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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

A Messy Situation

31 replies

borntocry · 21/05/2021 09:19

Hello everyone,

After trying unsuccessfully to find counselling/therapy, I came across a thread here where I read some good advice and decided to try my luck.

I have two kids already, both pregnancies were very difficult in different ways - I almost lost my son during the birth and a couple of days later he almost died in the hospital due to medical malpractice. I was in an abusive relationship at the time and had just about decided to leave when I became pregnant again... I denied pregnancy and didn't show until I was 8 months along, by which point it was clear I was well and truly stuck in the relationship, as I had feared. My husband lost his job just before the birth and became a stay-at-home dad, but we were never intimate again and a few years later we started seeing other people.

Now, the kids are aged 10 and 7, we're still co-parenting and living together, but I am in a relationship with someone else, whom I met 3 year ago. He is madly in love with me and desperately wanted me to move in with him, but this wasn't possible as I am seriously allergic to his bevy of cats. And I must admit I was not too keen to move in with him anyway because I don't want to have to see my kids only every other week - I am very close to them. Also, my husband wouldn't hesitate to paint me as the "villain" for walking out on them.

Now, it turns out I'm pregnant with this other guy. He has no children and would love to have one with me. I am 44 so this is probably my last chance to have another child (assuming the pregnancy is even actually successful at this advanced age!). But I honestly can't see how to make it work. I imagine I would definitely have to move out of the home I currently share with my husband and two kids. The kids - who have told me repeatedly that they don't want a baby brother or sister - would resent the baby and the fact that I would be spending all my time with this baby but only see them 1 week out of 2!! I can't bear that. Also, I'm afraid the baby's dad would move in with me, and I really don't think I can bear to be around him all the time. The initial attraction has died down quite significantly, and he has also become clinically obese. He is constantly asking me for money and wallowing in self-pity at his inability to financially support himself. He doesn't get along with my children, and I've had to make sure he is never around them because it always ends with him fighting and screaming at them. Before I met him, I had no plans or desire to have another baby - it was just because of how much I knew he wanted one that I agreed to try.

So what now?? Please help me, anyone!

OP posts:
Justmeandme19 · 21/05/2021 11:12

It's really hard to know what to say tbh. So you deliberately got pregnant by a man your children don't like and who screams and fights with your children?
From what I understand your also still living with your ex partner and children. Tbh it's a bit of a shit shower!
You have put yourself in a situation where you may have to choose between your current children and the one your pregnant with. Also why get pregnant with a man who screams and fights with your children? No wonder they don't like him, he's an adult for god sake.
What options do you think are available to you?
Get your own place and see if the children want to come with you?? I would be conserned about leaving the children with their father (you said he was abusive). That should be your top priority.
Sorry if I have misunderdtood anything you have written.
There are always options even though you may feel very stuck and trapped, but you do have to take responsibility for your own actions. Esp if children are involved. Hopefully someone else will come along with some advise

Redtartanshoes · 21/05/2021 11:18
  1. Abortion
  2. Leave abusive husband
  3. Get rid of lazy scrounging nasty “partner”
  4. Find your own house, set it up, and hopefully the kids will come with you
5.make better choices. For you and your kids. And don’t get involved with abusive counts ever again.
tentosix · 21/05/2021 11:32

@Redtartanshoes

1. Abortion
  1. Leave abusive husband
  2. Get rid of lazy scrounging nasty “partner”
  3. Find your own house, set it up, and hopefully the kids will come with you
5.make better choices. For you and your kids. And don’t get involved with abusive counts ever again.

Absolutely do this. It's a mess

Redtartanshoes · 21/05/2021 11:47

“Cunts” clearly, not Counts... they might be quite nice.

Seriously though. Hugs and all that. We’ve all made shit choices but we learn and we grow. I know abortion isn’t ideal but the actual last thing you want is to be tied to another useless horrible lazy bastard for another 18 years.

premium77 · 21/05/2021 12:12

Your new partner sounds awful. I would get an abortion, dump your boyfriend and find your own place.

AngusThermopyle · 21/05/2021 12:15

Sorry to hear you're in this position op but I honestly would consider a termination in these circumstances.

Alfiemoon1 · 21/05/2021 12:18

Have an abortion get rid of your boyfriend move into your own place

MoodyMooToo · 21/05/2021 12:35

I’d seriously consider a termination and then concentrate on finding somewhere safe to live with your children. It can’t be an easy life for you and another baby won’t make things better Flowers

Shutthelightoff · 21/05/2021 12:39

Terminate the baby and the relationship. Then move out.

Lifeolife · 21/05/2021 12:49

I think because your in the very early stages of pregnancy an early termination may be your best option! Or you have plan A you will be living with you ex abusive DH with the baby and your beautiful kids that as you say may (resent baby) plan B if you decide to move in with your lazy obese partner who doesn’t even like your kids? Where will that leave you apart from with a major allergic reaction to the cats!!!! Grow up think logically get rid of this arse wipe of a man and start getting your ducks in a row to get the hell out of the marital home! find a little house for you and the kids agree days that your ex dh can have the kids decide on Maintanice and start to focus on you and the kids only. You don’t want this extra baggage ??? then you are free to date someone worthy of you in the future. Good luck Flowers

borntocry · 21/05/2021 13:19

Hi everyone,

First of all, thanks SO MUCH for your messages, I really am overwhelmed and grateful to you all for taking the time to advise me!

Just to clarify a couple of things which I forgot to specify (if anyone is interested!), the birth of my daughter totally turned things around for my ex, he had also lost his job at this point and that removed a major source of stress for him. Focusing on the kids totally calmed him down, he "grew up" a bit I guess and was never abusive after that. He's also a really great father to them - there's just no love left between the two of us, that's all.

