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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

Still angry with my ex - I can't shake it

19 replies

Rachmummyof2 · 14/01/2018 12:11

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I just really need somewhere where I can get some support and not be judged because today is a low day.

I'll try and give you some background info, I'm sorry if it's confusing.

When I was 14 I got with my first ever boyfriend. He was 17 at the time. When I was 20 he suddenly dumped me out of the blue. I had just found out that I was pregnant (The baby was not planned) and he just never came home from work. I tried so hard to get in touch with him and make him care. I had abuse off of his family members, they called me all the names under the sun and claimed it was a disgusting liar. They didn't think I was actually pregnant, because my ex had told them I wasn't. Apparently my pregnancy was all made up and I'd done it just to keep him. 3 years later, my son is proof that it was never made up.

He didn't see me at all throughout my pregnancy and in that time I met my current, wonderful fiance but we will get onto him later. He's a total gem of a man who has taken my son on as his own.

After my son was born he agreed he'd meet us and sign the birth certificate. Long story short, of course he never showed up to meet us and never signed the certificate. I decided I'd claim child support from him because during all of this, he was totally living it up, brand new car, always out drinking - all whilst me and new partner were struggling. My fiance did NOT want me to claim child support but I felt if I didn't then my ex would be getting away with things. It actually all ended in my ex being made to take a paternity test and that's how we got our child support payments.

So it's 3 years on, I'm now engaged (As I said above) to the same man who took my son and myself on. We have a 6 month old little girl now and our own house. We're doing pretty good, but I still feel shit.

I'm majorly scarred due to what my ex did to me and my son. I think about how he dumped me pregnant every single day and not a single part of me misses him or wants him back, but it's as though a part of my brain is still in shock over it. He wasn't an evil boyfriend when we were together at all, so that added to everyones confusion over the situation. He was very supportive to my already weak mental health (I was sexually abused as a little girl) and he was genuinely my best friend. All for him to just never come home from work one day and refuse to acknowledge his son.

I decided to post here because yesterday I had a blow, again due to my ex. I was getting a takeaway as fiance was working nights, I figured I'd treat myself and DS. We're sat waiting for the food and who walks in? My ex and his PREGNANT girlfriend. I know from gossip (Unneeded, but still gossip) that he's only been with her for about 8 months. This girl was easily about 6 months along.

He saw all three of us, threw out a dirty look and then blanked us. He even put his arm around his new girlfriend in a very clear attempt to upset me further. His girlfriend looked towards us but she clearly had no idea who I was. I did see her looking at DS, and I hate to say it but he is the spitting image of his sperm donor. My ex clearly has never told her about me or his son. I SPENT 6 YEARS WITH THIS GUY.

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through me but thankfully I decided not to punch him in the face. I'm not a violent person at all but I was so, so angry. I realised that if I'd done something stupid however, that I'd have really upset my LOs and potentially had the police called. I'm not gaining a criminal record over someone like that.

After I got both LOs to bed that night I had to have a private cry. I told fiance about it the next morning and he was sympathetic (As he always is) but his response to me was "Why are you still so beat up over him? He's a waste of space and you know that (DS) has only ever been my son and he doesn't need to know about any half siblings that belong to his sperm donor, he's going to have lots of little brothers and sisters thanks to us" - I totally appreciate how he feels but sometimes I just NEED to get this shit storm off of my shoulders. I can't believe someone I spent years with could be so cruel.

The thing that makes me as angry is that my ex clearly had issues with ME and not my son. If he has stuck around to raise his new girlfriends baby then why didn't he want to be a part of my sons life? He told me after he had left me that he hadn't loved me for a long time and that he 'actually disliked me' - why take that out on a baby? I never did a thing wrong to him in our relationship, but my son did even less.

I just need someone to talk to I suppose. I am going to go to my doctors next week and ask for counselling because my feelings are getting no better. I feel the luckiest lady alive to have my wonderful fiance and our two babies so people don't understand when I say I'm still hurt over my ex. I just wish someone would understand.

OP posts:
ladystarkers · 14/01/2018 12:18

Oh op no wonder you feel the way you do. What a useless wanker. I suppose he could have matured but then why doesn’t he make contact with his son. Have you thought about your partner adopting him? Also counselling may help you. Good luck.

Rachmummyof2 · 14/01/2018 12:22

Thank you for your response. I really appreciate it.

My partner does want to adopt our son and I was thinking of surprising him with the papers for his birthday in April. We're currently trying for baby number 3 so it makes sense that he should legally adopt him.

OP posts:
ThisLittleKitty · 14/01/2018 12:23

Sorry this sounds harsh but he didn't have to stay with you because you were having a baby and he might not have wanted you to continue the pregnancy but he doesn't get a choice in that (you said yourself your son was unplanned) so he left. He didn't have to stick around and truth be told he doesn't have to be a part of your sons life either. I would try to stop being bitter now as you have a new partner it's time to let it go. (I say this as someone whose ex did the same thing)

Huntinginthedark · 14/01/2018 12:26

Any form of rejection is shit. Wether it's intentionally directed at you or not
I can understand why you feel like this.
What a total tosser.
Have you thought about working through your feelings with someone independent, your oh sounds very nice, but probably just wants to reassure you that you don't need to think about him anymore, and this is deeper and more subconscious

Rachmummyof2 · 14/01/2018 12:35

Sorry I forgot to add - my ex was initially fine about my pregnancy. He wasn't exactly happy but he claimed we'd work through it and that he'd 'love the baby when it's here'

On the day he left me we had actually been out for breakfast and I'd dropped him off at work. We'd discussed names over breakfast and he said he'd started making plans for my birthday which at the time was a few weeks away. Then when he was due to get home from work he sent me a text saying he didn't love me or want me anymore and 'didn't know how else to tell me' He then blocked my number for a while. I can't remember much else after that as obviously I was pregnant and the baby took a lot of my attention.

