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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

feeling like I've failed at life

54 replies

lowtide · 16/08/2018 10:44

Sorry for this being a bit all over the place. I don't really have many people to talk to in RL and often I don't talk about how down I feel.

I just went to get my fertility checked, at the grand old age of just 40, single and with no one on the horizon. The answer was, you have eggs, but you have to decide about having a baby now. you don't have time to waste anymore.

I'm feeling really down about it all, I split up with someone who I really loved, but who just wasn't in the right place, an after splitting up, I hear on the grape vine that he's back together with his ex. they have 2 kids together and I think the thing he really couldn't handle was being apart from the kids, which I understand. So that's 3 years of my fertile years gone for nothing.

My ex before him, I spent 10 years with and he had various mental health problems, so having kids was put on the back burner. I ended it eventually, mainly because I did want kids and I was 36 and I had to decide then and there whether to stick it out and hope things would change or try and meet someone new. We have stayed friends, but I find it very hard to talk to him without thinking you wasted 10 years of my fucking life (which I know is irrational, I could have left a lot earlier, but I thought if you loved someone you helped them through their problems)

So my choice now is to go it alone, or hope that I might meet someone and that my fertility wont seriously drop (it's already low) ASAP. I don't feel ready for either.

After the split from ex1 I had nothing to my name and debts, I live in a friends house on a reduced rent, my hours got cut from my job so I'm 15k worse off. I love my job, it's a niche area so going out and getting a new one is not easy.

I just feel like I've made every wrong decision I could and every other fucker (ex1 has new 32 yr old g/f) (ex2 has his family back) gets to just be fine in life. but most of all I am so angry at myself for letting this all happen.

All I wanted was a little family and a pretty standardly ok life.

If I go it alone, it will cost a lot of money, as I would need IVF, I don't produce enough eggs to do IUI so thats 8k minimum.
with nowhere to live, no familial support. sometimes I think I could just about manage and sometimes I just can't see a way of doing it.I also don't really want to do it on my own. I want to share the joy of a child with someone else.

I just feel like everyone else managed to not fuck up what they wanted in life.

Jesus, I'm sorry that sounds like a total pity party, and in RL i'm not like this, I'm always the one everyone turns to, everyone can rely on. I just feel so alone with these feelings, I couldn't stop crying this morning.

OP posts:
lowtide · 16/08/2018 10:45

shit sorry people that was long!

OP posts:
BloodyDisgrace · 16/08/2018 11:29

I think it's best not to think about your exes and how they are coping. Sod them. This is now about you.

And no, huge numbers of people manage to fuck up their lives - this site is a good source of such stories, if that's a consolation.

What I don't understand is how you intend to have a child if you say you have nowhere to live. Where do you live now? In a friend's house? It sounds like if you have a child, you might be very very poor. It's worth finding out possible options, such as council housing. Talk to Citizens Advice, maybe they have some ideas. For emotional support you can phone Samaritans (they are good)

Frosty6611 · 16/08/2018 11:33

Would you ever want to adopt or foster a baby/young child once your own situation is more settled?

KlutzyDraconequus · 16/08/2018 11:41

Are you trying to find someone? Joined POf or go dating etc?

I kinda know how you feel, sometimes choices you make are right at the time but later they prove to be wrong.
Like you've taken the wrong motorway exit even though the sat nav said it was right. You find yourself in Scunthorpe when you really wanted to be in York.
But now what? Stay trapped in Scunthorpe or take steps to find another road to York, even if it's not the road you wanted to travel.

lowtide · 16/08/2018 14:10

Thanks for the responses!

I currently rent my friends studio- much reduced. I guess if I had a child I couldn't stay there, more that they wouldnt want me to. so would have to spend a lot on the open market. I looked into housing association etc, and I am not eligible for anything. Unless I was homeless with a child, but then I would be putting myself into that situation by choice to get somewhere.

I have been looking for someone, I'm on a couple of sights, I just get weirdos, or married men. and I have to say, I feel a bit emotionally done in after the last few years. I've never had a relationship with someone I haven't know quite well beforehand I will keep plugging away at it.

I can't see my situation re housing being more settled - Ie I will not be owning my own home in the near future, probably not for another 5-10 years, so foster/adopting is going to be very difficult, as I have heard from people. though i have thought about it.

I have thought hard about all my options and I just feel at a dead end. my life isn't hideous. I have a nice job with nice people. If I stayed on my own I wouldn't be poor. If I had a child on my own - I would. and I wouldn't even have someone to help me.

Anyway! sorry I know it seems like I am just dismissing ideas, I'm not, I think about this constantly. and then I get so upset I just falter and I know I shouldn't consider the exes, but I feel so angry sometimes and I struggle with it all. I know I need to just make a decision, but so far every bloody one I've made has been the wrong one. xx

OP posts:
Musti · 16/08/2018 14:10

There are no guarantees in life, we can only go for what feels right at the time.

If you really want to be a mum then I'd go for ivf.

Imchangingmyname · 16/08/2018 14:19

Well you said yourself you have a nice job with nice people. You haven't failed at finding yourself a job so therefore I would say you have a long way to go before failing at life.

Do you think having children is the be all and end all? Have you thought about what a life would be like without children. Plenty of men with children are divorced, you could find yourself in a ready-made family.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2018 14:24

You haven't failed at life in any way! I think most of here can look back at past decisions and kick ourselves. I certainly can...

How would you feel about being a stepmum? Would that be an option? Because I'd imagine you'd be snapped up by many, many single Dads. Many.

