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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

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:
MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 14:17

Perhaps he did lie to me all this time

OP posts:
Gabilan · 04/11/2018 14:29

when I started looking for my own flat I instantly felt calmer and more in control of my life

Well that's the answer. Find a small place to rent temporarily and look for somewhere to buy, since you have the wherewithal to do that.

To be honest OP I'm really quite shocked that anyone would choose a partner who did not want to be a parent to their children. it's just part of the deal if you're in a relationship with a parent. Either you accept and like the children as well, or you end the relationship. I'm sorry that your self esteem is so low that you accept this.

TooTrueToBeGood · 04/11/2018 14:32

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

That's not true. Growing up I had lots of positive adult male role models that were not related to me - teachers, friends' fathers, adult volunteers in the cadets to name a few. Besides, he'll be better of with no close male role model than a bad one. My gut instinct is if you stay with this man you're in for a life of hell in the future. He isn't interested in your son but can tolerate him whilst he's young enough to be bullied bossed around. As your son gets older there will come a time when he starts to push back and then the shit will hit the fan.

Jux · 04/11/2018 14:35

You could rent for a short while, while you're looking to buy....

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 14:43

I didn’t accept it to begin with he was fantastic with my son they got on really well. Of course if I met a man and he presented me with this scenario ‘I will just about tolerate your son,’ I would say ‘no chance.’ But I fell in love with a man who was an incredible stepdad for the first year and now it’s been taken away from me.

OP posts:
MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 14:44

What I’m saying is I didn’t choose this

OP posts:
Beaverhausen · 04/11/2018 14:52

@MissyEmRain stop making excuses for an emotionally manipulative man who has no interest in your child and by the sounds of it treats him appalling.

If my daughter came to me and told me that she did not like my partner I would be out of here as fast as I can. But unlike you I was lucky enough to have found a partner that has taken on the role of dad whole heartedly and loves being her dad. Yes, he is strict but he is also loving and caring and spends all his free time in ensuring she is happy.

That is what a mother should want from a partner for their child. And even more you should want more for yourself, forget about your biological clock and find happiness for yourself first before you invite a man into yours and your sons life. I would hate for your son in 10years time to turn around and tell you that you always put men before him.

Stop making wrong decisions just because you are too afraid of being on your own. Trust me being on your own can be so enjoyable and so freeing. It will also make you a stronger woman, a great role model for your son in what he should look for in a future partner and how he should be treating a woman.

You need to apologise to your son and promise him that you are going to make things better from now on and end this farce of a relationship.

SevenStones · 04/11/2018 14:56

I didn’t accept it to begin with he was fantastic with my son they got on really well. Of course if I met a man and he presented me with this scenario ‘I will just about tolerate your son,’ I would say ‘no chance.’ But I fell in love with a man who was an incredible stepdad for the first year and now it’s been taken away from me.

The whole thing must be devastating, but he's now that man who barely tolerates your son, so in essence a different person to the one who you knew in the first year.

And decisions need to be made on that basis, not on who he used to be or who you want him to be.

selfidentifyinggiraffe · 04/11/2018 14:59

He reeled you in with what he thought would hook you

He's got you, he can't be arsed to put in that much effort now

He doesn't want commitment with you which is awesome as he's an utter wanker

LTB

You are better than this. So is your son!

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 15:03

It is devastating and I know I need to leave but obviously it’s not going to be a piece of cake doing so. I know I need to look at who he is now and what he’s telling me but of course I don’t want to believe it, especially as I got thru such a hard time with my ex being so abusive to me

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 04/11/2018 15:05

Please enroll yourself onto the Freedom programme run by Women’s Aid. You will thank yourself for doing so.

selfidentifyinggiraffe · 04/11/2018 15:05

Have you done the freedom programme? I reread the book sometimes as I think it's easy to get sucked into 'shit, but less shit than the last' situations once you've had one of those relationships

MissyEmRain · 04/11/2018 15:06

I’ve done the Freedom Programme and I no longer have the book but you’re right. I just thought I’d learned from the last time, and that this was ‘the one.’

