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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

Am I in the wrong for withdrawing sex from DP ?

92 replies

betterputsomesuncscreenon · 28/04/2018 22:17

Hello !

Had a bit of an disagreement with DP and now his not talking to me.

I’m 24, DP is 25 going onto 26 and we have a DS who is 8.

Two years ago, I left DP as the relationship wasn’t working out, the arguments were constant and weren’t good, it was affecting DS and I thought we need to break this off and have a break. I moved out, and now DS and I live with my sister temporarily.

For the past year or so, DS relationship with his dad (DP) has been inconsistent, he said it’s because his working, but I feel it’s just an excuse, he hasn’t been seeing DS regularly or not at all ! There was a period where we didn’t hear from him or see him for the past 6 months and recently, where we didn’t hear from him for 3 months (he said it’s because his working and he didn’t like the way I would be talking to him over the phone Confused).

During that period anyway, DS dad (DP) moved houses, and now lives about an hour and a half (or more !) away. When we did hear from DS dad occasionally, he would ask me to bring DS over, I would say “No” because “1). Everytime, he asks to bring DS over, it always results in him wanting Sex, when I don’t give him sex, he gets upset” and “2). Because of number 1’s reason, he can pick up DS from my sisters house”. I don’t know if I’m being unfair but as a result, he comes with an excuse (“ I have no travel money to travel all the way to you guys”), gets upset and doesn’t pick up DS.

Today, DS dad (DP) calls me and we discuss things, he asks for things to go back to they way they were, move in with him and I had a feeling that the true intention of the phone call was for us (me) to go to his house and have sex. Anyway, we are conversing, I tell him that “I need to build my trust with him again, I want him to see DS regularly/ ok fine your working but see him regularly every two weeks”.

The conversation moves on from discussing about holidays and I’m thinking, maybe all of us going on holiday may resolve things, we can talk more in depth about our relationship and so forth. DS dad (DP) gets excited, is looking at sites to book hotels, go to places etc and then he says “Oh, I need to tell my job what days I need to book off for this holiday of ours, why don’t you and DS, come over to mine and we can discuss things”. I immediantly said “No” as I know us visiting his house will just result in sex. I told DS dad “ Look, I don’t think it’s a good idea, you know what’s going to happen, I’m not on any type of contraception (had the coil removed) and don’t want to risk getting pregnant since I will be starting my Masters in the new academic term”.

DS dad whinges and tells me “Why ? Nothing is going to happen, we would just be discussing holidays and if we do end up having sex, I have condoms”. I again said “No, I don’t want to risk it, we can arrange holidays in our own time, we don’t have to be together”. He then replies Why are you being like this ? Why can’t you just relax and come to my house”. I told him “To be honest, I don’t trust you, I want you to be committed to us, I want you to see DS regularly, we didn’t hear from you for 6 months and recently 3 months gone, I don’t want to be made a fool, I didn’t know what you were up to, you could even had a girl friend at a time that I didn’t know about”.

He then gets upset and tells me “Ok, just forget the holiday, I’m not bothered anymore”. We are still conversing on the phone but the tone changes as his clearly upset.

We haven’t had sex in a long while, but am I being unreasonable in my demands ? I just felt a bit guilty.

OP posts:
RubaDubMum89 · 28/04/2018 22:33

I don't really understand the dynamics of your relationship from your OP. So you're not together anymore, you've broken up, and he disappeared for several months.

Then he still wants to have sex with you? Tbh, from the sound of your story, I think both you and your DS would be better off without him all together. It sounds like he's not really interested in his son, just you and seeing his son every now and again is the price he has to pay to have a shot at sleeping with you.

Bin him off OP, the way he's in and out of your sons life is not good for your son and, from the sounds of it, he's got you second guessing your decision not to have a sexual relationship with him, because (and I grin at the irony of it) he's got you thinking it's unfair to him? Fuck that for a laugh.

Do not sleep with him, don't go on holiday with him and tell him the only contact you'll be having with him will be to organise him seeing his son. If he doesn't want to see his son, then there's no need for him to contact you at all.

SunnyTikka · 28/04/2018 22:33

I've hardly got the patience to reply to this.

He's not your DP, you split up two years ago.
He doesn't see his child.
He moved even further away from you both.
He only wants you for sex.
If he doesn't get it, he isn't bothered about seeing you at all.

Think I would be joining Tinder if I were you.

naebotherpal · 28/04/2018 22:34

He’s a crap dad and a crap partner, though I can’t work out if he is actually your partner or not Confused

Get rid. This must be very confusing for your son.

dirtybadger · 28/04/2018 22:34

From your post it doesnt sound at all like he is your partner. So no its not unreasonable. It sounds like you are his booty call. The fact you are the mother of his child probably makes it feel like something more. But partners dont ignore one another for months!! Dont go on holiday with him ffs!

Fromage · 28/04/2018 22:35

Have I got this straight:

Two years ago, you split from the man you are referring to as your partner (DP) who is the father of your son, yet you and he still have sex.

You take your 8 year old over to see his dad, and then you and his dad/your partner have sex.

Your partner is only interested in seeing his son if you are there for him to have sex with.

You are feeling guilty because you have refused to have sex with him until he shapes up as a dad.

And what exactly are your demands - just that he should commit to the relationship and be a better father, and in return you will have sex with him?

