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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

Have I compromised too much - opinions please

116 replies

Willowygirl · 19/09/2020 05:02

So to the scene, sorry this is long, we are not married but have a baby together. We live in an area he grew up a long way from where I grew up. Now to the several separate issues.
We have an adorable easy going baby but I am never away from them. I can count on one hand how many hours I have been without them since they were born. He goes out to work, to see his friends, do his hobby etc. My going out is taking the baby to a baby class. I suggested we maybe ask his family to look after the baby so we could go out for a couple of hours since that is one of the reasons he suggested we need to live so close to them. Anyway we aren’t going out as they are unable to but if we lived near my hometown we would have several babysitters and it would not be an issue. Moving onto my next issue....

I hate the fact that I no longer have a reason to look nice, I have all these lovely clothes that now never get worn, I’m no longer going to work or going out friends as they all live in my home town. I was thinking of doing an exercise class locally with the baby but am wondering what the point is, if I have no reason to look nice. It has been a year since I put a nice dress and heels on and went out completely care free. I don’t hate my figure but just miss dressing up whether that be for work, dinner, drinks. I don’t really suit casual clothes and I don’t like myself in them. A jumper and jeans are fine but the idea of only wearing those for the near future is just depressing. I know things are different now but the idea of just going out and being myself for a few hours now seems like something impossible. Next issue....

We have a baby together but he has said that we are not even close to becoming engaged. A baby is a bigger commitment apparently and yes it is but we had talked about it pre baby and he said he would get married again. We had another chat about engagement rings and any of them I liked he hated. Likes a simple standard ring, not my taste at all. There is nothing wrong with simple diamond and I’m not considering anything outrageous but I like ones that are slightly different, a twist in the band or the stone at an angle. His said he took his ex to several jewellers and she could choose whichever one she wanted. If we even get engaged then he will only get me a ring he likes and since I’m wearing it all the time it would be nice to have one I like. He has also said he would want a very small wedding. That is fine as I see it being about the marriage but again it would all be in his terms with what he likes and wants. I would like to get married before we have any more children and feel that will be on hold and I don’t have much time left, I want a large family but he doesn’t and feel this will be his way around it as I want marriage before anymore. Now for the next problem....,,

I live in his house that he owns, before I moved in his family wanted me to sign something to say that even though I’m paying towards the mortgage I’m not entitled to anything if we were to split. I didn’t sign anything but am not named on the mortgage despite still paying towards it and being on maternity leave. I also asked to have a small space in the spare room that would be for my hobby and got told no, so to sum up I live in this house he bought with his ex wife and I have no space to call my own. I spend so much time in the house that I didn’t choose in an area I didn’t choose with no plans to move and I didn’t think asking for this was unreasonable.

He has lots of lovely qualities, very loving towards me, listens when I have a problem or am upset with him and changes what he says or does if it has upset me. He adjusts his work to fit around us and has let me decorate the house, add things and we do go out a lot as a family but I just can’t help but feel I’m giving so much more, making more compromises, adjusting to fit into his lifestyle and his family and for what? No commitment to me, just the baby. I’m giving up ever moving back home to be near my friends and family and a career to raise children. Am I being unreasonable and are my expectations to high? When I try and talk to him about it he says I already lived in this part of the country which is true I did but it’s different when I had a career and could go out, see friends, travel back home and abroad whenever. I really love him and love how he as a person does do things to make happy, buys little things for me, cooks whatever I suggest, generous with his time and his affection, is honest and trustworthy, always keeps his word so I guess what I’m asking is should I overlook these things and focus on his actions which show how much he loves me as I know he really does.

OP posts:
LilyLongJohn · 19/09/2020 14:45

Once a month go back to your hometown and see friends and family, leave the baby with him

Look into going back to work, you need to become financially independent. He has to contribute towards childcare and do 50% of the drop off/pick ups

Stop paying towards the mortgage, if he's not putting you on the mortgage then you don't pay for it

M00vi3Night3 · 19/09/2020 14:50

I agree spend more time with your family & friends

hedgiehedgehog · 19/09/2020 14:56

Have you given the baby his surname or yours?

LilyWater · 19/09/2020 15:00

A baby is only a commitment to the baby (even that is dubious considering the number of fathers who flee parental responsibilities and child maintenance which makes marriage even more important).

