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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

Could you accept a 'love child?'

737 replies

Namechangeforthisone83 · 30/01/2021 15:58

As the title says really. 8yrs married. 2 dc (9, 6). Deeply love my dh but I don't know what to do. Technically no cheating involved as 'we were on a break' (sounds so Ross and Rachel) for around 3 months 🙄 he didn't want the child but she did so here we are as it gets nearer I just feel devastated. All I can think about is the humility I will suffer if I continue to be with him. I never thought this would happen to me.

OP posts:
Ghostella · 31/01/2021 08:49

I’m a bit confused about the stories of mothers not allowing contact the the father’s houses due to them not wanting a relationship with the wife. Surely if he is the father, he has every right to contact at his house? In the early days/ weeks he could be collecting baby for very short bursts (an hour or so) for a walk around the park every day or something with the wife and then building up to a couple of hours/ afternoon at Dad’s and then surely 50-50 contact if Dad is wanting that. Why would you spend years going to the grandparent’s house? Go through a court for access if needed.

KindnessCrusader · 31/01/2021 08:56

I feel ashamed to say I couldn't. No way.

CJsGoldfish · 31/01/2021 08:56

I'm not sure I could be with someone stupid enough to tie themselves to a stranger forever. Especially one who was married when they did. I doubt they used contraception, more likely he just went with her "oh, I'm on the pill" and is embarrassed to admit to the stupidity.

OP, only you can make the decision for yourself. If you think it's worth a try, then you should absolutely give it a go. I don't see how you can keep yourself removed when this is a sibling to your children and I assume their father will want them all to know and interact with each other.
As far as not wanting you around the child, she will have no choice. Your husband needs to set up formal visitation and make sure he nurtures a relationship with this child.
Unfortunately, this woman is going to be in his life in some way forever and he is initially going to have to spend a lot of time with her if he's to be a decent father to this child.
I've said I wouldn't be with someone who did something so stupid and disrespectful but I also wouldn't be with someone who didn't put in the time with a child that they need
I wish you all the luck in the world OP and truly hope it works out well for all concerned.

Helmetbymidnight · 31/01/2021 09:09

i think you might be looking through rose-tinted glasses about the relationship - naturally, now it is threatened- who wouldnt?

but married, with two young children -and you chose to properly separate for several months? things must have been pretty bad over a long period for you to reach that stage, surely?

i doubt the issues there have - in such a short time- gone away and now you have a billion more to contend with... i wonder if you are clinging to each other now out of fear (again, naturally) but the factors that pushed you apart then are still relevant now....

you can be great friends and co-parents and support each other through this- and not be together...

LizFlowers · 31/01/2021 09:42

@KindnessCrusader

I feel ashamed to say I couldn't. No way.
Nothing to be ashamed of. Your feelings are as valid as anyone else's. However you are not the op and she may eventually come round to thinking it is worthwhile to stay in her marriage. Good luck to her - she can always change her mind later on if things don't work out and at least she'll have tried. I think her husband will try too.
TVDFan · 31/01/2021 09:49

Hi @Namechangeforthisone83 Flowers

I can't imagine how hard things must be for you right now and I'm sorry that there are some idiot posters cross examining every sentence you post.

I don't understand why many MNers don't seem to believe that it is very easy to find out who you are related to via Facebook, especially if your profile is not private 🤦‍♀️ Nothing you say will convince them your husband is telling the truth and they will just pick apart everything you say.

You've seen the messages. You've seen your husband's behaviour. You know he's being honest with you. Just ignore the idiots!

I wish I could give you advice about what to do but I just don't know what I'd do. From what you've described, this woman is clearly unhinged and will deliberately cause problems in the future no matter what.

Honestly, I think it would be best for your husband to get a DNA test, pay the maintenance if he's proven to be the Father and then cut all contact.

I don't think this woman will ever be reasonable and co-parent with your husband. I think it's better for the child to have no contact at all than years of custody battles, bitterness, arguments and feeling torn between two parents. I can imagine the mother will make life hell.

Again, I'm sorry you're going through this Flowers

Freddiefox · 31/01/2021 09:57

My children don't know yet. They are 9 and 6 and tbf I have no fucking idea where to even begin to tell them. My eldest is so emotional at the best of times I am so scared this will break her, either way she's going to be affected by this and adding a half sibling into the mix will just be so hard to watch.

I think this will be the hardest part, to watch your children go through this. It would kill our relationship.

Helmetbymidnight · 31/01/2021 09:58

huh! im shocked at the number of people suggesting the man should have no contact with his own child!
of course he should.

billy1966 · 31/01/2021 10:08

@Mummyoflittledragon

I’m sorry to read your update about your 9 yo being emotionally fragile. Can you get a child psychologist involved in the family? I don’t agree with some advising you not to tell the children until they are adults. We used to do this with adoptees and now recognise the fall out: The younger children are told, the easier they accept their reality. Obviously you need a dna test first. I really hope for all your sakes this isn’t his.

