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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:
Pinkfrocks · 10/08/2014 21:30

Are you actually married BTW- you keep referring to him as your DP and not your DH...?

MaryWestmacott · 10/08/2014 21:32

I think you need to sit him down and tell him it's not a passing thought that babies are nice, it's something you really want, it's not a little "aw, aren't baby's cute?" but you want a family.

At 29, you have a little time to gather your thoughts and to debate it between you, perhaps 2-3 years to make sure financially and career wise you're in a good place, but not really 2-3 years to 'waste' if at the end of it you want DCs.

You made the "I don't want children" announcment at 24 - that's hardly an age that most people have felt the need to have DCs, around 30-32 is when most of my friends and colleagues started having families if they were in relationships. (It's also the age that most of my friends who "didn't believe in marriage" also started getting married...)

Arrange a dinner, sit down with no distractions and tell him you want a family with him. See what he says when he knows you want it.

monsterowl · 10/08/2014 21:34

I told him I would get some counselling as I considered this to be my problem

Having a very strong desire to have a child is very definitely not a 'problem', it is natural. What is a problem is the mismatch between your desire and your husband's ... and that makes it his problem as much as yours.

But, again, you don't know for sure that this mismatch is as you think it is. If he loves you as much as you love him, he will likely be horrified at how unhappy this is making you, and he may be as willing to put your wishes first as you are to put his first. You really need to discuss this with him! Since you are shy about having the conversation, show him this discussion - or at least your OP.

I think any counsellor worth his/her salt would tell you to talk to your husband - save yourself the £££! If you find you're at loggerheads after having an open discussion about this, that might be a time to think about counselling to help you find a way forward.

Iggly · 10/08/2014 21:37

Wanting children isn't a problem.

You're twisting yourself into knots just so you can live how he wants.

This is no compromise. You're making a mistake!

IUsedToUseMyHands · 10/08/2014 21:38

A few years ago I was on a support thread for people in just this situation OP - there were about seven core members, of which six eventually had babies, the other one had already had children and her partner just wouldn't agree to more. Of the six of us, two of the relationships broke down after the babies arrived. Two of the others went on to have more children. There were loads more people on the thread whose partners came round much more quickly. Mine took three years of convincing.

Whereismyb12 · 10/08/2014 21:42

Sorry answering in bits as I'm reading your answers.

Annarose just wow! Thank you very much for your input! I'm not normally a doormat at all but this situation makes me feel very vulnerable and I hate it as I don't know how to deal with it! Normally I'm quite confident and when I decide I'll do something, I just do it and to hell with other people. But this is different as this element of my life depends on his decision. So I'm torn between my need of a baby and my respect for his decisions he's perfectly entitled to. And he probably doesn't realise how big it is. I think you're right - it's not just my problem. It's our problem.

EverythingCounts he knows I would never consider a termination without serious medical reasons (we spoke about that many times, theoretically of course) so that was definitely not an option.

Pinkfrocks I half-jokingly suggested a vasectomy at the beginning of our relationship given that neither of us wanted children. He said no cause he might have a change of heart one day. The thing is, he doesn't say he will definitely never want to have kids. He says: I don't want them now and don't know how I will feel in the future.

venusandmars I think that's what I wanted to hear (sorry other mumsnetters). That it is worth it.

OP posts:
PolyesterBride · 10/08/2014 21:46

What if you split up after it's too late to get together with someone else? I know you think you won't but you never know what's going to happen.

What about setting a time limit? You are still pretty young so you have plenty of time. You can tell him that you want kids but you understand he is not of the same mind at the moment. You can give him (for eg) two years and then ask him again. Tell him that if his answer is still the same, you will need to consider your options. He may just need a bit of time to get used to the idea.

TomHardysFuckBuddy · 10/08/2014 21:48

If I had handled my partners reluctance to have children like this,I wouldn't have any.

My urge to have a child took me by force, at 34, I was in no way interested until then, but I said to him I had to have a child, if not with him then on my own.

He reluctantly agreed,I came off contraception and fell pregnant within 3 months :) he's a fantastic dad.

I couldn't have squashed that feeling, it would have finished us.

I really hope he's receptive to the idea, tell him exactly how you feel, his feelings are not more important than yours.

expatinscotland · 10/08/2014 21:50

I dread one of my surviving children being in a situation like this. There is nothing wrong with wanting children. Or not. But it needs to be because YOU want or don't, not your partner.

I left a marriage and an entire way of life, a very good one financially and materially, over this. We had three children, one of whom died of cancer, age 9.

But I am SO lucky and glad I made the decision to make a change.

Maryz · 10/08/2014 21:55

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lotsofcheese · 10/08/2014 21:57

Unconditional love, OP? I'm sorry, but that's naive in the extreme.

I get the impression that this is your first serious/long-term relationship? I know many couple who were together at 25, but separated by 30. The emotional change between these ages, especially for men, can be huge.

Please be true to yourself.

Maryz · 10/08/2014 21:57

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dreamingbohemian · 10/08/2014 22:01

I hope what's clear from this thread is that you need to do something -- it's not very realistic to do what you asked in your title, to just 'get over it'. Joint counseling is a great idea.

Tbh I am a little worried about what you say about unconditional love and 'I promised to love him no matter what so that's what I'm going to do'. I think that way of thinking is a good way to lose your own needs and wants in a relationship, to sacrifice your own happiness in an unhealthy way.