Why on earth did you move in with him and provide him with all the 'wife' benefits, all the while unmarried?? You've let this man make a complete fool of you unfortunately, and now you're in between a rock and a hard place. If I were you, I'd still see if I could get a very low key and low cost marriage done to protect myself and the baby, and work on making the marriage more equal. In the meantime, save up money where you can for you and the baby.

OP, please learn from your mistake and don't move in with a man until you're married. Hope things improve Flowers

M00vi3Night3 · 19/09/2020 15:03

Set your self a time limit for things to change

I suspect nothing will change

But you can change things for yourself

Dery · 19/09/2020 15:08

“Stop making decisions like you are married. Make decisions like you are living with a flatmate who may or may not stick around.”

This.

AlwaysCheddar · 19/09/2020 15:53

This is not going to work so cut your losses now. Stop paying towards the house, do a small share of bills, unless he pays nothing for baby then don’t pay him.

SimonJT · 19/09/2020 17:15

What discussions about finances etc did you have as a couple before you had a baby?

Paying a mortgage on a property you don’t own isn’t a good idea. Yes, thats largely what happens when you rent, but a landlord can’t throw you out, only a court can do that.

I don’t have a shared child with my boyfriend, but he lives with me and pays £0 towards the mortgage as he doesn’t own the flat, his contribution to the mortgage will remain at £0 until he is on the mortgage and an owner of the flat. It would be unfair if I used his money to secure an asset that he doesn’t have any rights to.

Paying bills is fine, but if you’re not pooling earnings then your contribution to bills should be proportionate to your earnings.

The ring thing is just weird, I wouldn’t care what my boyfriends engagement ring looked like, its just a lump metal, the only thing that has value is the actual marriage not a symbol stuck on his finger.

NC4Now · 19/09/2020 17:23

Out of interest, if he bought the house with his ex wife, what happened to her share when they split?

JoanJosephJim · 19/09/2020 17:41

You had a child with a man who doesn't think you are anywhere near the engagement stage...WTF.

Basically this translates into I love my house and pension more than I love you. A child is actually not a bigger commitment, many men walk out on their families, don't pay toward raising their child and don't see their child.

This is why a group of single parent women are suing the Department of Work and Pensions for their persistent failure to collect child maintenance from absent parents. It is suggested that 700,000 children fall under the CMS which has over £354 million in outstanding payments. CSA and later CMS was brought in to stop women suing fathers for maintenance and clogging up the courts due to the sheer number.

The control over the ring is so you cannot get engaged. Fact.

He could easily ring fence the value of the house now by seeing a solicitor and putting you on both the mortgage and the deeds to the house. You are in a very vulnerable financial situation.

bunnyonthemantle · 19/09/2020 17:42

This thread makes me angry on your behalf. If you were my friend I'd be giving you a good shake. If you were my daughter I'd be going crazy with worry. You've been a total fool here and I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but you have.
I would move out to your parents house ASAP. If he wants you back he will marry you and put you on that mortgage. Although tbh he sounds a tosser. I don't think I'd want to marry a man who was so unconcerned with your preferences that he wants to choose your engagement ring. Sounds controlling.

pallisers · 19/09/2020 17:50

you are in a very precarious position financially. He has no intention of marrying you so all the guff about the engagement ring etc is just that - guff. In your position I would go back to work fulltime (expecting him to pay half of the nursery cost), not have any more children and seriously think about moving out to somewhere closer to your work and your family.

Nanny0gg · 19/09/2020 18:05

@Willowygirl

Sorry just to clear some things up, he does look after the baby when I go out. The difficulty is it being Covid times and my hobbies have still not been allowed to start up. I also do not pay for half of the mortgage but pay about a third which includes the bills. He is very generous with money and understands I had higher travel costs and this arrangement was made a long time pre baby. He has also actively encouraged time away from the baby and he is such a good dad.
You have a strange idea of generous.

He's got you over a barrel.

OldWomanSaysThis · 19/09/2020 18:36

He's viewing your relationship in the context of his marriage - like the two relationships are relative to each other. Those ring conversations are weird.

Why did you move in together before the divorce was final?
How did the decision to have a baby come about?
How many years older is he?

AgentJohnson · 20/09/2020 06:40

You think being on the mortgage will solve your problems, it won’t because it isn’t.

I think he would be crazy to get married again so soon after the ink was dry after his divorce and his parents urging him for you to sign away any future interest in his house, are very sensible.

You made the ‘compromises’ for the ring and the family set up and after future faking you, he clearly isn’t so keen on those things anymore.

REignbow · 20/09/2020 06:56

@Willowygirl posters are baking their comments on your posts.