Are you also feeling emotionally fragile like your dd right now? Don’t forget yourself either if you also need some support - oxygen mask and all that. Flowers

Was going to post this too👍

When you have confirmation I think it would be good to get additional support re your daughter.

She is at a sensitive age.

She may well take this very personally and feel like her father has cheated on her too.

He certainly has let her down terribly.

When a parent, any parent cheats, they don't just betray their partner, they betray their whole family, including the children.

I would proceed with care.
What a hugely traumatic year this will have been for your children.

I really feel for you.

His mess, but your focus should rightly be on your children.

It could be terribly upsetting for your daughter to learn that Daddy has made another family that he visits.

Getting strategies to support her will be key.

He really isn't any prize OP.Flowers

rainbownamebow · 31/01/2021 10:09

I feel so sad for you OP, I'm so sorry that this has happened.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to stay, I'm a step parent and it's hard, you only have to read a recent thread about step parents who wouldn't do it again if they had the chance to know it's far from ideal even when the children involved aren't love children.
If you do decide to stay are you prepared for the fact that the child will be there at Christmas's, birthdays, holidays for the rest of your life, he/she will be a constant reminder and you with certain things you'll have to respect the wishes of the mother. DH may want to have time alone with that child and you'll have to respect that, I think it will be very difficult to try to integrate him/her into your existing family unit. It will most definitely put a huge strain on your relationship forever, are you sure you can realistically withstand this strain anyway. I feel so sad for you and your children.Thanks

zigzog44 · 31/01/2021 10:09

@Helmetbymidnight - So am I, how shameful and who would want to be with a man who had no contact through choice with his biological child.

Sunnydays999 · 31/01/2021 10:16

No . I couldn’t cope . Will he be at the birth ? How will you feel when he goes to visit the baby ?

Thewinterofdiscontent · 31/01/2021 10:25

@Helmetbymidnight

huh! im shocked at the number of people suggesting the man should have no contact with his own child! of course he should.
It’s an unpopular idea but in the real world it works well.

I think ( born of personal experience and many threads on here) that where the father isn’t ever part of a child’s life, it has negligible impact for the child. The damaging part for children is inconsistent contact, lack of honesty and antagonistic parents.

Regular child maintenance of course. Tell all the children involved what’s going on. It not the first or the last time this has ever happened.

Child gets stability, mother gets the high moral ground and Op and DH get to rebuild their lives.

Spartacusdome · 31/01/2021 10:27

Sorry you have been out in this situation, must be a total headfuck. My next steps would depend on:

  1. Would your husband stay with you if you were pregnant by another man?

  2. Did he tell you about the OW and baby or did something force his hand?

  3. Gut feeling - did they really use a condom...?

Depending on the answers to these questions - I would kick him out or make a go of it...

lemmein · 31/01/2021 10:28

I don't think anyone in this scenario has done anything wrong really. You weren't together at the time, 3 months is a long time to be 'on a break' when you have 2 kids together. I think I would've considered myself single too 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes it's a ridiculously complicated, shit situation you all find yourselves in but life is messy, people fuck up - I wouldn't throw away everything right now. See what happens when the baby arrives - if it's something you can't deal with then walk away.

SandSeaBeach · 31/01/2021 10:29

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PeanutButtaCups · 31/01/2021 10:42

@Spartacusdome

Sorry you have been out in this situation, must be a total headfuck. My next steps would depend on:
  1. Would your husband stay with you if you were pregnant by another man?

  2. Did he tell you about the OW and baby or did something force his hand?

  3. Gut feeling - did they really use a condom...?

Depending on the answers to these questions - I would kick him out or make a go of it...

This is actually great advice, I’d definitely do this OP
Namechangeforthisone83 · 31/01/2021 10:47

@Spartacusdome

Sorry you have been out in this situation, must be a total headfuck. My next steps would depend on:
  1. Would your husband stay with you if you were pregnant by another man?

  2. Did he tell you about the OW and baby or did something force his hand?

  3. Gut feeling - did they really use a condom...?

Depending on the answers to these questions - I would kick him out or make a go of it...

In all honesty I don't think he would stay with me if the roles were reversed although, dare I say, it would be different emotions in that the child would be here permanently rather than every couple of weeks contact or such but no I don't think he would no and this has definitely played on my mind.

His hand wasn't forced he admitted it before he found out about the pregnancy.

I can't comment on whether he did or didn't use a condom as I want to believe he did tell me the truth on that but of course there is just no way of knowing and I guess it's happened now either way.