OP posts:
selfidentifyinggiraffe · 04/11/2018 15:15

Yeah my abusive ex - he was amazing for 2 whole years. Treated me better than any man before. Never in a million years did I foresee that he would put me through the worst abuse, beginning when I was pregnant

I still can't get my head around where my lovely husband and best friend went. It's really hard when they present such a wonderful side, with lovely promises and you think it's your happy ever after - then you realise one day, that all stopped ages ago

I don't know why he changed, was he always an abuser or did he become one... all that matters really now though is that I left and my child isn't witnessing it

I know it's a headfuck though OP 💐

Gabilan · 04/11/2018 15:19

I fell in love with a man who was an incredible stepdad for the first year and now it’s been taken away from me.

I know OP, and it's shit. But that man isn't coming back. And I agree with PP - the nearer your son gets to being a teenager, the worse your partner will be towards him. It will be difficult to leave to start with. But staying with him will be worse, and for longer.

slappinthebass · 04/11/2018 15:25

He doesn't sound great tbh. Can't be nice for your son to live with someone who won't be involved with him.

SevenStones · 04/11/2018 15:28

My exhusband was lovely when I met him, then he had his moments, then a couple of hours after we married he had what I would have said was a total personality transformation. I saw the lovely man sometimes but he broke me over time.

Even now, many years after I left him it is still a major mind fuck trying to get my head around how he could have been one person then another and sometimes both. That was obviously the point where he was concerned, and I just have to accept that without being able to work it out, and not think about it too much because of course it doesn't make sense to normal people.

AnyFucker · 04/11/2018 15:31

He's told you what to do. Why aren't you lidtening to him? He doesn't give a toss about your son and he has no respect for what you want.

crimsonlake · 04/11/2018 15:33

How long did you know this man before you moved him in? It never ceases to amaze me that peoples are so desperate for a partner that they move someone in at the expense of their children's childhood and happiness.

Growingboys · 04/11/2018 15:34

Leave, if only for how uncaring he sounds with your son.

Nithead · 04/11/2018 17:18

He sold you a lie. Your boy deserves better. You deserve better. Also if your boys father is that bad I'd look at stopping the sleepovers.

merville · 04/11/2018 17:22

He despises his dad and they barely speak. His dad was a violent cheat and a bully. "Their mum was a tough lady but all her sons came out on her side. She’s advised them that bringing babies into this ‘awful’ world is cruel and they pretty much listen to whatever she says"

How tough was she if she stayed.

There wouldnt have been ongoing abuse and cheating and violence if she'd got the fk out when he first acted that way. Not saying it would be been easy but it's not the 50s or earlier is it, she would've gotten some state help, some maintenance (?) Even before that,women did it.

It was a cruel world for her and her kids because of who she married, had them with, and presumably stayed with for a while.

Totally dysfunctional family dynamic by the sounds of it. Another reason to get rid of him.

merville · 04/11/2018 17:29

"it's a cruel shitty world to bring children into son's - because I married a violent bully and chest and stayed with him - but don't learn from his behaviour and become good, decent partners and fathers who don't make the world a cruel place for their kids, just don't ever get married or have kids - even tho pretty much every woman on earth will either want to have kids or already have them".

A very logical and reasonable. She actually sounds a bit mental and by nature or nurture they seem to have caught the crazy.

merville · 04/11/2018 17:31

Cheat not chest obviously!

HotChocolateWeather · 04/11/2018 17:38

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.

Don't you see that this is EXACTLY what he is doing to you and your son right now?

He is treating you with utter contempt. He promised you everything you wanted. Now he's taking it away. He's telling you to leave. He's telling you he doesn't love and won't ever love your son.

Get out now. If you need help with boundaries/punishments etc get yourself on a parenting course or read a book. Don't stay with this utter fuckwit.

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