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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

DH doesn’t want children. Is he just scared?

126 replies

Rhodora · 12/06/2022 19:53

I am wife number two and I have been with DH for six years. DH and his ex wife were separated when we met and their divorce was finalised almost a year to the day after we first met. He was not innocent in the split but there were faults on both sides and in the end life got in the way and neither focused enough on each other. DH lost his job when the bottom fell out the housing market and so he took a job as an HGV driver to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and the bills paid. This sadly meant working away a lot and leaving her for days on end with the children.

DH has four children with his ex wife who were 5, 4, 2 and 5 months when they first separated. He saw his children every weekend after they separated. Around 20 months after we met and 22 months after they separated his children told him they didn’t want to see him anymore. He hasn’t seen them since but still pays for them and sends money and cards for birthdays and Christmas.

On our third date I told him one day I wanted to be a mother. I made it clear l wasn’t planning on telling him he was father nine months down the line but equally I was 31 and didn’t want to get to a point in the relationship where we decided on a future together and find we were worlds apart on that point. He said he wasn’t against being a father again.

Fast forward to now and he is working in construction again. He goes from looking at what private school (public school in England) we would send our child to, to talking about fostering or adoption to then saying he doesn’t want children. I think he’s scared of being hurt again but he seems to forget that I have seen the damage to a child when parents split acrimoniously in my mother. Because of this I couldn’t and wouldn’t ever stop him seeing our child even if our relationship failed. Is DH just scared?

OP posts:
Umbrellaacademy · 12/06/2022 19:56

Why hasn't he fought to see his own children? This would concern me. I think it sounds like he can't be arsed with being a dad TBH. He has four kids he doesn't see already, what makes you think any children with you would be any different?

SW1amp · 12/06/2022 19:57

So he hasn’t seen his kids in 4 years?

What is he doing to regain contact with them?

Furrbabymama1987 · 12/06/2022 19:58

I can see why he doesn't want more kids, he doesn't even want the ones he's already got. And if you've been together 6 years and not had a child I can't really see that changing, sorry.

Dery · 12/06/2022 19:59

I agree with PP - it’s very worrying that he hasn’t tried to see his children. Also, it sounds very young for his children to have said they don’t want to see him again. I don’t think you’re getting the full story here.

MojoJojo71 · 12/06/2022 20:00

I would leave him and find someone who wants to be a father. He can’t even be bothered to parent the children he already has so why would yours be any different?

Smartiepants79 · 12/06/2022 20:01

His 2 year old decided they didn’t want to see their father anymore and so that was that? He didn’t?????!! 🤔
He’s not very bothered about being a father to the kids he’s already got. I would suspect he’s even less bothered about having any more children.

KatherineJaneway · 12/06/2022 20:02

Around 20 months after we met and 22 months after they separated his children told him they didn’t want to see him anymore.

I smell bullshit

SmallPrawnEnergy · 12/06/2022 20:02

I think you’re insane contemplating bringing another poor little soul into this world who has a waste of space for a father. Seriously, he doesn’t make the effort with his own kids, why do you think yours will be different?

Mama1980 · 12/06/2022 20:03

Why on earth doesn't he see his children, at those ages no way would any court deny him access totally unless he was a danger to them. So why didn't he fight for them?

JassyRadlett · 12/06/2022 20:03

I wouldn't have children with a father who hadn't fought tooth and nail to stay in contact with his own existing children.

A 7 year old can't decide they don't want to see their parent any more, let alone a 2 year old. Something wrong here.

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 12/06/2022 20:05

Four children is plenty for anyone apart from Boris so I can understand why he doesn't want any more.

Tothepoint99 · 12/06/2022 20:05

Do you really want to be with a man who has not seen his existing children for however long it's been?

This is a major red flag.

Whilst I wouldn't say a leopard never changes its spots, it definitely gives you a good indication of how he approaches serious life issues.

You need to find someone who really wants children at the very least.