KlutzyDraconequus · 16/08/2018 14:31

I'm a single dad, I'm thinking of snapping you up.. Grin

Seriously tho, you haven't failed at life, it's only.hindsight that's letting you down.
You're, as the name suggests, at low tide, give it time and high tide will follow.

iwunderwhy · 16/08/2018 14:36

You still have eggs so get them frozen! This wonderful science buys women time... 2-3 years time for you to get a better paying job, find yourself a secure place to live, and figure out your man situation. If after that time you're still in the same place & same complaints then you might want to rethink bringing a child into that. Ball in your court... so to speak!

lowtide · 16/08/2018 14:37

Haha thanks KlutzyDraconequus
I would be happy to be a stepmum! I generally love all kids. Everyone thought I would be the first out of us friends to have a family.
I haven’t met anyone online who has kids so far!
I guess it’s the fear of going alone vs the fear of being childless. I don’t know which fear is greater atm

OP posts:
NurseButtercup · 16/08/2018 15:15

My biggest regret in life is not having children. I won't distract your thread with my story but if you want to have a child then my advice is get on and do it.

I understand you don't want to be a single parent, so i guess you need to decide what's more important having a child as a single parent or, waiting for "him" to have a child with?

Have a look at this:

motherofalllists.com/2018/04/06/buying-sperm/

and her Instagram is livsalone, she talks about the reality of being a single parent, but she has no regrets because she loves her baby boy.

Good luck x

Musti · 16/08/2018 15:16

Going alone is absolutely fine. So many women even when they're partnered up go it alone in essence (I have 4 children and my ex was more of a hindrance than a help)

lowtide · 16/08/2018 15:31

funny thing is if I got pregnant tomorrow from a one night stand, I wouldn't hesitate to keep it.
I guess the feeling of failure comes from, I couldn't even manage to have a relationship with kids like most people.
And I know that's rubbish!!! it's just the awful internal monologue I have with myself.
and if I spend 8k on one round of on IVF and it doesn't work, i fear it will make me spiral more. most people say 3!

OP posts:
Singlenotsingle · 16/08/2018 15:32

Idk. My friend never got married, (even though she's straight) never wanted kids and never had them. Nice house, no money worries, lots of friends, goes off on holiday at the drop of a hat. Aged 66 and no regrets. The family way isn't for everyone.

Musti · 16/08/2018 15:41

I thought you got a few rounds for free?

How about this for a failure op. Completely stalled my career and made myself dependant on my ex. Am now a single mum to 4 and having to start all over again. However, work is going brilliantly and hope to grow it soon, my new house is nearly ready and I get to make all my own decisions. I've started online dating and whilst there's been no-one I am serious about, it's a great ego boost and I'm having fun.

Because I have my kids, my job, my house, friends etc I don't need a man. If I'm with a man it's because he adds something to the table and makes my life richer. As someone who has been in non stop serious relationships for 30 years this is great. Honestly there's nothing to worry about in being a single mum if children is what you want.

lowtide · 16/08/2018 15:49

sadly you don't get any free rounds as a single 40 year old on the NHS

and you're life sounds great Musti! at least things are on the up job wise and you'll always have your kids in your life one way or another.

maybe I should just do it and not worry about any of the consequences. what's the worst that can happen! a child with severe SN ! homeless! no money! no job! (that's genuinely what goes round in my head)

I am angry at myself for being the kind of person who always thought things would work out in the end, they don't!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Dissimilitude · 16/08/2018 15:56

On the theme of “be careful what you wish for”, my sister in law felt much as you do. She had a series of relationships that didn’t really work out, and found herself staring down the barrel of 40 without being close to what she felt she really wanted - a family.

She ended up having a baby with a guy she met. She quit her job, moved to the middle of nowhere to be with him. Needless to say it all went tits up, they’re no longer together and she’s now a single mother of a 3 year old who barely sleeps.

She’s stressed beyond belief, trying to work whilst looking after her son, and to be frank, she absolutely hates being a parent. All she sees is the freedom she lost. So she’s a completely toxic mix of resentment and guilt.

So, whatever you do, try not to go down that particular road! :-)

Musti · 16/08/2018 16:04

Of course but those consequences can happen even if you are with someone. We live in a world where there is welfare, free medicine etc so it we'd never end up destitute though. Tax credits are making my independent possible for example.

Had I not had children with someone I would definitely had gone down the sperm donor route.

Like someone else says, a child is all encompassing and will completely take over and change your life. For me it's for the positive though and I'm happy to sacrifice stuff for the sake of having my children. My world is infinitely better for having them in it. Have you got pets?

lowtide · 16/08/2018 16:11

@Dissimilitude
I'm scared of that too!!! I see so many friends stuck in awful marriages because they ended up taking up the offer of a family with the first person who came along.
I don't know if i would resent being a mother, I have always loved home life over going out. hopefully things will get easier as her little one grows and is less demanding

I don't have pets, I would love them, but can't in a studio on the 5th floor in london, it wouldnt be fair on them.

I would love a little place of my own with a garden, a cat, and a family. but I know life isn't that simple. I just REALLY thought I would have all that by now!

OP posts:
lowtide · 16/08/2018 16:13

and I just want to say thanks everyone for letting me have verbal diarrhoea about my whole life. it's actually really good for me to talk about it, I feel very alone in RL at the moment.
Flowers Gin

OP posts:
greendale17 · 16/08/2018 16:13

You need to find yourself a stable place to live before you even think about having a child!

KlutzyDraconequus · 16/08/2018 16:17

I feel for you op, similar and yet totally different boats we're in.

lowtide · 16/08/2018 16:17

@greendale17
I can't really make that decision until I decide to have a child! If I don't then I may as well stay put, it's cheap and more stable than any Shorthold tenancy I would get into.
I have no ability to buy at the moment.

OP posts:
KlutzyDraconequus · 16/08/2018 16:19

Is your job easily transferable? Is it worth staying in London for or would you be better moving north where it's cheaper and the houses bigger?

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