Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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

How to get over your baby daddy?

8 replies

Beth199 · 05/09/2020 20:55

OK so, I had a baby with my bf of two years at the start of the year. I developed postnatal depression and it got really really bad at one point due to being stuck in on my own with our newborn, my child, and his child during lockdown (we both have a child each from previous relationships). He would go out drinking with his friends the first month after our baby was born (the month before lockdown started) and then went back to work. I felt like I was getting no help at all and my postnatal depression got so much worse during this time.

About two months after our baby was born I told him I needed help with the kids but he said he couldn't help as he was tired from working, so I told him I was going back home (we didn't live together at the time but we were in the same house during lockdown), as I needed help with the kids and me not being there was the only way I knew he would help. I know this was wrong, and I feel like I should have tried to wait until lockdown eased and then got help from family.

But a month later he told me he didn't have feelings for me anymore and we broke up. Its been about 5 months since this happened and I still want to be back with him. How do you put it all past you?

I've written down reasons we wouldn't be happy, he bought a house without informing me in the area he knew I didn't want to live. He bought it as our family home because that's what he wanted and this contributed to my PND, as it made me feel like he didn't care about my thoughts. He's selfish, he's disrespectful, he always wanted to go out with his friends but never wanted to do anything with me, he made me feel really self conscious as he would talk about other women he was attracted to, and he would plan dates for us after baby was born but then forgot about them on the day and laughed like it was nothing. I also suspected that he still had feelings for his ex during our relationship. My child didn't particularly get on well with his child either.
These problems only seemed to appear after I became pregnant, before this we were absolutely fine.

Since breaking up he's wanted a casual relationship, which we did for a week and then I stopped it. But then he instigated it again and I just wanted him so kept up with it for a few weeks and now it's stopped again. I completely understand I've caused problems for myself here. This may have made me go back over but I miss him so much, and I just can't seem to get past him.

I've been through therapy, and discussed him being manipulative and controlling. I'm taking tablets from the doctor for my PND. I've been trying to keep myself busy, I've been out with friends and I've even been on a few dates but I just don't want anyone else. I want to be back with him.... I know 5 months isn't really a long time but how much longer will I be wanting him?

I've been working on my confidence, which has gotten much better recently, and I'm doing all I can think of to help myself now but he just keeps coming into my mind. He has baby twice a week, so we still see each other often due to this. I've tried having someone else drop baby off so we didn't see each other, but I just couldn't keep it up. I feel weak for still wanting him, especially when I know I probably wouldn't be happy with him.

OP posts:
rvby · 05/09/2020 21:24

Five months is nothing, especially since you've had periods of shagging him during that. Each time you've agreed to have sex with him, you're essentially resetting the clock to zero.

Stop having sex with him, stop communicating with him except about the baby. Set up an online calendar to agree and record drop offs and pick ups to limit contact. Keep busy and when you find he is on your mind, gently redirect your thoughts and do something nice for yourself. Keep at this and you will start to feel better after a few months.

Just remember every time you shag him, you're starting again from zero.

You aren't going to get him back by being sexually available. He has told you and shown you that he doesn't want you - sorry I know that's harsh - you just need to keep remembering that because you're hurting yourself by hanging on to a fantasy. He is done with you, he has so little care for you that he comes back to get sex even though he knows it hurts you... think about that..

CyberNan · 05/09/2020 21:29

instead of writing a list of why you shouldn't be together, write a list of the reasons why you should... its going to be a very short list. he sounds like a real dick.

Beth199 · 06/09/2020 07:32

I completely understand he doesn't care about me and I keep telling myself that, but I just keep getting so upset that we're not together even though I know we're better off seperate.

OP posts:
rosabug · 06/09/2020 08:36

You need to start asking yourself why you are addicted to the drama and sadness of unrequited love. Even this thread and the way you keep going round in circles is addiction made manifest in words. And it is addiction, that you fuel, and if you don't stop you WILL ruin your life, and maybe your child's too.

You don't say if your child is a girl or boy. I have to say I feel for them, either way the imprint they will receive about how to be in a relationship will be dogshit. You need to get real and stop indulging in this going nowhere emotional addiction.

Unfortunately I have no doubt this bag of dirt you have 'decided' to 'love' will sabotage your attempts at self-respect left right and centre. And you did 'decide'.

My advice: Move far far away and start again. And do not enter another relationship until you understand yourself better and look after yourself.

The first clue is this: Love is as love does. Judge a man by their actions and only that, not words - never words.

I have no doubt there were many bells ringing before you had a kid with this lowlife. Next time - listen.

AgentJohnson · 06/09/2020 10:59

You don’t miss him, you miss the misguided hope that he could be different. If you’re honest, he wasn’t much of a boyfriend before your pregnancy.

You’re attached to a fantasy.

Yeahnahmum · 06/09/2020 13:07

^^ what pp's have said.

This man was a mistake. Now focus on your mh and your baby. You both (you and bubs) deserve more. Way more. He is not a
'Baby daddy'. He was basically nothing more then sperm donor.

Let this fantasy of him go. He is who he is. If people show you their true colors: believe what you see. They aint gonna change...

rvby · 06/09/2020 16:24

@Beth199

I completely understand he doesn't care about me and I keep telling myself that, but I just keep getting so upset that we're not together even though I know we're better off seperate.
Yeah, when you start getting upset you've let it go too far.

When you START thinking of being together, you need to intervene on your thoughts and distract yourself/change the subject in your head.

Fantasising about him is an addiction of sorts, and it's what leads to you eventually getting upset. So nip the fantasising in the bud each time it happens, and you'll start to feel better over time.

Getting upset isn't a sign that he's a good person or that you'd be happier if you were with him. You do realise that dont you? You're just in a habit of moping about him. You can change that.

VivaMiltonKeynes · 06/09/2020 16:28

Going out on dates ? You need to get your act together for your children .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page