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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

Is it me who is being unfair here?

34 replies

Craye · 02/08/2022 10:58

I’ve been with DP for 2 years. I’m mid thirties and he’s 40 tomorrow. When we met we talked about kids straight away as I didn’t want to date unless someone had the same future in mind. He was very much of the view that yes wanted kids and marriages ‘of course, that’s what life is about.’ So we cracked on with our relationship. Fell in love. Adored the man actually. That said, I was his first relationship and it was quite hard at times to get him to open up into it, we went slowly. Sex after 7 months for example.

Anyway, a year ago we moved in and had a proper conversation about kids. To my surprise he said he wanted to be 45 when he started ttc. I said that would make me 38/39 and I didn’t want that. He said that all women panic and it’s usually not necessary (he works in medical field and dismissed my concerns). We argued, talked more, eventually settled on ttc in a year.

Strangely after that conversation he began to reference kids a lot. Said it would be absolutely amazing, he would be so happy if it ‘just happened.’ One morning he randomly said I’m almost hoping you’ll come to me and say you’re pregnant next week… to which each time I said we are using contraception so that’s unlikely!!

While on a weekend away we did get pregnant despite using a condom. I’m now 10 weeks and found out later on as obviously wasn’t looking for it and i don’t keep track of periods at all.

I told him the same day and he said it was great initially… and then for the last month or so become really withdrawn. Distant, very suspicious of me asking ‘what happened’ to mean I am pregnant…. It’s all floored me and upset me greatly. I’ve had moments where I’ve totally lost my cool with him and said he’s an absolute bastard for even saying that and said he should go and stay at a friends for a night if he’s going to put me through that questioning again. He will throw all this back in my face later on, saying how dare I have thrown him out all night and that I was out of order. Seemingly missing the point that it’s awful to be randomly and intermittently questioned about condoms that we both used.

I’ve had bouts of sickness and he’s been practically very nice, but the emotional side has disappeared. I can’t remember the last time he laughed with me and had a joke and he certainly doesn’t seem interested in the baby. He made one nice comment but other than that he’s said things like ‘I suppose we will have to find a bigger place if we’re apparently having a baby…’ I said what did he mean by apparently and he backtracked and said sorry you know what I mean.

He’s been so cold with me and quiet. He says he doesn’t want a termination and that he wouldn’t ask that of me but he’s not sure he knows how to be a dad or if he should be. This is NEVER something he’s so much as raised before and has always said he wanted a family more than anything. He’s began drinking more than his usual bottle a night and conversation has broke down.

im 14 weeks now and 35. Spent my entire 20s dating and my 30s and I’m so sick of 2/3 year relationships. I have considered termination but it’s not what I want.

one thing he did say was that I’ve changed since pregnancy and become stressed and snappy and demanding. I raised relocating after he started being off with me, as I wanted to be closer to family…he said he couldn’t do that and how could I ever suggest it etc etc. I’ve clearly made him stressed too but it was a momentary thing and we could have talked it over. He’s just made me feel like I don’t recognise him anymore.

I said to him this has happened basically 8 months earlier than our original plan so is it so bad and he said ‘that was a flexible plan.’ News to me! I’d been with him thinking we were on the same page.

not sure why im posting just feel utterly let down and I don’t feel happy with him at all. He’s right I’ve become cross and off with him but I don’t know what he expects when he’s treating me like this?! Is it me? Am I being unfair and don’t see it?

OP posts:
Craye · 02/08/2022 11:00

*14 weeks that should say!

OP posts:
SareBear87 · 02/08/2022 11:15

I think you both need to take a deep breath. It sounds like you're both stressed out.

Pregnancy is stressful, I love my DP dearly and baby is very much planned but it's still hard!

I would set aside some time for the pair of you to talk, thoroughly. No distractions or time limits.
List your points slowly and tell him how you feel about them. If you feel an argument starting, agree to take 10 mins. I'm sure neither of you want to be fighting at the best of times! Pregnancy hormones are an absolute bitch and I totally get wanting to argue and that feeling of being betrayed.

Ask him to do the same, list his points slowly.
There's probably more middle ground that you realise.

If after that you are both in different places, well, that's a whole other discussion - but I'd leave that for another time so you can process.

Sending you hugs x

oobeedoobee · 02/08/2022 11:28

You've posted about this before, and you'll get the same responses.

