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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

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:
HugoBearsMummy · 04/11/2018 13:19

I was with a bloke who had 2 kids already but said early on he’d have more in future with the right person, fine by me as I was early 20’s at the time. Time went on it took me 3 & half years to get him to move out to a place of our own, he didn’t see the rush Hmm?? He then decided he didn’t want any more children , and although he proposed (when pissed, no ring, no thought/romantic gesture) decided he didn’t want to get married for at least 5 YEARS. Safe to say we split 6 months later, and 3 months after that I met my DH , bought 1st home the following year, had 1st DC year after that, followed by wonderful proposal in Venice, bought 2nd house 18 months later, married the year after & now expecting DC2! Best thing ever happened to me was separating with ex, I’d have had no life if I’d stayed with him.
GET RID.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:19

He also saw his dad having more babies and was roped into helping bring them up, as a teen

OP posts:
MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:22

@hugobearsmummy out of interest did your ex ever settle down? I often think maybe if I left him DP would marry and knock up the next woman!

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MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:26

Did the resentment cause you to stop loving him, as I think will happen in our case. I’ve never left anyone I still love before

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Gettingbackonmyfeet · 04/11/2018 13:27

In terms of his past behaviour OP that's not a cut and dried reason

My DP grew up with (more without really) an asshole if a father then a string of stepdads that got progressively worse and worse

He is a wonderful parent figure to my DC, boundaries but loving....people choose how they react to a crap upbringing please don't let him off the hook for that...if he really was that way he shouldn't have got involved with someone with a child

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:29

When we first met, his brothers did tell him to steer clear as I was a mum

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AnchorDownDeepBreath · 04/11/2018 13:31

He told you he wanted all of the things you want to make you stay. He's slowly revealed that he really doesn't.

He has awful views of women; he barely tolerates your son.

You should already have run far away.

Johnnyfinland · 04/11/2018 13:32

Was the marriage and babies thing a lie or did he just change his mind? He’s entitled to do that, and to not want marriage or kids. There’s nothing wrong with feeling they aren’t something you want in your life. However, if he’s not willing to include your son as part of the relationship that isn’t right, he shouldn’t be in a relationship with a woman with a child if he knows that isn’t what he wants. He should man up and leave rather than trying to get you to do it! I dated a man with kids and absolutely hated it, so I did the right thing and left. You’re clearly completely incompatible and it isn’t fair to make your son grow up with a man who resents him. I think you should get out sharpish

Stillme1 · 04/11/2018 13:35

I was in a similar situation to you a few years ago. As it turned out I did not stay in the relationship long but I wish I had got out a lot sooner. It did damage the child I had who was mine and I regret that so much
You have resources and the ability to live on your own so why not just leave and take your DC away from this bad situation before it gets any worse

LellyMcKelly · 04/11/2018 13:40

So, he doesn’t want to marry you, doesn’t want anymore kids, doesn’t want to stepparent, doesn’t want much to do with your kid. Listen to what he is telling you, and make your choice.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:40

I believe he changed his mind when he started to see how hard parenting is

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 04/11/2018 13:43

How can he see how hard parenting is when he raised the younger ones? This isn't new information to him is it?

Kids are hard work but much easier as they become more independent

He's leading you in

UpstartCrow · 04/11/2018 13:52

Your DS has 2 male role models; one is slack and lets him do what he wants, the other is an authoritarian who thinks men shouldn't want children.
One wont balance out the other.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:52

That’s what I think is so cruel that he’s getting me to end it but someone said it wouldn’t fit with his image of himself if he left me. That’s so true, and I think why he pushed his ex away too. His dad left, so I don’t think he would ever leave

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MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:53

At this rate the only male role model he will have is his useless dad :-(

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UpstartCrow · 04/11/2018 13:53

When you go, tell him straight; being shitty to force someone to leave is worse than making an honest clean break.

Jux · 04/11/2018 13:56

You know what to do - for both your son's sake and for your own.

Wheresthebeach · 04/11/2018 13:56

So he's an immature coward too. What in the world in keeping you there?

SevenStones · 04/11/2018 13:59

He sounds horrible. I don't have children but if I did I wouldn't be giving the time of day to a man who didn't want anything much to do with my child/ren, and with whom we didn't do family things together.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 13:59

I’ve brcome isolated from family and I lost all my ‘friends’ when I left my ex. It’s quite hard as I actually have no one to talk to, DP is my only ‘friend’ (he hasn’t isolated me, my ex did that!). My family won’t take me and my DS even temporary as I’ve already asked so basically I need to buy a place but obvs that’s not a quick process

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SevenStones · 04/11/2018 14:01

I believe he changed his mind when he started to see how hard parenting is

It's absolutely fine for him to change your mind. You just need to catch up and change yours too regarding him.

Nanny0gg · 04/11/2018 14:03

At this rate the only male role model he will have is his useless dad :

Does he have male teachers? Do you have any male friends?

Your partner isn't that much of a role model really. He's better off without any than him.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 14:05

I did have male friends but I lost them when I split from my violent ex.
There are literally no male teachers at my sons school but hopefully secondary there will be.
You’re right tho he’s best off with none rather than shite okes

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EK36 · 04/11/2018 14:07

So there is no future for you both. Your child dislikes him. Your partner tolerates your son and disciplines him. You probably stay with your partner because you've had worse e.g.abusive ones. I would rather be a single parent than live with one like yours.

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 14:11

He makes me feel like marriage and kids is an unreasonable stupid thing to want ... after saying he wanted them! He says I’m just giving into my biological urges

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