. It might be worth booking such an appt for DH and you to attend together around Oct time,for practical reasons, but also just to help DH see you are looking to stick to the timetable agreed by you both.

Personally I don't think the fact that he hasn't said lets ttc immediately a bad thing. A short period of adjusting to the idea is not a bad thing at all. I think my (reluctant, but agreeing) husband and I had a similar timescale after we decided we would try for children (when previously we had both been against the idea) and it just gave him time to come to terms with the idea a bit more.

Fantastic news! Well done for having the scary conversation.
Just shows all those who advocated leaving him, that making rash decisions about things like that, before every avenue is explored, is a mistake.

temporaryusername · 13/08/2014 18:52

Very promising news OP Grin

CheerfulYank · 13/08/2014 19:47

I'm really happy for you OP. :) Please let us know how you get on!

DustBunnyFarmer · 13/08/2014 19:59

Encouraging news OP. Just be prepared to follow through with another serious conversation next year if yet more important projects crop up and he starts trying to log roll your TTC start date into the future.

saltnpepa · 13/08/2014 21:18

Yeah!!!! You're gonna have a baby!!

monsterowl · 13/08/2014 21:45

Fantastic news! Now, people, don't fill up the whole thread - leave room for OP to come and update us next year :)

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/08/2014 23:24

That's great news op. I'll level you with this thought: one of my old friends is a mother of two and a successful actor. I remember reading an Q and A type interview with her promoting a show she was doing and the question was 'what is the most creative thing you've ever done?'

Her answer was 'I made my sons'.

EverythingCounts · 13/08/2014 23:32

Marvellous OP! You will hopefully both find, as I have done, that children bring joy that you could never have anticipated, but that also you get to pick up / carve out your own life as well, given patience and thought. It doesn't have to be an either/or at all.

GreatAuntDinah · 14/08/2014 09:45

Just be careful that you don't come over so grateful that you do all the grunt work.

PlantsAndFlowers · 14/08/2014 12:03

Don't see why you need to wait to next year. The chances of you concieving straight away are slim. Even if you do conceive straight away the baby won't be here until next May anyway.

Whereismyb12 · 14/08/2014 14:57

Thank you all Smile!. I am so happy. It's a huge weight off my shoulders! I still don't know if there was anything particular that I said during The Conversation - maybe he just heard all my arguments put together once I stopped crying and then I heard his and we discussed everything, or maybe the time came for him to really think about this seriously and ask himself how he feels about it now? I really don't know. But it didn't look like a ok-stop-nagging-you'll-get-your-baby decision.

We both talk about it many times per day now, looking up quirky names for laugh, etc., and I want the idea of a baby to get more real for both of us. DH is fully focussed on wrapping up his artistic project now (does he think that ttc requires full undivided attention 24/24? He may be surprised). But tbh, he's not the only one needing time to fully adjust to the idea. I am also a bit like "So finally I'm going to have a baby? For REAL?". That's a huge change for my brain Smile so New Year seems a good choice especially as we have already planned really nice holiday and it will make ttc special (ok, I know it's always special). This is our date and we decided to stick to it.

I am ecstatic very happy that we will start a family but I make sure I don't feel grateful (I think this approach would be bad for both of us). We share housework equally now (whoever has time does what needs to be done) and I will want to keep it this way in the future.

Wombat - thanks, it's a good idea to see the GP before. We will do that.

OP posts:
ChocolateWombat · 14/08/2014 16:13

You totally sound like you've got your head screwed on right about all this.
You are thrilled with the shift in position, happy to wait the few short months you agreed to wait, using that time to adjust to the idea, and are clear in your own mind about how this will be something you go into together, with all the joys and hard work that involves.
Enjoy the next few months and I hope ttc is fun(!) and it all happens quickly for you.

ovenchips · 14/08/2014 18:28

That's great to hear. Hope all goes smoothly for you and that you become parents in 2015. Very exciting!

If you can face it, update us with any news!

Annarose2014 · 14/08/2014 19:39

OP, I'm delighted for you, but tbh not that suprised as he sounded a bit like my fella.

Just to add to the general "Are you me?" creepiness Grin, we had our massive chat around the same time of year, and also decided to ttc in the New Year. We needed to get our head around it. I thought it important for him, but soon realised it was important for me too. Just to breathe for a bit.

During that period we actually didn't talk about it incessantly - except the occasional "You still ok with this?" checking in. But we didn't not talk about it, iykwim - what happens is that initially its THE MOST EXCITING THING EVER! and then you have to go to work, and conversation starts to once again revolve around That Cow At Work Who's Eats Raw Salmon At Her Desk. I did start taking Folic Acid from September, just to have a decent level built up. Also, seeing it in the bathroom every day reminded me it was real!

Looking back, that time off from thinking about it was great. Though I admit I got a bit nervous over that Christmas worrying that after all of those tears, I might not be able to conceive after all. And I discovered that he was fearing the exact same thing. But you just have to get on with it! And thankfully it worked out.

Prior to New Year we had a chat about how far we would go with this re interventions. IVF? Clomid? Fertility Clinics? Laparoscopies? Its a valuable conversation, but not one you need to have now (a bit heavy right now, possibly). After that chat, we felt very much a team.

The best of luck! I'm delighted for you. Smile

MyGastIsFlabbered · 14/08/2014 22:38

Have fun TTC...Grin

noddingoff · 14/08/2014 23:09

:-)

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