Hugasauras · 12/06/2022 20:06

DH has four children with his ex wife who were 5, 4, 2 and 5 months when they first separated. He saw his children every weekend after they separated. Around 20 months after we met and 22 months after they separated his children told him they didn’t want to see him anymore

A 7, 6, 4, and 2yo all told him they didn't want to see him anymore? Hmm

Tbh he doesn't have a relationship with the four kids he already has, I don't think he should be adding any more into the equation.

Tothepoint99 · 12/06/2022 20:06

KatherineJaneway · 12/06/2022 20:02

Around 20 months after we met and 22 months after they separated his children told him they didn’t want to see him anymore.

I smell bullshit

Me too and it's a very strong smell!

Doyoumind · 12/06/2022 20:07

KatherineJaneway · 12/06/2022 20:02

Around 20 months after we met and 22 months after they separated his children told him they didn’t want to see him anymore.

I smell bullshit

Absolutely.

PermanentTemporary · 12/06/2022 20:09

I think when he said he wasn't against having another child, you heard what you wanted to hear, and I think that because I've been there.

It's possible that he is 'just scared' but the motivating factor is less important than the end result. I don't think this father of four wants to be a father of five. I would have a talk on the basis of splitting tbh.

Hugasauras · 12/06/2022 20:09

So he's not seen his four existing kids in four years? What's he done about it?

inmyslippers · 12/06/2022 20:09

He doesn't look after the kids he already has. Probably a good thing he doesn't want to bring more into the world

EmmaH2022 · 12/06/2022 20:12

SmallPrawnEnergy · 12/06/2022 20:02

I think you’re insane contemplating bringing another poor little soul into this world who has a waste of space for a father. Seriously, he doesn’t make the effort with his own kids, why do you think yours will be different?

This
also, I don’t want kids
i mean it
why don’t you believe him?
yes, four mistakes is pathetic but the fact he doesn’t see them now tells you all you need to know.

Rhodora · 12/06/2022 20:12

DH was told by his ex wife that the doctor suspected their second child had ADHD. When DH was a child certain E numbers like blue smarties and Irn Bru and he was hyper but if he wasn’t given those E numbers he was fine. DH said if tablets are needed then so be it but is it worth asking the doctor if a dietary change might be beneficial before putting our son on medication for the rest of his life. Ex wife lost it saying the doctor knew everything and couldn’t be wrong and tried to remove the children from the car. The children were terrified and after that they just screamed every time he came for them. Children don’t understand the ins and outs they simply see one parent is still there and one is gone and they are so scared of losing the parent that stays that they will defend the remaining parent to the hilt. His children decided he was the devil incarnate and he refused to take screaming children. I don’t agree with that and think he should have tried harder and he knows it.

OP posts:
anniegun · 12/06/2022 20:14

Do not have children with this man. He has enough to take responsibility for

Galvanisa · 12/06/2022 20:14

Why do you want to have children with a man who hasn’t fought to see his four children?

The best gift you can give a child is a good father. Why are you willingly trying to give yours a proven shit one?

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 12/06/2022 20:15

Rhodora · 12/06/2022 20:12

DH was told by his ex wife that the doctor suspected their second child had ADHD. When DH was a child certain E numbers like blue smarties and Irn Bru and he was hyper but if he wasn’t given those E numbers he was fine. DH said if tablets are needed then so be it but is it worth asking the doctor if a dietary change might be beneficial before putting our son on medication for the rest of his life. Ex wife lost it saying the doctor knew everything and couldn’t be wrong and tried to remove the children from the car. The children were terrified and after that they just screamed every time he came for them. Children don’t understand the ins and outs they simply see one parent is still there and one is gone and they are so scared of losing the parent that stays that they will defend the remaining parent to the hilt. His children decided he was the devil incarnate and he refused to take screaming children. I don’t agree with that and think he should have tried harder and he knows it.

Don't inflict you two as parents on a child. No child deserves that.

Hugasauras · 12/06/2022 20:16

He goes from looking at what private school (public school in England) we would send our child to

Does he pay for any of his existing four children to go to private school?

Doyoumind · 12/06/2022 20:16

There's no excuse, OP. It's extremely unlikely a man wouldn't be granted contact if he spent the £200 fee to take it to court. How could you stand by a man who abandonded 4 young children? It feels somewhat unbelievable.