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Original poster

What do I do?

42 replies

Swer987 · 13/08/2019 15:43

Hi all

My first post here, hoping for some advice.

I’ve been with my partner for just over 2 years. He is 35, I am 33. He has a 6 year old daughter from a previous relationship. He’s been separated from the mother for about 5 years. We see his daughter every other weekend.

We have always discussed having a child together and thought about trying next year. Within the last 3 months he’s decided he doesn’t want one and says he’s adamant that’s his decision. I really do want one.

I just dont know how to move forwards. Do I stay with him and continue as we are? Do I leave with no guarantee of ever meeting anyone new or having a baby?

Other than this baby issue, our relationship is fantastic and I love our life.

I feel so torn. Either way I lose something.

OP posts:
whyohwhyflowerdear · 13/08/2019 15:44

What are his reasons for wanting no more children?

Original poster
Swer987 · 13/08/2019 17:07

Thinks he’s too old now. Also wants to enjoy life now the ‘hard part’ of parenting is out the way!

OP posts:
Wishihad · 13/08/2019 17:10

Full disclosies. I am 37 and feel exactly the same as him.

Honestly, if you want children you need to leave.

Even if you didnt meet someone else you will always wonder if you would have had children if you left him.

You will resent him in the end.

Wishihad · 13/08/2019 17:10

*Disclosure

GiveMeHope103 · 13/08/2019 17:34

I think hes at the age now where hes happy to just settle and get on with it. He has a child so for him, he does have all the great bits of life. For you, I would seriously consider leaving as the clock is also ticking. He's made his feelings clear, so unless he does it out of ultimatums it seems like he has decided.

MrMagooooo · 13/08/2019 17:43

You'll find posts in here where this happens a lot. You need to weigh up your priorities and then only you can decide. His priorities are no kids and maybe losing you. What's yours going to be.

He might have kids to please you and love it or have kids and resent you and his life.

If my partner said she wanted kids now it would be a no from me, if she was adamant we would have to split. Just like when we got together I would have split with her if she didn't want theme

Michellelovesizzy · 13/08/2019 19:33

I think u must leave. U will never be happy long term. He has a child got wat he wants but u dont.

Wallflowermeadow · 13/08/2019 20:29

I think you need to leave if you're absolutely positive you want a child, staying with someone because you're afraid you may not meet someone else and get what you want is not a good idea, as people have already pointed out you will end up resenting him. It will be scary at first but how do you know that what you're looking for isn't just around the corner. For me this would definitely be a deal breaker, having a child is one of the best things I've ever done and if it's something you're adament about then you need to go, if he genuinely loves you then he would want to go through this amazing experience with you and I don't think 35 is to old, I just think that's an excuse plus why do people think they can't experience life because they've had a child! Hope everything works out 😊

Pinkbonbon · 13/08/2019 20:47

Tbh, id choose a happy life with someone who loves me over a hypothetical being, any day. But I have zero pull towards procreating so its probably a much easier choice for me than some ppl.

Chitarra · 13/08/2019 20:48

This would be a deal breaker for me personally, but it depends how much you want a child OP.

LittleDoveLove · 13/08/2019 20:55

If you definitely want children it is a difficult choice and I tend to agree with above poster that you will likely resent him in the end especially if you separate. Best of luck in your decision op x

sofato5miles · 13/08/2019 21:01

In your situation, I would leave. You may i would definitely grow to resent him and then after your fertile years have passed, have nothing.

FWIW, I had my last baby at 38. She's 7 and I still feel young.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 13/08/2019 21:04

Of course you should leave. This is one of life’s big things and you are incompatible.

