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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

Please can anyone help me 😪

180 replies

NikNut · 04/03/2021 10:27

I really do not know where else to turn, but I can not cope with this hurt anymore 😞.
I met the most wonderful man just over a year ago. He was kind, considerate, supportive, emotionally mature and stable. After many years alone following a very emotionally and physically abusive relationship, I felt like I had found my happily ever after. I am 35 with a full time career as a midwife and 3 older children, 17, 15 and 12. I brought my children up alone due to ex husband being in the forces and we separated (very amicably) when youngest was 2.
Now this new man moved very quickly. He told me I was what he had spent his life looking for and the connection felt very real. The subject of a baby came up to which I was very reluctant due to my job, having older children and the fear of doing it alone ever again. It became a bit of an issue and I foolishly felt very flattered that this wonderful man wanted to have such a beautiful commitment to me. 3 months later, I was pregnant. This man told me he had 2 children. One aged 12 who was taken away from him after a long court case and now lives in America, and one aged 7 who he had to see in contact centres for many years but now has every other weekend. He told me as all he ever wanted was to be a family and watch his child grow every single day and reassured me of all my fears of ever being alone again. He told my family how he was going to marry me and how he adored me. And I felt that from him. We were very happy and excited for our future with our baby. At 20 weeks pregnant, I told him he needed to give up his rented place 2.5 hours away so he can financially contribute to our new home and the baby. This caused problems and he would leave to go back there for a few weeks at a time until I begged him back 😔.
At 28 weeks, I had to work from home due to covid. I went to work to pick up laptops etc and when I returned, he was gone. We had discussed marriage the night before and been very playful before I left for work. The next 2 weeks were spent with him telling me how he wasn't leaving me but needed space. How he loved and missed me and the bump. How he never wanted to lose me. The third week was spent with him ignoring my messages and calls. I would beg him over and over to come home. He insisted he needed space, so I gave him it and stopped reaching out to him. The 4th week, I called to check in. He told me how he didn't love me and never did and how he wanted me to have the baby adopted!! My full world came crashing down. I left him for a few weeks then on xmas day, I text to tell him I missed him and loved him. He replied saying he didn't want anything to do with me and to message him about the baby only. I replied asking what his intentions where regarding the baby, to which he blocked me on all platforms, along with all my family. I was now 33 weeks pregnant and in such a state. I went to bed every night praying I wouldn't wake up. The pain was unexplainable. I had no explanation. No reasons given and I just couldn't understand why he had changed so much. I contacted his ex and found out there was a 3rd child he had but had abandoned when the relationship broke down when the baby was 8 weeks old. He hasn't seen him since and is now 3 years old 😔.
I was terrified of going into labour alone and having a baby alone. But that is exactly what happened 😔.
I had my baby at 39 weeks, a beautiful baby boy that is the double of his daddy. I was heartbroken that his dad missed the birth and wasn't there for the first few days of his little life. I felt so much guilt towards my innocent baby, that he had been born into so much sadness and didn't have a dad or the perfect life we had planned for him.
I contacted the dad via a friends phone. I sent a photo and a video to him, and his mum announcing the arrival. He read the message and then blocked my friend. No reply 😪.
A week later I tried to call him from withheld number, he declined the calls.
I then sent him an email saying how we needed to discuss our baby and how I didn't care what he had done, we just needed to put the baby first. I begged him to answer his phone, he didn't. My mum called his mum after I completely broke down to her, his mum was very rude, didn't care about her grandson and put the phone down.
I contacted the mother of the child he sees, who was so excited about having a baby brother. The ex told me that he had told the child the baby was "gone". That he had told everyone else I had the baby adopted and that he is with someone else now 😪. I didn't think I could feel any worse than the day he left. I was so wrong.
My baby is now 3 weeks old and everyday gets harder and harder to accept that I'm doing this completely alone. That the amazing guy I met, has completely abandoned him. I just can't seem to move on. I try to be strong for my baby and for my children, but I'm completely broken. I spend all day and all night trying to distract myself to no avail. I'm constantly in tears and feel like this hurt is so heavy on my chest that I'm suffocating with it. This was exactly what I feared, and he knew it. How could anyone be so cold and cruel? I so desperately just want to feel ok. I don't care about being happy, just ok will suffice.
I find myself still wishing and hoping that he comes back 😪. I miss the person that left us. Although I do recognise that that person has long gone.
I have been receiving support from perinatal mental health which has been brilliant. But this hurt just won't subside. Its been 14 weeks since he left 😪 and everyday has got harder to cope with.
Please can anyone suggest anything to help me move forward 😪 x