It looks like he was fine with the 'fantasy' baby, but was planning to make you delay getting pregnant much further than he said, and maybe he was planning to just keep you 'hooked' with promises that would never materialize, but he's come a cropper because you fell pregnant by accident.

He's not ready or willing to be a Father, he's made no mention of marriage, and he's not willing to compromise over where he lives i.e he wants to stay 'convenient' for his work, so tough shit if YOU would find this much harder.

Get ready to be a single parent sometime soon, because he'll either 'engineer' a row to get you to leave or behave so appallingly that you leave, then he'll say you 'tried to trap him' by getting pregnant on purpose (i.e YOU'RE the 'crazy Ex' !)

I'm so sorry you fell for all his bullshit 'lines', because it's very clear he was lying all along, and now he'll leave you to deal with the consequences while accusing you of all sorts of horrible things (at some point, he's even going to say 'How do I even know it's mine ?' too, so mentally prepare yourself for that one.)

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 02/08/2022 12:42

He was going to future fake you.

Now you broke the plan and he is panicking. Prioritise a support network without him. He can't be trusted

UserError012345 · 02/08/2022 12:50

Yep agree with the future faking.

Obviously it can go either way....he'll come round or you need to get your head round being a single parent.

The horrible behaviour needs to stop - he either accepts or leaves.

knittingaddict · 02/08/2022 13:12

I've read previous threads by you too op.

I don't think the advice will be any different this time.

LuaDipa · 02/08/2022 13:16

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 02/08/2022 12:42

He was going to future fake you.

Now you broke the plan and he is panicking. Prioritise a support network without him. He can't be trusted

Yep.

Relocate to be with your family, he isn’t going to come good in the end he will just get worse. And it will be all your fault for ‘trapping him’ even though that’s clearly not the case. Get out now.

Rowen32 · 02/08/2022 13:47

I agree with the other posters, he wasn't planning on trying to conceive when he said he was. I also think because you were using protection he's going to question whether it is his baby - I don't doubt you at all, no protection is 100% effective but I do think he's going to throw that at you aswell, I'm so sorry. If he doesn't change definitely consider moving to your family xx

RewildingAmbridge · 02/08/2022 13:58

Or might not be that he didn't plan to conceive in twice months because he knows on average people don't conceive immediately, so maybe he foresaw start trying in twice months get pregnant six to twelve months later, baby arrives in nearly 3 years time which is actually fairly close to his original timeline.
Other than that his behaviour now you are pregnant is not acceptable.

Watchkeys · 02/08/2022 14:35

I’ve had moments where I’ve totally lost my cool with him and said he’s an absolute bastard for even saying that and said he should go and stay at a friends for a night if he’s going to put me through that questioning again. He will throw all this back in my face later on, saying how dare I have thrown him out all night and that I was out of order

This dynamic isn't something you want to bring a child into. You're not who you want to be, he's not who you want him to be. I'd be leaving on the strength of the fact you know he's going to 'throw it in your face later on'. Why do you know this? He must have form. Nobody expects someone to 'throw stuff in their face' unless they have a habit of doing it.

Musti · 02/08/2022 14:44

He sounds not normal if he hasn’t had a relationship before you. I think you knew there was a risk him not wanting kids and it never happening and it is odd getting pregnant deapite using contraception. Also odd he saying he wanted a surprise when you were using contraception.

He may be on the spectrum and has to come to terms with it in his own time and his own way. Now that you’re pregnant, it is worth seeing how things pan out before making any decisions.

billy1966 · 02/08/2022 16:05

He's a heavy drinking future faker and a complete liar.

Do you really want to be a single parent?

Because I have no doubt that is exactly what you are going to be.

Worse still you will havevthis waster messing you around.

Termination would be my suggestion OP.

Sorry.

Brigante9 · 02/08/2022 16:07

No relationship aged 40? That’s very unusual. I wonder what his parents’ relationship looked like? I think he has future faked you as a pp said and he had no intention of having children. Unless some revolution in his thinking occurs, I can’t see him being a willing parent/partner. You need to prepare a contingency plan, @Craye because I don’t see this lasting, sorry.

IncompleteSenten · 02/08/2022 16:08

I think he didn't want a child and was hoping to 'run out' your fertile years.

If I were you I would plan everything as though I was going to be a single parent.