Bixx · 28/04/2018 22:35

Are you unreasonable for not wanting sex with someone who treats you badly? No, of course not. Confused What answers are you expecting?

PookieDo · 28/04/2018 22:37

I really don’t understand why you call him your DP, is this really a relationship? You don’t live together, he doesn’t bother with his own child and he behaves like a whingy child because you don’t want to have sex with him in exchange for pretending to see his son.

It sounds like you were very young when you had your child and maybe you have grown up but he hasn’t. You have all the responsibility AND a man baby.

What are you actually getting out of this? From him? I know you want your son to have a relationship with his dad but you don’t have to be with him for this to happen, and you can’t convince him into being a decent parent he has to want to do it.

I feel really sorry for your son as this must be a bit of a mess to him. Please don’t take it the wrong way but perhaps DS should now take priority over man baby and just take DS on a nice holiday or save up for your own place. Let your DP go off for months on end with no responsibilities while you focus on teaching DS that this isn’t how men treat women

You would be so much better off without him

Iggiattheend · 28/04/2018 22:37

You would nip off for sex with your 8 year old in the house? What kind of gold does your ex have on you? You really need to move on. Don’t see how you could try again with a man who isn’t a good father.

mimibunz · 28/04/2018 22:38

Your DS deserves better than this nonsense.

pallisers · 28/04/2018 22:38

it sounds like you are a mixture of a highly reluctant booty call and a woman he regards likely to trade sexual favours in exchange for him paying attention to his child.

Dump him, move on. Tell him it is over. See what happens with him and ds. Likely he will lose interest and disappear. The alternative is you having sex with him to keep him engaged with his child - beyond grim.

And see if you can get some help from somewhere (freedom programme??) about your boundaries because if you are feeling guilty about not giving into his demands for sex in this situation - when he doesn't give a shit about you - you have no boundaries and need to work on your self-esteem. you are worth way more than this.

betterputsomesuncscreenon · 28/04/2018 22:39

Fromage We don’t have sex anymore. But yes, everytime we went to his, he would demand it (probably because we didn’t see each other that often) and will get upset if I refuse.

OP posts:
MistressDeeCee · 28/04/2018 22:41

You've split up with him. He's no longer your partner You've moved away, live with your sister. He's moved away. You're giving him sex with no responsibility, and he's taking it.

Of course you can withhold sex. Your choice. But you don't have a relationship anyway, and this will further compound that. It's probably best if you move on. I don't think using sex as a bargaining tool works

If he meets someone else that'll be that, anyway. Maybe you could try meeting with him in neutral setting, not indoors, so he can still see and bond with your DC.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 28/04/2018 22:45

Please be a troll

betterputsomesuncscreenon · 28/04/2018 22:45

Igg When DS was sleeping and in another room.

From his point of view, he feels like I’m constantly rejecting him but he needs to show a high level of commitment with his son, if not, I’m not going back there.

OP posts:
MMmomDD · 28/04/2018 22:48

OP - so - you say you don’t want to come over to his house to have sex - but a holiday together - in the same room - would help you solve your relationship problems?

And after 2 years of him not acting as a father, or a bf, or a decent human being to his son - you think there is a chance of you two having something together?
And he’ll demonstrate commitment???

And you are even wondering if he might have been with anyone else? In two years of living by himself at 24-25 yo?

Either you are very naive, or something else is going on.

betterputsomesuncscreenon · 28/04/2018 22:48

I’m not having sex with him Mistress but he keeps telling me “Your my partner aren’t you?” And I reply to him “Am I ? As I don’t feel like it”.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 28/04/2018 22:49

You left him.
He's not your DP.
Therefore you don't have sex. Simple.

naebotherpal · 28/04/2018 22:50

I’ll tell you - no, you’re not his partner. Nowhere near.

This is bizarre.

coffeeX10 · 28/04/2018 22:51

This is so weird. Why would you want anything to do with this man when he ignores you for 6 months an 3 months in the 2y you’ve lived apart? I’d want nothing more to do with him.
Why would you still call him your DP after all this let alone considering a holiday with him.

Fromage · 28/04/2018 22:52

Well then tell him whether or not he's your partner, once and for all.

But if he does show more commitment to his son, then you will have sex with him?

And when did you "withdraw" (God but I hate that term) sex?

Casmama · 28/04/2018 22:52

FFS if you are not in a relationship then don’t fuck him - ever and make clear it won’t happen, ever.
Focus on your ds and make your ex proce he can be a decent father to him.
If there is any chance of a relationship between you two then it needs to be in your terms.

BlueTrousers · 28/04/2018 22:53

No you are not his partner
He has little to no respect for you - or his son
And you really need to stop running round to have sex with him whenever he clicks his fingers, I’m sorry to say it but that just comes off as desperate
Move on, you can do better

betterputsomesuncscreenon · 28/04/2018 22:53

*MM...” I know stupid right. I thought us going away, would give me an idea of us potienally living together again, we would have the chance to discuss things.

I was stupid thinking this may resolve things.

OP posts:
Casmama · 28/04/2018 22:53

Prove

Returnofthesmileybar · 28/04/2018 22:55

Because you are not his partner, you are not together, he is not your dp, you should not go on holiday or have sex with him, if he sees your son he does but if not he doesn't sound like much loss and frankly (and yes this is harsh) but I think the not wanting to be a fool ship has sailed