Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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

Help! - I'm so miserable & down (long story)

6 replies

Caron · 18/11/2004 01:04

My exP split with me on the day I told him I was pregnant. We had been together for 3 years, the pregnancy was unplanned & totally unexpected (I was told that I could not have anymore children after 2nd dd was born).
A week afterwards I called & arranged to meet so we could discuss the situation. I was totally opposed to termination & suggested adoption - he said "no way". I asked how we are going to deal with this & he said it was up to me!

The pregnancy ended up being very stressful, my exP was impossible to deal with, one minute being "nice" another he was cruel, selfish, calling me every name under the sun. I was scared stiff of suffering post natal depression as I had in the past (2 daughters from previous marriage) and facing being a sole parent.
I had many admissions into hospital for high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia & suspected diabetes.

The birth was shocking (72hrs). ExP was at the birth as was my 2 dd. Horrific experience.
DS was born with no heart beat & not breathing, he suffered a broken left arm, paralysed right arm, shoulder & hand (erbs palsy)... was in NICU for 2 months, I was in hospital for 3 weeks. Ds was also diagnosed with Congenital Hypothyroidism (he has no thyroid gland at all), Tachyarythmia, Cardiomyopathy, Erbs palsy, partial agenisis of Corpus Colosum, enlarged septum/heart and umbilical hernia.

DS is now 14 months old & after an absolute hell of a year is now doing well. ExP has been useless, unsupportive & violent at times when visiting to see ds. Police & Family Court involved (exP took DS and refused to return him, federal Police recovered him & returned him to me). ExP pays regular child support & see's DS every Sunday - I have only just relaxed a little to allow him to take ds for the afternoon.

Now I am about to travel overseas to Portugal so DS can meet his fathers family. Intially plans were made together with DS father in a mutual way (he was actually excited about ds meeting ex's mother & family). I have scraped money together for this trip and have been left to arrange everything alone. ExP is very unhelpful & moody... have paid in full all airfares, accomodation & passports, visas & expenses. I even had to go to Family Court to get order for DD's passport to be approved (ex-h opposed DD's travel overseas & refused to sign passport application).

Now exP has told me he may not travel because of financial problems. All the money I've spent is non-refundable. ExP is so cruel and beligerent about the situation, doesn't care about the money I've paid or the fact I face travelling alone with just DS 1 DD. I am so upset because money could of been used to buy a car & learnt to drive so I am completely independant.

Can anyone advise me on what I should do? I am so confused & depressed & feel sad that everything is completely stuffed.

OP posts:
Chandra · 18/11/2004 01:19

Well Caron, I'm sorry you have had such a badtime not helped by such unreliable person. I think you are doing a lot for your ex, and in my honest opinion he doesn't deserve it. I would use this as a learning experience, if he wants his child to meet his family he should pay for the costs. If I were in your situation I would go to Portugal anyway but as a holiday, forget about his family he doesn't deserve so much consideration from you and TBH... I wouldn't trust him with his DS if he has proven in the past not being "able" to return him.

Three children are hard work, why to bother with a fourth one? IF exDP can't offer the support you need and deserve, and brings so many problems, wouldn't you be better off keeping him at a safe distance?

Sorry if I sound hard but I'm fuming at your X on your behalf, DS was also born with a congenital condition though not half as bad as your child's, I can't imagine coping without DH, but now he causing more problems and stress that I already have... I will shut him out of my life until I had the strenght and be in the position to be able to deal with him, though, after sometime I wonder if I would bother.

(((((LOTS OF HUGS))))))

Caron · 18/11/2004 01:34

Hi Chandra,

Thanks for the hugs - I really need it!
I think you have helped me before at some point with the long haul flights stuff

I agree , he doesn't deserve anything I do for him (besides its never right anyway!) I just felt that DS has the right to know his relatives.. and exP mother is elderly so I thought it would be nice to go (I have been to Portugal 3 years previously alone and really enjoyed it).

I have friends there (single & childless), been very helpful & looking forward to seeing me again with kids in tow.

Can I ask what is the congential condition your ds has? What is your ds up to?

God, men can be a pain!!!!

OP posts:
Chandra · 18/11/2004 01:43

I think you will have a great time in Portugal, go for it!, oit would be nice to introduce new baby to the old friends

DS was born with a condition that made him choke with his own laringe, after I don't know how many hospital stays, and an operation, he is fine now, but it was awfully stressful at the time, it was a stay alert mission for some months as he could choke while feeding, playing or sleeping. In retrospective it doesn't seems too bad, but at the time I was not able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I didn't know what was going on, which added to my fears of being a mum for the first time. But thanks God it's over

Caron · 18/11/2004 01:54

I'm beginning to get my head around the travel on our own - I'm determined to have some sort of holiday - god, I need it.

Happy to hear that DS is ok now - but it must of been horrible not being able to relax and really enjoy being a first time mum. At what age did he have his operation? How old is DS now?

My beautiful DD's & DS have helped me to keep me sane thru all this, I can tell you many tears of sadness & frustration have poured - Kleenex have made a fortune out of me

In regards to the ex, he has really let all of us down... I get the feeling his family have no idea what kind of a selfish, arrogant SOB he really is. Considering he's 47 he acts like a child as you said.

I also suspect he has not told his family about DS as I have not seen any form of communications from them after DS's birth... not even a 1st birthday card!! I have given exP photos of DS, they are still on the desk at his place!

Apparantly, exP's mother is excited about meeting DS (as I've been told).

OP posts:
Chandra · 18/11/2004 02:11

Oh yes kleenex must be making a fortune out of people like us , they should add a new product to their range something like aromatherapy oils to calm you down while having a good weeping

I better go to sleep now, tomorrow will be a long day, I'm happy to hear your DS is better and expect to speak to you again before you go to Portugal, but in the mean time, Lots of hugs, you are a great person

Caron · 18/11/2004 13:05

Hehehe
Kleenex has done just that... facial tissues with Lavender (to relax) Eucalyptus (for colds) Aloe Vera (sore noses) and Ylang Ylang (to make you feel happy) - only in Australia!!!

I hope to catch you online before I leave.. I appreciate your kind words - a big thank you

I sort of expected to be blasted by someone for being sooo stupid in trusting HIM again!!!!

Have a great day & hugs to you & your family

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page