Watchkeys · 02/08/2022 16:10

He may be on the spectrum

Because he said he might be into having a baby then went cold when his partner got pregnant?

Bit of a leap to 'the spectrum', there, @Musti

Craye · 02/08/2022 17:03

I just can’t imagine him being the type of person to ‘future fake’ me. He always seemed sincere from day one. Just drained by it all.

OP posts:
Minimalme · 02/08/2022 20:29

If he was drinking a bottle a night (of wine?) and is now drinking more then he is an alcoholic.

I think he will make your life a misery until you leave him op, then he will blame you for the break up and that he never sees his child.

I think you would benefit from some therapy to work out how this user blinded you to his obvious faults.

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/08/2022 20:47

You were his first relationship and he was 38 then?? Why did you ignore these red flags OP?

As others have said, you've posted before. The answers don't change. Since you want to keep the baby, I suggest you move back nearer to your family and prepare to be a single parent. You can't rely on this man.

Musti · 02/08/2022 20:56

Watchkeys · 02/08/2022 16:10

He may be on the spectrum

Because he said he might be into having a baby then went cold when his partner got pregnant?

Bit of a leap to 'the spectrum', there, @Musti

No, because he hasn’t had a relationship until he was 38 etc.

YahBooFucks · 02/08/2022 21:36

Disclaimer - I haven't read the thread properly (nor have I taken lots of time to read the OP either), but I felt the need to comment despite this because in one aspect at least, I've kind of been in a very similar position to you... My DP and I didn't see eye to eye about kids for a very long time. Eventually, he agreed we should try and when I fell pregnant, surprisingly quickly, he really struggled with the reality that he was going to be a dad. It was hard, and I found it incredibly hard to not resent him for it. Once the baby arrived, however, he took to being a parent wonderfully... He has since been hugely apologetic about how emotionally cold and uninvolved he was in my first pregnancy (he's literally mortified by how he behaved). He made up for it when we had our second. So, allowing for elements of your problem that I might not have paid full attention to, this doesn't have to be a hopeless situation. It wasn't for me.

Imthedamnfoolwhoshothim · 02/08/2022 22:14

Craye · 02/08/2022 17:03

I just can’t imagine him being the type of person to ‘future fake’ me. He always seemed sincere from day one. Just drained by it all.

That's literally the point. They're so good you buy into it.

I cab imagine, physically, mentally and everything else.

I would just think of how you need post partum to go.

Watchkeys · 02/08/2022 23:34

@Musti

No, because he hasn’t had a relationship until he was 38 etc

Still not strong diagnostic criteria. Not a professional at diagnosis, are you.

Musti · 03/08/2022 01:13

Watchkeys · 02/08/2022 23:34

@Musti

No, because he hasn’t had a relationship until he was 38 etc

Still not strong diagnostic criteria. Not a professional at diagnosis, are you.

You’re right and I’m sorry. I’m neither a professional nor experienced.

Someone not having had a relationship until 38 does point to something. If it is ND as opposed to commitment issues then it might be worth sticking around and seeing if once he got used to it, things may get better. That’s what I was trying to get at.

For example, my boyfriend is an introvert and I know it takes a lot out of him when I spring an impromptu get together with people he doesn’t know on him. He’s not being unsociable or trying to stop me from seeing my friends. Whereas my ex was jealous and controlling and he would try and stop me from seeing my friends.

Not sure I’m explaining it well but it wasn’t meant as an insult or a diagnosis or anything, just more understanding and patience if that was the case, especially as the op is pregnant and she loved him.

Aquamarine1029 · 03/08/2022 01:28

Craye · 02/08/2022 17:03

I just can’t imagine him being the type of person to ‘future fake’ me. He always seemed sincere from day one. Just drained by it all.

I'm sorry, op, but you need to take the blinders off. He's been future faking you right from the start and you bought into it all. He never wanted a baby, he doesn't want one now, and he was confident he could run out your clock.

You had might as well get rid of this lying shitbag now, because he won't be around for long.

CousinKrispy · 03/08/2022 03:19

Relocating to be near your family sounds like an excellent idea.

I'd focus on that and give him the option of coming along. Though I bet he won't.

I'm sorry, OP, I know this must be heartbreaking but it doesn't sound like he's going to be anything other than a nightmare to co-parent with.