If you got married and bought a flat then clearly your original plans CAN change. I don't see why you should feel guilty about wanting other plans to change as well. That's what life is about, people change.

Quite frankly I think your DP was foolish to assume that how you felt about children at 24/25 would be your permanent way of thinking.

dreamingbohemian · 10/08/2014 22:03

And I agree with Maryz about the vasectomy bit. That would completely piss me off.

Loletta · 10/08/2014 22:04

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maggiethemagpie · 10/08/2014 22:05

You sound like you saying you love him more than you love yourself, and see his needs as more important. I'm seriously hoping that's not the case. Why can't he compromise to you, if you're so unhappy and he loves you so much. Why do you have to be the one that compromises to him?

If you stay with him and don't have kids, I bet it will drive a stake through the very heart of your relationship. So you will actually end up with nothing.

I don't think you are being true to yourself, and that will make you unhappy.

You ask how you can supress the need to have a child. What you're actually asking is how you can get your feelings to shut the fuck up.

No good ever comes of telling your feelings to shut up.

I seriously think you should have some counselling, either on your own or together, but please get some.

ThisBitchIsResting · 10/08/2014 22:07

I have a close friend in a similar situation - she played it softly, not really mentioning it too much to her DH (just like you) and now she is 40 and has just persuaded him, they have been trying for a year with no success and she is devastated. He is a cunt and I hate him for doing this to her, but also want to shake her for not making things crystal clear 8 years ago when she first realised she wanted kids Sad

And I have another friend who gave ten years of her life - from 29 to 39 to a guy who was never quite ready - he met someone else a month after dumping her and within a year married and new wife pregnant, while my lovely friend is single and reeling as she has always wanted kids and is devastated.

You are being naive. Grow a pair, please, and do exactly what the poster described above and confront him properly about this. I would bet on him changing his mind when it is too late for you. I'd bet my home on it, in fact. If he wants kids at some point (which he does) and he loves you and plans to be with you forever (which you say he does) then there are no obstacles to ttc.

Maryz · 10/08/2014 22:09

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Loletta · 10/08/2014 22:10

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ThisBitchIsResting · 10/08/2014 22:10

And at the moment you can't imagine loving anyone or anything as much as your DP. I get that. I'm a huge romantic. But nothing prepared me for the fierce and intense love I have for my children. If I had to choose between even one of them and my DH, I'd choose the child. That is how important this is for you. If you love love itself, you need to give this your best shot. Anything else isn't good enough and you will always, always regret it.

expatinscotland · 10/08/2014 22:12

Reading your last post, get real! This guy is keeping his options open.

Maryz · 10/08/2014 22:14

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maggiethemagpie · 10/08/2014 22:15

Agree with bitchisresting. Relationships come and go. Many marriages end in divorce. But the bond between mother and child is very, very hard to break. If I had to choose between my kids and my partner I'd go for my kids every time. I could find a new partner. I could not replace my kids.

joanofarchitrave · 10/08/2014 22:22

Sorry, I'm another one who married my love who didn't want children (I wasn't as sure as you so it was pretty nuts) at 26, and left him at 30 when it became obvious that I was going to go seriously insane if I couldn't even try to have a child.

The thing that stayed with me is how much easier it was to be on my own (which i was, for 3 years) with no prospect of ever having a partner again, than it was to be dealing daily with the 'i can deal with not having a child' 'i'm looking at this child and it's ok' 'i NEED to have a baby' 'maybe he will change his mind' churning in my brain day after day after day after day for four years. I may say that for the last two years this was after he'd had a vasectomy, so my 'maybe he will change his mind' was a bit pointless!

The ages are quite telling. He's 38 and clearly doesn't want to lose you, or he would say what is almost certainly the truth, that he doesn't want a child and never will. He has no idea of the strength of what is eating at you tbh.

You don't really have to issue an ultimatum just yet. If I were you I would just stop trying to pretend that you will be some ideal woman in your head who never makes a man compromise or do something he REALLY doesn't like or want to do. Actually, relationships are supposed to last 60+ years these days. You think nobody changes anything about themselves in 60 years? For a start, talk to him about it whenever you are thinking about it, yes absolutely every time (every day? every minute?) He might then realise what a force he is ignoring.

Personally, I left, divorced, enjoyed my 3 peaceful years on my own and when I was ready, I met a man who was prepared to have a child with me, and had a child. Oh was that ever the right decision.

TheEnchantedForest · 10/08/2014 22:34

Agree with Maryz and other posters above.
Be very careful.

My best friend was in this exact position. by the time she was in her 40s and it was too late for her she was so angry with him. She tried to hide it but the resentment was there and ended up destroying the relationship.

He then went on to find another partner. She wanted children and he was determined not to make the same mistake again so agreed. he is now father (at 52) to two gorgeous girls and actually is a wonderful dad (we are still in contact as he is a good friend of my partner).

My friend is full of regrets but all too late now.
This situation may seem over the top and incredibly unlikely to happen to you but you are 29. fast forward to 15 years of building frustration and resentment while all around you have what you want/need.

It would be an amazingly strong relationship to survive that.

I would suggest couples counselling to really talk the issue through properly. this is a major problem for you both, as a couple. It is not just your problem.

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