Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

He doesn’t want kids and that’s not all...

175 replies

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 10:56

Been with partner for three years now living together for two. I have a nine year old son.

First year we were together DP was absolutely wonderful..., great with my son, talked of definitely getting hitched and having babies. I was 31 at the time and not in a major panic for any of those things.

As we enjoy alternate weekends where my son goes to his father, DP starts to suggest a reluctance to have babies ‘yet’ as we’re still getting to know each other and having fun etc. I have a second smear come back as needing treatment so I feel okay in waiting a bit longer anyway.

DP starts hinting that DS living with him wasn’t easy to begin with and he felt my parenting was lapse and I needed to be more hard on him etc let him go out to play by himself.

I have a conversation last year about getting on with babies or getting engaged or whatever and DP is coy about the engagement thing saying he’s not old fashioned and wouldn’t mind being proposed to. I ask him to marry me and he laughs it off and we talk about having a child and that is now a definite NO. Said the thought of it terrifies him and will never want them.

He’s strict with my son which is not necessarily a bad thing in itself as my sons dad is useless and let’s him do whatever he wants

Honestly this man is a good bloke, he wants the best for my son (but can be hard on discipline as he was raised by a tough single mum) he comes from a big family where he had to help with child rearing, so I understand he can’t be bothered with having kids and he’s already lost one long term gf because he didn’t want children and she did.

I’m now 35. I consider him the love of my life, my best friend. He doesn’t really want to do much with my son, but my son doesn’t want to do much with him either so we don’t really have family time. My son is happy, well adjusted and his behaviours much better since we’ve lived with this man. He’s a loving funny kid. I wanted more of a step dad figure but my OH said he simply cannot be the ‘perfect stepdad’ as he finds it too difficult but he does try. I was a step mum for many years too and I understand it’s not easy to begin with.

At 35, I’m struggling with the concept of leaving just to find someone else. I’d be fine single, I’ve done that before as a single parent and I can cope. I also have inheritance money to get my own place. He’s told me if I want to leave and find someone who can play daddy for my son, marry me and have more babies I’d better go. The marriage thing we can’t even discuss anymore as he feels women just try and trap men and he doesn’t know any men who are happily married or happy fathers.

When he talks about the future he discuss ‘his’ house or whatever, as I haven’t got my name on anything, he makes decisions without consulting me and I find it hard to say anything. He then tells me to ‘man up’ and say what I want.

OP posts:
QueenDoria · 04/11/2018 10:58

Please leave him.

Oliversmumsarmy · 04/11/2018 11:04

Leave.

He is even telling you to leave.

You have no family life.

He doesn't want a family life.

Run for the hills unless you want to find yourself homeless in your 40s.

At the moment you are tolerated until he finds someone else.

You might consider him to be the love of hour life but he certainly doesn't consider you to be his

SendintheArdwolves · 04/11/2018 11:05

Oof, yes.

Your poor son, having to live with this man who is "strict" (in your words, I worry he is a lot more than that), doesn't want to be a father figure to him (but does demand obedience) and thinks that there is no such thing as a happy husband or father.

Get rid. Your dream of a happy family does not include this guy.

mydogishot · 04/11/2018 11:05

Leave him.

Your son needs you and you seem to be more interested in man that doesn't really want your son around.
It also seems he is not that bothered about you or a future together.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/11/2018 11:09

What are you getting out of this relationship now?. What is in this for you?. There is SO much wrong here I do not know where to start honestly. There is no future here in this at all for you or your son. You're also in a better position than some here to actually leave.

Better to be alone OP than to be so badly accompanied. The person I feel sorry for in all this is your son; he continues to be let down here by the adults in his life. You, this bloke, your ex; you're all letting this kid down. And you are letting your own self down too by remaining in his house. Presumably he was all sweetness and light when you first knew him and this has crept up on you gradually, that is how such manipulative and nasty men sweet talk their way in.

Is this man really a decent role model for your son?. You write yourself he is a good bloke and wants the best for your son and yet on the other hand your son does not want anything much to do with him. Is he hard on discipline towards you as well, probably not as he seems to be able to readily control you with words.

How on earth can you consider this man your best friend and love of your life?. If you really think that of him then it shows me that your boundaries are pretty much non existent in relationships. He does not want children nor wants to marry you. As his live in partner you have no rights and are vulnerable financially too; he could throw you both out and you would have no legal comeback whatsoever.

This man just wants everything his own way and is controlling your life and choices; its all about him and what he wants. He is very much a product of his own upbringing and has seen many poor role models socially too.

GreenTulips · 04/11/2018 11:10

I wonder how your son feels and how your DP will be with him in adolescence?

You keep saying what he wants or doesn't want from life

What do you want?

whatbeshrekking · 04/11/2018 11:10

He can't really be bothered with your son. That's not a family  Your son deserves better. Things will only get worse as he becomes a teenager.

Hopoindown31 · 04/11/2018 11:11

There is no such thing as a perfect stepparent and being a stepparent brings along a load of issues that simply aren't there with biological children.