OP posts:
whatsthepointinwasps · 31/01/2021 10:47

So op you are in a relationship that had problems before any of this started. In fact your relationship was so unstable and volatile, that, despite having two young children, you chose to separate/be on a break. You yourself admitted that the pair of you should have stuck it out together and communicated with each other but you were ‘too irate’ to do that. Hmmm, not a good starting off point for the ensuing drama.

So next he goes off and finds the OW; apparently he and she see each other only three times, on two of those occasions they have sex but he was wearing a condom .....so no problem there.

Next you and he get back together, there’s a surprise ‘love child’ announcement and, well I could have said it all goes downhill from there.......except the pair of you seem to have been a good way down the hill already.

So on various post of yours I’ve read ( I’ll admit I haven’t read the full read but I have read all the OP’s) that all previous problems between you and him are sorted, he got a ‘bollocking’ from you and the family for his actions, but it’s ok because ‘everyone makes mistakes’ He knows he’s done wrong and ‘seeing him so broken tugs at your heart strings’
You go on to say ‘it’s just her causing all the issues’

OP how can you readily admit that everyone makes mistakes without affording the OW the same leniency?
You may have seen all the messages between them but truthfully you have no idea what he said to her in private. He’s well and truly proved now he’s not trust worthy so how can you believe what he tells you?

You say she’s been ‘very protected’ by her family, whom she lived with, and when they found out about the pregnancy, they threw her out. Yes she could’ve aborted but maybe that’s not her values or culturally acceptable to her.
So here the OW is - someone who met a guy, listened to him, liked him well enough to sleep with him, he went back to his wife, then when she finds out she’s pregnant she’s made homeless after being thrown out by her family. I am not at all surprised she’s ‘got issues’ and has acted irrationally.

All your hand wringing OP is based on your allegedly comfortable life being thrown into jeopardy by her actions when in actuality your marriage was on the rocks beforehand.
The marriage, your home and the future of your children wasn’t respected or valued by your husband. Once he was away from the family he spent time having pleasure with someone else rather than trying to figure out how to make things better for you and the children.

I get that you’re frightened of leaving, yes that is incredibly scary and traumatic for your children, but it is better than them living in the emotional fallout of a marriage that was already in a state notwithstanding all of this.
You’ll only get your head straight once you have established a stable life, for you kids most importantly. Children are always better off with parents who are emotionally balanced even if that means the parents live apart.

I feel you are a bit deluded when it comes to thinking you have fixed all the early difficulties and now it’s just the OW and baby that are the problem. The actual problem is that you are too afraid of what you might loose if give yourself, and the children, the space you all need.

Queenie24 · 31/01/2021 10:50

What a horrible situation to be in. Going forward I can not see how you will not be involved in the babies life if your husband is going to be unless he plans on having a double life. He should be sticking by you and saying to the ow that you are his wife and you will be involved. Even if you decide you dont want yo be.

mcmooberry · 31/01/2021 10:52

I know I wouldn't be able to stay with my DH in this situation, my resentment and embarrassment would not allow it. I do feel sympathy for your DH who either used a condom or, possibly more likely, was assured she was using contraception and certainly was not on board with a baby. Maybe she was desperate to escape living with her family at 31 and saw your DH as a way to move out/on. Maybe he made your split sound permanent. However, he will now be financially and emotionally responsible for another child who isn't yours. I wish I could have it in me to live with this, but personally, I don't.

ScrumptiousBears · 31/01/2021 11:06

Men can be such dogs. A separation the. He goes out shagging.

OP have you Considered an STI test? Clearly both were happy to not use anything with someone they barely knew.

ImsorryWilson · 31/01/2021 11:12

Just checking in as a fellow hand-wringer to see how you are OP

You were relieved by her saying she doesn’t want you around her child because it keeps you on the moral high ground without you having to make a decision. It also makes her clearly the bad/unreasonable one.
This is not a criticism-I just think your need to be the good guy is making the confusion even greater.

Namechangeforthisone83 · 31/01/2021 11:12

I will be speaking to him today and explaining how I feel. I'm devasted but I need to walk away at least for now. I can't even begin to describe the pain and hurt I'm feeling but I have to think about my dc in this situation it's no longer about me and I think I know that now.

Whatever happens with him and the child etc is not going to be my business and I know deep down I would never be able to have any real love for this child regardless of the situation. If he wants to facilitate contact then he can but beyond informing them of the child that will be the extent of my involvement in the situation. I am going to have to work on myself and try and stay strong for my dc especially my eldest as this is going to crush her and that alone is hard enough. I know in time it will figure itself out but for now I have made up my mind and will speak to him later.

Thank you for all the useful advice I have been given I really appreciate it.

OP posts:
WeAreShiningStars · 31/01/2021 11:13

He wouldn't have stayed with you had the situation been reversed.

I'm not sure I could stay with someone who you know has such double standards for himself. Would you not be walking on eggshells being 'perfect' and not rocking the boat while he gets to do what he wants, and will leave again (take another break) if you're not?