OP posts:
Angelf1sh · 14/01/2018 12:40

A baby at 23 is a much scarier prospect than one at 26/27. It’s probably got nothing to do with you or your son, it’s just that he’s grown up a bit (not much though if he’s blanking you). I’d say just forget him and move on.

AndTheBandPlayedOn · 14/01/2018 12:47

Let him go.
Hate is still a connection to him. You want to achieve the holy grail of indifference towards him. The connection concerning your child maintenance is merely administrative- like a business transaction, so don’t let it trigger an emotional flooding/response.

He was the one responsible for abandoning you when you were vulnerable, but that is all about him, not you. He was very dismissive towards you then, and you should bounce that back and be dismissive towards him now (forever more). You got through it and are thriving brilliantly. Well done!

Try leaving the past in the past. You can’t do anything about it now anyway.

His putting his arm around his girl friend is actually kind of funny- it is like a dog pissing his territory. Pity his gf.

ThisLittleKitty · 14/01/2018 12:48

It's not nice what he done but would you prefer he stayed with you out of pity/because you were pregnant??

Jaxinthebox · 14/01/2018 12:53

I think counselling to deal with your feelings is the best idea. That way you can put it to bed once it is dealt with.

Thingsdogetbetter · 14/01/2018 13:02

You need to check out the legality of adoption before surprising your partner. As far as i know the child's father would have to agree to the adoption and financial support would cease. This is certainly the case if the biofather is on birth cert. I am assuming it is the same as you have proved that ex is biofather.

Do go to counselling though. He treated you like crap, and acted like a spoilt child, but dwelling on this every day is extreme and must be emtionally draining. Hate is not the opposite of love, apathy is!

BackInTheRoom · 14/01/2018 13:12

I think you're suffering from the effects of 'Abandonment' mixed up with past sexual abuse, then labelled a liar about being pregnant then abused by his family and then the injustice that this man got to walk away and get someone else pregnant. I'd be thinking 'why me?'

Well from what you have written and what I've read about relationships and my own life experience, your ex DP did not want the baby. He just went along with it. That's why you got the mixed messages. To cover his ass when he left, he needed to demonise you because otherwise he'd look like a shit human being and his family believed him. From then on he buried his head in the sand, and was a no show for the birth certificate 'la la I can't hear you!'

So OP, this was never about you, this behaviour was on him. He was a coward and didn't share his feeling with you, he ran away because he was not emotionally resilient.

'Abandonment' is a real thing and this might have unleashed things in your past that keep you stuck?

I think forgiveness might be your way forward to releasing you from this burden but tbh I'm struggling with forgiveness myself...

Abitlost2015 · 14/01/2018 13:19

Your ex acted badly, he should at least have explained himself. It is understandable to feel how you do. But it’s not helpful and you want to let go of those feelings now. Hopefully through counselling you can find your way. You may have to explore what it is you are looking for. You know you don’t want him back. Do you want him to realise he hurt you? Do you seek justice (morally)? Does it trigger feelings from the childhood trauma when you also went through something no one should go through?

hoopieghirl · 14/01/2018 17:30

Let it and him go. Why give yourself so much pain over someone who obviously does not care. I know it is difficult but "best revenge is a life well lived" lot of truth in that.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/01/2018 18:21

The only one you're hurting with all that anger is yourself, but you already know that. I think you've allowed this anger and resentment to prevent you from seeing the reality of what you've gone through. YOU are the winner in all of this. You should be thanking your lucky stars that he DID leave you. If him abandoning you and your child doesn't show the type of man he really is, nothing could. He is a coward and a narcissist. You and your son are better off without him and you have a wonderful life that proves this. The only feelings you should have for him are ones of pity. How sad to be a man so lacking in character that you desert and deny your own child. It's pathetic. It's high time to let your anger go.

Lifeisabeach09 · 14/01/2018 20:03

Definitely go for counselling.
It's shit what he did but you ended up better off for it. Your fiance sounds amazing and you have a beautiful 6 month old. This would not have happened if the ex had stuck around.
FWIW, I've no doubt his poor current gf will end up abandoned too and his child support bill higher. He is a complete loser!

NotTheFordType · 14/01/2018 20:09

Not being funny love, but exactly how over populated are you planning on making the world?

ThisLittleKitty · 14/01/2018 20:14

^^ err what?!

autumnleaves101 · 14/01/2018 20:21

^^ and how is that any of your business how many children op has? Hardly 20 children...

NotTheFordType · 15/01/2018 16:05

It's right there in the OP - "he's going to have lots of little brothers and sisters thanks to us"

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