And my current partner does love my kids, he's just rather immature and short-tempered... it's nothing that bad, but my kids aren't used to it because me and their dad are very soft-spoken and lenient with them. Also, because we aren't really a couple any more, they haven't learnt things like sometimes adults need time alone together - they're used to having one or both parents always available for them. My current partner does nice things for them too - he buys them gifts and always wants to hang out with them, but to be honest I just find it really stressful because if an argument breaks out, or if the kids do something he considers "naughty", he won't back down, and I just can't handle all the screaming, shouting and crying.

So, yeah. Since the advice I got from you all was pretty much unanimous, I guess that's what I need to do... it was hard to hear, but thanks again, everyone!

OP posts:
nolovelost · 21/05/2021 13:23

Wow...how confusing for your kids. You're still living with their dad but they regularly see your boyfriend?

You need to break free from that house and your boyfriend - he sounds like a twat. Be on your own.

Rubyreddiamond · 21/05/2021 13:35

Be on your own and stop dragging kids through this mess

TokyoSushi · 21/05/2021 13:39

You really need to sort this out OP for your poor children. If you're still early enough, I would terminate this pregnancy and the relationship with the baby's father. I'd then look at getting your own place away from your DH/ex DH.

PriestessofPing · 21/05/2021 13:46

Are you saying he screams shoots and cries around your kids? Or that he reduces them to that? Or a combo? Whatever it is fet this man the fuck away from them. He does not love them if he screams at them and it’s irresponsible to claim he does.

And while i would not tell you to have a termination, if i were in your shoes i absolutely would.

Beautiful3 · 21/05/2021 13:55

Honestly if I were in your shoes, I'd strongly consider a termination. I'd end the affair and book in for relate counselling to get my marriage on track.Flowers

bloodywhitecat · 21/05/2021 13:59

End the affair. End the marriage.

Redtartanshoes · 21/05/2021 14:02

Your kids must be confused as fuck

UpTheJunktion · 21/05/2021 14:02

OP, you sound really passive.

Why would you be afraid that this (awful) man would move in with you? He can't just move in with you - he needs your permission. Which...you wouldn't give.

Because you don't even love him, fancy him, like him or respect him any more.

And yet, despite not wanting to be in a relationship with him any more, you got pregnant.

It is YOUR life, seize it.

  1. Personally, I would have a termination.

Do not passively wait for fate because you believe a pregnancy won't go to term at your age - countless MNers are women who gave birth in their early to mid 40s.

  1. Think about leaving the father of your children. You have as much right to access to them as he does, who leaves makes no difference at all. And of course your kids will want to see you if you are not with an unpleasant man who shouts at them. (stop making excuses for him - you don't like him, why should your kids??)
  1. If you are opposed to abortion (even when carrying a child you didn't plan, fathered by a man you don't like,) Then for heaven's sake move out and live as a single parent. Again, you have as much right to see your kids as their father, so don't passively assume it will be every other weekend.

Being passive got you into this mess - and it is a mess. I am very sorry that you are in such a miserable situation, and hope with all my heart that things work out for you. You have to fight for it and take action towards what you actually WANT and think will work best for your children.

Good luck OP - get out there and make your happier life happen - without this man.

johnd2 · 21/05/2021 14:40

I agree with a lot of the comments here but why would the kids be confused, loads of people are in non traditional relationships and that wouldn't confuse kids, the only issue is If they are not being looked after properly.
Back to the op, good luck.

Rubyreddiamond · 21/05/2021 15:27

@johnd2 I think having a dad living with you but isn’t with the mum - okay but not ideal. Having a partner coming in and out of the picture who screams and is unpleasant to her kids and who she doesn’t like, then having a baby ( who the kids don’t want) with this man - meaning he’ll be in her kids lives forever ...
I could never put my dc through such selfishness. You’ve got to be a parent first and foremost. This sounds like a circus.
I don’t believe in abortion (Other than medical grounds) so can’t comment on that .
However, I would definitely be single and not confusing kids with a dad living there and boyfriends ( esp horrible ones) on the scene too.

I would ensure in the future if I did get a boyfriend, I dated him a long time and didn’t introduce him to my kids until I was comfortable he was a good person and it was going to go the distance.
I would double up on protection to avoid pg.
I read so many threads on here and am so frustrated that kids are exposed to this adult selfishness growing up. Very damaging

borntocry · 21/05/2021 15:31

Thanks again everyone for all your advice! You're right, @UpTheJunktion, I am a really passive person and that's surely what's gotten me into this mess... :(

Though I'm definitely in agreement with everything you all have said (and very grateful for it!), strangely enough, as @johnd2 guessed, the kids aren't actually confused by the current situation, crazy as it seems. That actually makes things harder, though, as one of my reasons for suggesting to my ex that we live separately was to avoid confusion for the kids. We ended up giving them that whole talk about how romantic love isn't like the love a parent has for a child, in that it sometimes doesn't last, but that we are just friends now and still live together because that makes it easier for us to look after them. Eventually, they met our "special friends" and they were actually totally fine with it, and I even noticed my daughter smiling broadly whenever she noticed me holding hands with or kissing my SO. She had never seen her father and me showing affection before...

All of which means that my ex can now say to me, "look, the kids are perfectly happy and well-adjusted - what will happen if you move out, you'll tear the whole family apart!!"

But yeah, that doesn't really change anything as far as the current situation is concerned.

OP posts:
FunMcCool · 21/05/2021 15:46

Do you want this baby? I would think very long and hard.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 21/05/2021 15:49

Sorry but I'd terminate the pregnancy first of all.

Cloudfrost · 21/05/2021 15:52

so first you agreed to try to get pregnant with bf, even though u didnt want another child, and now u are pregnant u arent happy about it?

sorry i have no sympathy, you made your own bed. Should have thought about the concequences from the start...