OP posts:
Sahm101 · 04/03/2021 17:41

I'm so sorry reading this. What a cruel man. Some people are just too evil to even begin to understand. I think you should actually pity him. He has created children all over and is less than a father to them, what a worthless human being. You are too good for him. You have raised 3 kids on your own and now have a precious little one. Please try to get some help or counselling. This is so traumatic what he has put you through. So cruel. One day at a time. Massive hugs op.

doodlebug33 · 04/03/2021 19:15

@NikNut
Please don't apologise! I just wanted you to know that it really does get better.
I can't really put a timescale on it. I spent so long trying to pretend I was ok and happy and then one day it just sort of dawned on me that actually, I was happy! My exh kept saying he wanted to come back for the first year then going off with some other woman so it wasn't until around a year after he'd gone that I realised he wasn't coming back. I think I just took baby steps. One day at a time. Think of each day or hour or minute that you get through as being that one step closer to being ok. And you will be ok.
This man absolutely doesn't deserve to be with you, or your ds.
Please look after yourself and most importantly, be kind to yourself, I swear to you it gets better 🤗

User1511 · 04/03/2021 19:38

I’m so sorry OP. It disgusts me that there are people like this in the world.

Please do not put him down as the father on the birth certificate, please do not try to contact him again. Enjoy your beautiful son.

I’m pleased you are getting support xx

gutful · 04/03/2021 19:56

This man sounds sick in the head & must get some satisfaction out of impregnating women. He manipulated you by playing into your weaknesses & pushed to have a baby Just months into a relationship - that’s not normal.

He seemed like a Knight in shining armour - in reality he is a snake & it may not feel like it now but it is a blessing your baby boy will not grow up having to know him. He would only have hurt & let down your down with every interaction.

Your older son will likely be more of a father figure to him due to the age difference. You have obviously raised your children well because the oldest 17 year old has not gone out to bash this bloke.

Also have dated 2 men who were crap fathers who at first had the whole sob story about why they weren’t as involved in their child’s lives/lost custody etc

There is always a victim laced sob story that paints them in a positive light. That’s why when people wonder who could be with someone who abandons their children? It’s because they are now manipulating & lying their arse off to someone new.

I too think you should scale back in interactions with his ex’s. Your baby has a family - he has you guys. That this man has other kids doesn’t mean your child should be exposed to “that whole side” of his life until he is old enough to understand & be able to decide to seek out those biological relations himself, if he chooses. This man was a sperm donor that’s it

By having him exposed to the half siblings & ex’s he is going to grow up with this whole story of who his father was & the abandonment etc...because he is the only link tying them together then he will be all they talk about & focus on ! It’s unhealthy to keep any form of connections with ex’s & bio kids for this reason IMO

plus it’s going to keep YOU dwelling on him & Centring your thoughts on him because you & the ex’s are only going to be talking about what he did, who he is dating, where he lives, keeping the gossip train running & this piece of shit alive in your head.

It would be healthier for you all to scale back & focus on yourself & your family.

You can tell your son a sanitised version, you knew his dad very briefly & he was the blessing which came out of it. Don’t apply trauma to his life because it’s your own - he isn’t traumatised by his father, he doesn’t know him. It will be a long time before he may even realise his dad is different to his siblings. He really may not have trauma I promise you.

You however are very understandably traumatised & glad to hear you have mental health support right now. What you have suffered is absolutely awful. This post & your story has made me feel sick. Am so sorry this happened to you & hope your little boy brings you amazing joy in life. Bet he will & will show DNA is nothing as he will grow up to be a good man.

gutful · 04/03/2021 20:08

And can’t imagine how it must hurt to have him not even care about your son at all

But please don’t encourage this prick to even meet him once.

He will absolutely cause trauma to your son by fading in & out of his life - that will mean your son will recognise he has an absentee father. But a father who never existed to him growing up? Arguably less traumatic. Protect your son from this monster & hope he never one day half heartedly decides he wants to meet your son because that sure as hell is going to expose your son to a hurtful predatory person.

He would only be wanting to see your son for whatever kick he got for himself out of seeing him - maybe it feeds into another evil ex story of how you kept your son from him etc.... he may wish to one day be seen to fight for him & that is something I would work very hard to avoid.

Don’t wish to scare you but what is hurting you most (him not even having met or provided a single thing to help your son survive) is the very reason you are lucky now.