It seems, that even through the vast majority think he’s enormously selfish and controlling. You are back tracking now and minimising what he has done.

He may very well be a good father, cook for you and you spend family time together.

But, he refuses to buy a ring that you like; even though you will be the one wearing it.

Although, you have moved and had his child, he still says that you are far from being engaged.

He may well parent his child when you go out (probably rarely), but refuses to organise a babysitter so that you can go out on a date night.

You live in a house that he bought with his ex, but he refuses you to use a room to do a hobby in.

He is dangling the hope of a marriage and a family, to keep you in line. He has no intention of changing the status quo.

He is telling you who he is. So Listen.

REignbow · 20/09/2020 06:57

#basing their comments it should have read.

hypochondriaceveywhere · 20/09/2020 07:01

Why can't he sell the house and you buy something new together?

differentnameforthis · 20/09/2020 07:14

@Wimbledon1983 I think you’re over egging it

She really isn't... all of this is controlling behaviour, and designed to keep op at arm's length, while offering no commitment. And don't say "the baby is a commitment" because babies can be easily left by fathers, and often are. Op can't have some hobby space in the house she shares with her partner and baby, yet I bet he doesn't mind her cleaning and cooking in it, does he??

He goes out to work, to see his friends, do his hobby etc. My going out is taking the baby to a baby class

he has said that we are not even close to becoming engaged.

If we even get engaged then he will only get me a ring he likes

I live in his house that he owns, before I moved in his family wanted me to sign something to say that even though I’m paying towards the mortgage I’m not entitled to anything if we were to split

but am not named on the mortgage despite still paying towards it and being on maternity leave

I also asked to have a small space in the spare room that would be for my hobby and got told no

so to sum up I live in this house he bought ... and I have no space to call my own

making more compromises, adjusting to fit into his lifestyle and his family and for what?

Wallywobbles · 20/09/2020 07:26

Unmarried you are not his next of kin. You cannot even visit him in hospital. If he died you would be homeless.

This is the reality of your situation. Is this what he wants?

Really he should sell the house and you should move to somewhere together, bought together.

TheProvincialLady · 20/09/2020 07:29

Go home for ten days to spend time with your family and so that they can bond with your baby.

And then bloody well stay there permanently, before you have to live in a town miles from your friends, family and life with a selfish man and his horrible family until your child turns 18. You do realise that he can get an order that says you can’t move away? It is almost 100% certain that this relationship will fail and you will end up with no house, no money, no career, no childcare and no ability to move close to where these things become available to you. Oh, and no maintenance is also a strong possibility.

Move now while you can.

DianaT1969 · 20/09/2020 07:39

Can you explain how this came about? How did you get together, move in and try for a child while 'being far from engaged'. This is the crux of the matter. That he seems to be in a relationship he (didn't want?) and doesn't intend to committ to. Now he is controlling the narrative. You are giving up your financial independence and you're stuck in a place far from family and friends.

LadyH846 · 20/09/2020 07:48

@TheProvincialLady

Go home for ten days to spend time with your family and so that they can bond with your baby.

And then bloody well stay there permanently, before you have to live in a town miles from your friends, family and life with a selfish man and his horrible family until your child turns 18. You do realise that he can get an order that says you can’t move away? It is almost 100% certain that this relationship will fail and you will end up with no house, no money, no career, no childcare and no ability to move close to where these things become available to you. Oh, and no maintenance is also a strong possibility.

Move now while you can.

I think this is a good idea.
billy1966 · 20/09/2020 08:56

@TheProvincialLady

Go home for ten days to spend time with your family and so that they can bond with your baby.

And then bloody well stay there permanently, before you have to live in a town miles from your friends, family and life with a selfish man and his horrible family until your child turns 18. You do realise that he can get an order that says you can’t move away? It is almost 100% certain that this relationship will fail and you will end up with no house, no money, no career, no childcare and no ability to move close to where these things become available to you. Oh, and no maintenance is also a strong possibility.

Move now while you can.

Great advice.
DorisDaisyMay · 20/09/2020 09:04

My DH is a bit like this. He is lovely and kind, caring and thoughtful as long as it doesn’t encroach on anything HE wants. So a lot of the time we amble along quite well but when I stopped about a year ago because I felt voiceless in my whole life, went to counselling and realised the extent of how abusive this behaviour from him is.

It was hard to see, it’s taken me years - please think carefully about what you want and act on that.

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