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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

Entering a relationship when my partner can’t handle me having kids

165 replies

Stormchaser500 · 19/05/2021 10:09

Hello everyone, longs story short I parted with my wife over a year ago and I have two young kids aged 4 and 9. I have met someone else who’s never been married or had kids as she said she never met the right person she wanted a family with. We’ve been seeing each other for 5 months now and speak every day but she lives 160 miles from me so we don’t get to spend much time together. She says she’s never felt this way about anyone before and she would like to start a family with me. We have arranged that I will move down to where she lives in Cornwall and will see my kids as often as I can which would hopefully be for two weekends a month. The issue is that because I have been married and have kids she feels that we couldn’t do any of that because I’ve done it before, she doesn’t know if she can have kids because of reproductive health problems either. She wants to see past it and have a life with me but she can’t get over my kids. I’ve suggested seeing a specialist and as I’ve said that me having kids won’t encroach on our lives together as I will be away from her when I see them. It just seems like there’s no moving past this and I don’t know what else to suggest

OP posts:
GlassBoxSpectacular · 19/05/2021 12:30

@Hullish

Just here for the comments
Just here for the deletion message Grin
whosappleman · 19/05/2021 12:32

Why would anyone reassure their partner their kids won't encroach on their relationship?! Of course they will!

Mackie2020 · 19/05/2021 12:40

Oh, he's not going to come back to the thread now is he?! Grin

booboo24 · 19/05/2021 12:47

Wow....The minute she hinted at resentment towards you already having children should have put you off, I agree, your poor poor children....

SwordofGryffindor · 19/05/2021 12:48

Bloody hell. You moving to her ? She can move up to you cause youre the one with kids. And not knowing who to choose.. her or your kids.. omg

SharkBrilliant · 19/05/2021 12:49

So.... you’re thinking of leaving your current life (including family/friends/job etc), destroying the relationship you have with your kids (since what are the chances you will actually bother seeing them two weekends a month)... all for some randomer you’ve known for 5 months on a part-time basis (and who hates that you had a life before you met her).

You must be absolutely ridiculous to even consider this, let alone make plans to start another family with a resentful stranger.

SwearytheFairy · 19/05/2021 12:51

Sorry but the title was enough, didn't need to read the OP.

Don't even contemplate!

Flowers
MajorMujer · 19/05/2021 12:52

Why not just sign away your parental rights, or alternatively sell them on Facebook Marketplace. Knob.

PegasusReturns · 19/05/2021 12:52

and as I’ve said that me having kids won’t encroach on our lives together as I will be away from her when I see them

I refuse to believe that anyone as stupid as you found someone willing to procreate not once but potentially twice.

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 19/05/2021 12:52

Surprised this has stayed up for the better part of 3 hours, to be honest.

SecretSpAD · 19/05/2021 12:53

Interesting....I live in Cornwall and a friend of mine who is childfree has just spent the last few months talking to a man on the internet who told her he had no children and didn't want any.

Only it turns out he was lying.
She's ended it because she doesn't want children herself and doesn't want to be a step mother. He has then promised to move down here to be with her, promise her that he'll hardly see the children and that as far as she's concerned they (the children) would not affect their lives.
Oddly enough that didn't endear him to her - esp as even though she is determinedly childfree, she works with messed up teenagers and would certainly not want to be the cause of pain to children.
Also, it kind of made her realise that the guy was a bit of a cunt.

Allwokedup · 19/05/2021 12:55

You’d be happy to see this woman every day but your own children twice a month? Get your priorities straight.

MrsDSalvatore · 19/05/2021 12:55

If you choose this woman over your kids then you don't deserve them and they will be better off without you

Lozzerbmc · 19/05/2021 12:56

You cannot be serious!?

Your kids wont encroach on your life together? So you’ll never have them to stay or take them on holiday!?

This is utterly selfish of you. You are a package you and your children. Get rid of the woman who is not a nice person!

This post has made me angry and sad for your children…

How would you have felt if your father felt this way! Utterly shocking!

tenlittlecygnets · 19/05/2021 12:56

You've known her five months and have hardly met her and she wants to start a family with you?
She's batshit.

We have arranged that I will move down to where she lives in Cornwall and will see my kids as often as I can which would hopefully be for two weekends a month.
Selfish git.

She wants to see past it and have a life with me but she can’t get over my kids.
Then you're not the right person for her.

Put your kids first.

tenlittlecygnets · 19/05/2021 12:57

@SecretSpAD - no! What are the odds??

Lozzerbmc · 19/05/2021 12:59

Hope this post isnt real….

KurtWilde · 19/05/2021 13:00

Has this thread not been pulled yet?

Geriatric1234 · 19/05/2021 13:00

DUDE - WTAF??? Kids first!

I met my partner 2 years ago and we have almost identical situation to yours. I have no kids and he has 2. His children live about 150 miles away from me - where he is based. He has 50-50 custody.

He is the BEST thing to happen to me and therefore I have uprooted my very mobile, child-free, life (along with cat and dog) to base with him in between my contract work. When I’m working we stay at mine on weekends he doesn’t have kids and his when he does. I have worked very hard on my issues and (very natural) feelings of insecurity to ensure I have a great relationship with his children and he was always clear with me that if i couldn’t handle his children, the relationship would be difficult to make work. I LOVE his devotion to his children.

Your gf is being selfish, insecure and all the issues about you having kids are hers. She shouldn’t have started dating a man with a relationship history if she can’t cope with it. She needs to support you in having the best possible relationship with your children and you need to articulate to her that whilst you can be patient and are there to hear her vent her worries, your children are your NUMBER ONE priority and she must embrace that.

Furthermore, what does it say about the future you’re building together if you can so easily abandon your children? If my partner hadn’t been so clear about laying the boundaries around his kids and had ditched them I wouldn’t have found him attractive at all. His devotion to his children is incredible.

Two weekends a month is sometimes the best that separated parents can hope for, but if you can see them more you MUST. You made them and you have to prioritise them over and above your fear of being alone.

Set better boundaries and get your sh*t together OP. She’s going to try and alienate you from your children and that is a massive RED FLAG. DO BETTER BY YOUR KIDS.

YouLikeTheBadOnesToo · 19/05/2021 13:00

@SecretSpAD This is my favourite post ever. I often wonder about the others persons ‘take’ when I read mumsnet threads, and there it is!

Maggiesfarm · 19/05/2021 13:02

@GoddessKali

Are you seriously considering choosing a new partner over your own children?!!!
I thought that, a five month old long distance covid relationship too.
RaininSummer · 19/05/2021 13:02

OP this really isn't a good look.

OfTheNight · 19/05/2021 13:03

I’m nominating you for dad of the year, right up there with my shithead ex.

I wish your kids a very happy and full life without their deadbeat, joke of a father. I hope you and your girlfriend have a hugely disappointing and empty life making each other as miserable as possible.

SpindleWhorl · 19/05/2021 13:03

@SecretSpAD I salute you!! 🍿

Justmuddlingalong · 19/05/2021 13:05

I’ve suggested seeing a specialist
I suggest you're both fucking way past talking to a specialist stage.