Your son is lucky to have you & these days kids have 2 mums or dad’s transgender or whatever - gender roles are not what they were for this future generation. Your son needs positive male role models who love him, not a “Dad”

Ozziewoz · 04/03/2021 20:09

Oh, how my sank as I read your post. It sounds very similar to my ex.
I just have one question for you. What makes you feel you deserve to be treated so badly, to be ignored, for your baby to be disregarded? There are people on here who have never met you but who will show you more compassion and support than that pathetic excuse of a man. Would you want your daughter to be with a man like that? Would you be saying, ‘hun, I think you should keep chasing him’?
You trusted him and your hurt. But you’re not weak. You’re not the pathetic one. He’s already got two children he has very little contact with. Don’t let him screw up your baby. Block him. One day he will knock on your door, when he has nobody else. He will use his child as a way in. But he will also walk away again and again and again.
You have a choice. Pick your lively self up, dust yourself down and hold your head up high and move on. Look forward to the day when that horrible little man knocks on your door and you get to be the one who says no. Do it for yourself and your child. Don’t look back. You are worth far more.

Moonface123 · 04/03/2021 20:15

You need to have faith in yourself that you can still have a wonderful life ahead of you. Don't look back, it's hard, go zero contact, switch thoughts.
A brilliant book which helped me was "Getting past your breakup" by Susan J Elliott, look on Amazon, brilliant reviews, also has a blog, and on Youtube. It was a roadmap out of heartache, because at that time l just felt so hopeless, and in the depths of despair. It changed my way of thinking and helped me enormously.
This man is cruel, totally unreliable and you would never be able to trust him again, but l know how difficult it can be to flush them out of your system. You fell in love with the false image of him, .
You and your baby boy deserve so much better.

bumpdownthestairs · 04/03/2021 20:20

I'm so sorry you are going through this and my heart really goes out to you, you won't feel like this forever, in fact you will probably look back and wonder why you spent so much time upset about him! You have 4 amazing children and you are their world, time to try and pull out of your grief, enjoy all the firsts you are going to have with your baby and take steps to get your life back. Of course you have been through a rough time so please don't hesitate to speak to the GP if you feel like it's getting too much. You sound amazing and I'm absolutely routing for you and your kids, especially that lovely little baby of YOURS!

saraclara · 04/03/2021 20:21

He has done you a favour by fucking off early before his dark side came out in other ways.

That. Be very very grateful that you don't have to deal with him again. And yes, the fact that he was only able to see one of his children at a contact centre raises huge red flags. Your little boy will be much better off without him.

babbi · 04/03/2021 20:23

Your story is incredibly sad.
I’m so sorry this has happened to you .
He’s a despicable individual to exploit you in this way when you were clearly emotionally vulnerable.

Take care of yourself and your family .
And stop blaming yourself, you’ve perhaps been a little naive ( haven’t we all ) but no one deserves this frankly appalling treatment .

Starlia · 04/03/2021 22:00

I'm so sorry this happened to you. He sounds like an appalling person who love-bombed you to get you to do what he wanted. The person who was kind, loving and committed never really existed. It's not your fault at all and I'm just really sorry he has hurt you so much. What a douche canoe.
It will take some time to heal from this. Please take some time to be kind to yourself. You deserve lots of love and care! It's also ok to ask for help if you need it.
Forget that awful man. He will only cause you more heartache.
Focus on your wonderful children and your wonderful self.

Jesskir89 · 04/03/2021 22:03

Op I'm so sorry to read your heartache but this man is awful! Sounds like your beautiful baby boy and you are better off without him but your boy needs you to be strong for him. In a few more weeks you'll realise you don't want or need this man in your lives. Your new baby has all the family he needs in you, your supporting mum and his older siblings. You've done it before and you'll do it again :) congratulations on the birth of your baby boy x

ExhaustedGrinch · 04/03/2021 22:27

He sounds VERY much like my ex, 4 children from 4 different women, no contact with any of the children and never paid a penny. He too drops people so coldly and is extremely abusive. I feel so very sorry for you being in this situation, my only advice to you is DO NOT put him on the birth certificate if you haven't registered your child already.

carleyemma91 · 04/03/2021 22:32

@NikNut this was a very harrowing read, so I can only imagine how difficult it is living through this. I don't have a lot of practical advice for you, but felt that I couldn't read this and not leave a comment for you. You have been treated disgustingly by this useless sack of skin, but despite all that he's given you the gift of your beautiful boy. You never wanted to do this alone, but you've done it alone before with your older 3 and you can absolutely do it again. 14 weeks is not a great lot of time in the grand scheme of things, you're allowed to be hurt and you're allowed to grieve for the life you planned for you and your baby. You're doing all the right things receiving help from the perinatal mental health team, you keep hanging in there. Sending lots of love.

willloman · 04/03/2021 22:33

Please, please put this psychopath out of your mind.
Allow yourself to grieve the person you thought he was but never allow yourself to contact him in any way shape or form again.
There are plenty of decent people out there. If your wasting your time on this loser you will miss out on a happier life.
Also don't let him mess your child around the way he's toyed with you.
Be strong for your child.