NK1cf53daaX127805d4fd5 · 13/08/2019 21:10

Deal breaker here. I'd be gone

strawberriesandrosepetals · 13/08/2019 21:46

I had over 15 years of 'one day' as the answer to both marriage and family. Then he turned round and said he didn't want kids after all. I was distraught. I spent 12 months not knowing what to do as I didn't want to throw our relationship away but I felt like I had been lied to. When I decided to leave he proposed and we now have a baby. BUT! I will forever think he only agreed as I effectively blackmailed him by threatening to leave and I do not know if he loves us really. I was too old to start again though and I love him even if I can't be certain it is reciprocated.

Firefly111 · 13/08/2019 21:52

I think you need to leave. Even if you don’t meet anyone else to have children with you’re always going to wonder ‘what if’ and ultimately always resent him for it.

sheshootssheimplores · 13/08/2019 21:57

This is what happens in these scenarios.

Man decides he doesn’t want children with partner. Fair decision!
Partner stays with man as she’s quite convinced he’ll change his mind
Fertile years of woman ebb away but it’s okay as she’s supportive of partners right to make his decision and they have each other
They split up in their forties, step daughter now grown and man meets a new woman, in her early thirties.
He then has children with new woman and you are left childless and watching his new life unfold

I despise these men but it happens all the time. I don’t think it particularly calculated. It just happens.

Skittlenommer · 14/08/2019 00:37

Other than this baby issue, our relationship is fantastic and I love our life

It depends how much of a deal breaker it is for you. Would you be happy without your own child? Speaking from experience, being childfree by choice is the best thing in the world! There is far more to life than kids.

Graphista · 14/08/2019 01:47

See this ALL THE TIME on here and in real life.

I don't believe he really feels too old at 35!

I strongly suspect it's more a case of he doesn't want children with you, he may not even realise it's ur case himself it may be subconscious, but it's VERY common for men this age, even those without children, to say they don't want kids, waste the fertile years of the woman they're with who's the same age (roughly), the relationship breaks down (with the lack of children likely being a major factor), then waddaya know...

...he meets and quickly falls madly in love with someone 10/15 years younger - or more - they get married and have a child within a year.

How are you going to feel if he does that?

Was his child planned? Why did he and his ex split?

He's been separated from the mum since the child was 1! He only sees her eow (how far away does she live?) he is taking the piss claiming he has ANY real experience as a parent to even be able to make comments like "now the ‘hard part’ of parenting is out the way!" So clearly he's a pretty shit dad anyway!

Does he pay cm? How much, cms min? Does he have her for longer than a weekend ever?

(Think I can guess answers to most of my questions)

Do yourself a favour while you are still young enough to have time to meet someone else, build a relationship with them and have DC.

You're flogging a dead horse here!

TimeForNewStart · 14/08/2019 01:54

You’ve got to leave really.

OhMyDarling · 14/08/2019 01:54

Leave, find the life you want and deserve.
Your desire to have a child is equal to his, why should you settle for someone that won’t do the same for you.

If you don’t meet someone else, find another way to have them by yourself- single person fertility treatment, adoption etc.
But you can’t stay with a man so self centered and who doesn’t care about what you want in life.

Chocmallows · 14/08/2019 01:57

Graphista has it, you're ok to him, but you aren't the one for him.

Find someone to form a family with.

Winterlife · 14/08/2019 01:58

BWAHAHA in the “hard part of parenting”. Wait until his daughter is a teen!

I think if you want a child, you should have one. Find someone who wants a family, or have a child on your own.

Nannamia · 14/08/2019 02:07

"Now the hard part of parenting is out of the way"??!! Jesus wept. He hasn't lived with his daughter since she was a year old and only sees her for a couple of days a fortnight.
You need to leave not only because he doesn't sound like a very good dad but also because the resentment caused by not being able to have kids will eat away at you for the rest of your life.

managedmis · 14/08/2019 02:15

What everyone else said, basically

We see his daughter every other weekend.

^^
Confused
He's got it made, hasn't he? Disney dad and lives with the girlfriend. But doesn't want the commitment of kids with you, oh no. sheshootssheimplores hit the nail in the head

I'd be out the door, op.