He's being pretty clear what he wants and he clearly has either been hurt in the past or seen someone close to him hurt in a marriage. You need to decide if what you want can be compatible with that. What you don't need to do is listen to the typical MN crap of slowly twisting whatever the man in your is doing into being abusive.

ZoeZebra1 · 04/11/2018 11:12

Has your son ever spoken about how he feels about your boyfriend and his strictness. I would be concerned that they don't want anything to do with each other and how this is all impacting on your son.

Secondly, this isn't the relationship you thought it would be, no commitment, no babies, no role other than discipline in your son's life... Is this what you want?

I don't think this relationship has a future and my advice would be to get out now and concentrate on your son.

iMatter · 04/11/2018 11:13

he doesn't like your son.

leave him.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/11/2018 11:14

What do you want from life and relationships?.

All this man cares about is his own self. He does not want your son around and probably only tolerates you at all because you cook and clean house for him. This is not a relationship of equals here at all; this is him telling you to do as you're told under the guise of him speaking honestly towards you. He does not see you as an equal at all; this is no relationship model you want to be showing your son.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 11:18

My son says he doesn’t like him but he also says he doesn’t like his grandad (my dad) and thatsbecause my dad tries to discipline him. He always says how much he loves his father but his dad lets him eat sweets stay up all night playing violent video games which give him nightmares and is generally a terrible role model

OP posts:
Atalune · 04/11/2018 11:19

Leave him.

He’s not interested in your son. That’s so so damaging for him.

Annasgirl · 04/11/2018 11:20

You have a very young child, he should be your priority. Why on earth are you living with a man who does not love your son?

I could never ever live with someone other than my DCs father when they were this young, really, unless he was truly wonderful as a step parent I would never live with a new partner. And this guy is totally honest with you - he has no interest in your son or you - is your self esteem so low that you are willing to destroy your son's childhood?????

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 11:20

DP had a seriously messed up childhood where he saw his mum get treated terribly by their dad. None of his brothers want to get married or have kids because of what they’ve seen growing up.

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 04/11/2018 11:21

This man sounds awful OP. He’s trapped YOU with early promises of babies and marriage when you weren’t asking for them, and now doesn’t want to commit at all. He doesn’t want to be a real part of your sons life but expects him to do as he tells him. He’s offering you nothing and leading you on. Put yourself and your son first, this is not the love of your life.

GreenTulips · 04/11/2018 11:22

Why can't you buy your own home and live there with DS and 'date' this man if you must?

You aren't on the deeds and he can throw you out anytime he's fed up with you or your son and you need tonmake some solid foundations for yourself and your future

Sandbox · 04/11/2018 11:23

Wait.
He’s had one gf leave because he doesn’t want kids BUT he told you he did and wanted to get married etc he’s out of order for saying one thing and over a relatively short space of time changing entirely. It looks like he wanted you so would say anything to get you. Now he knows you don’t want to leave he’s being honest.
I think you should leave sorry

mydogishot · 04/11/2018 11:24

Do you discipline your son?
Does he need discipline?

You've now mentioned two men discipline him but his dad doesn't, do you?

NonaGrey · 04/11/2018 11:24

He saw his Mum get treated terribly by his Dad but he’s now treating you badly...?

he feels women just try and trap men and he doesn’t know any men who are happily married or happy fathers.

He means that you are trying to trap him.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 11:25

What makes it hard is I obviously don’t want to leave but I know that I have to. It’s very emotionally draining thinking someone’s offering you one life and then they snatch it away. I know it sounds silly but my sons settled out here with friends and a dog and a home and I just don’t want to uproot him again (I know I must, before people start saying as much)

OP posts:
MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 11:27

I haven’t been good at discipline with DS especially as I’m a laid back person in general but also I’ve been fighting against his dad and my own parents for spoiling him, I just kind of gave up disciplining for quite a while as it seemed pointless no one would back me up. DP has actually really helped with that stuff

OP posts:
mydogishot · 04/11/2018 11:27

But you say your son is not happy.

You're not happy.

Leave.

fuzzywuzzy · 04/11/2018 11:29

OK so according to your post, you P, does NOT want;
Marriage
Children
Shared assets
Your son

You wanted/were lead to believe the both of you had a shared goal of;
Marriage
Children/Shared parenting of your children
Shared life and assets

So what exactly is the point in remaining in this relationship for you OP?

Are you also, cook, cleaner and bottle washer? Do you also contribute financially to this mans household expenditure? What on earth do you get out of this relationship?

Leave, for the sake of your ds.

I’ve got a DP he treats my dc like his, he doesn’t discipline tho he leaves that to me, but he treats them with love and respect and they actively want to do things together and refuse to go out without him as family’s events have to include him (according to dc) because he’s family.

I met DP when I was in my mid thirties, don’t let your DP scare you into feeling he’s your best bet. He isn’t.

Sandbox · 04/11/2018 11:29

What is discipline to you though? I get the impression dp is hard on ds but demanding obedience and punishing the lack of it isn’t discipline.