Jesskir89 · 04/03/2021 22:34

Forgot to add. It sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree with his mother...

RandomMess · 04/03/2021 22:34

His CMS lies are just that - lies. They will take what he should pay and divide between all 4 DC equally so you will get something, sure they may not be getting much of the arrears but that isn't your problem.

Absolutely put in a claim as £5 per week is still better than nothing.

isittimetogotobed · 04/03/2021 22:41

I am so sorry to read this, I do not think I've read such a unfair post ever. What thus person has done to you is beyond cruel.
You might not feel it now but you will recover from this and thrive.

thenewduchessofhastings · 04/03/2021 22:42

Men like him should be forced to have a vasectomy to prevent them from irresponsibly impregnating women with children they have no intention of supporting.

He lied about this circumstances around him being a father and concealed a child too.What a absolute piece of 💩 he is.

I think you need to forget him and start putting the plans into place for yours and your children's future and think of him as nothing more than a sperm donor.

Honeyroar · 04/03/2021 22:50

Gosh there was a thread about something so similar before Xmas. Was this you? I kept wondering how she was doing and whether she’d had the baby.

It’s all horribly upsetting but you’ve got to put him out of your mind and concentrate on what’s real and good in your life. You’ve a lovely family, a gorgeous new baby and supportive people around you. This man is nothing that he portrayed, it was all fake. Your baby will most likely be better off not knowing his father. Be strong.

DianaT1969 · 04/03/2021 23:01

A couple of suggestions OP. A friend or family member should have forced an intervention and taken your phone off you months ago. Chasing this psycho and missing him while in labour makes zero sense. He wasn't at all who you thought. But you didn't know him for long. He's a sperm donor, nothing more.
You need to stop casting yourself in the role of woman needing answers who was badly done by. Yes, you were, but you won't get stronger while you think of yourself as the discarded victim who didn't deserve it. It serves no purpose. If you never see or hear his name again it will be for the best for you and your children.
I know it sounds trite, and you probably won't date for years, but please do the Freedom Programme. Not because you fell into relationships with 2 abusers, but because of how you responded by chasing him and laying down for more mistreatment.
You have your lovely son who I'm sure will be a true blessing. Don't look back at the past. Just you and your children from now on.
For the love of God I do hope you didn't put that psycho's name on the birth certificate?

gutful · 05/03/2021 03:13

@RandomMess

  • His CMS lies are just that - lies. They will take what he should pay and divide between all 4 DC equally so you will get something, sure they may not be getting much of the arrears but that isn't your problem.

Absolutely put in a claim as £5 per week is still better than nothing.*

100% agree

And watch how quickly the relationship with his other ex’s deteriorates once she puts in a claim & their percentage is affected

CuntyMcBollocks · 05/03/2021 03:29

What an awful thing to be going through OP. The man you fell for was a liar who lovebombed you, and I bet he did the same to his exes and will be doing the same in his new relationship. Don't feel guilty that your baby's dad isn't around as it's not your fault at all. My brother and I grew up without a dad, but our mum gave us the best childhood we could ever have wished for as she always showed just how much she loved us both, and we never felt like we missed out on having a father figure around.

Don't be so harsh on yourself. You've not long had a baby so your hormones will still be all over the place. You will feel better in time Flowers

SD1978 · 05/03/2021 03:37

Block him on everything. Open an email address which is only for communication, regarding child support. Stop trying to make him into something he's not- the only thing he is, is an abusive arsehole. Concentrate on you and your family, continue seeking and using the help you have, and best of luck.

ruledbynine · 05/03/2021 03:51

Sadly you got involved with a psycho. He is not right mentally because this is abnormal behaviour. Get regular therapy to help you. Reading up I think he is a true narcissist. All of it was about what he wanted. He wanted another child etc etc when you said you wanted to wait a year eg disagreed with him, the cracks started. What would have happened if you’d decided to wait a year? He’d have to use protection? He didn’t want that. He probably sexually gets off on getting women pregnant. It’s a sexual sick thing. It’s a power thing that turns him on. As soon as you’re pregnant and real life/responsibility kicks in then his hard on disappears. He’s sick. There are this type of hardcore porn things out there. His extreme reactions seem to suggest a deep seated sexual deviancy. He’s probably addicted. You don’t know him at all really. Keep well away from him and actually you now need to be determined and relieved your son doesn’t have him in his life. He’s very warped. Make sure he cannot get access to him. You don’t want somebody mentally and sexually deviant near your innocent child. Your goal now has to be protecting your child