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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

He got the snip.

136 replies

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 08:51

long post sorry. I feel incredibly down. Like worse than I’ve felt in a very long time. After I basically told him how I felt last Tuesday ( that I wasn’t sure about his decision to get vasectomy), we were basically split up. There was no room for compromise for him and with that came a sense of acceptance from myself that he didn’t want children with me. I’ve got my boy he’s got his daughter and I suppose I really should be grateful for that. He basically said he didn’t want us to break up. But I’d already told my mum everything. Told her it was over. He asked me whether I was still going with him Thursday for the vasectomy. At that point I felt like I couldn’t be with him but I would still be there for him despite my feelings. When he asked me to still go with him I had such warmth in my heart that he would reach out to me. I told him I needed some time to really accept and adjust to this. But Thursday I went with him we made a day out of it and in all honesty it ended up being a really nice day/road trip with him. But something in me was very very detached from him in a way, we had a laugh but it seemed like something had really disappeared between us , in my heart I felt like he was more a friend than the man I was once in love with. Sex has been off the table for ages because of all the arguments we’ve had. And especially now after this. I’ve had some health problems putting me off as well so we’ve not had that intimacy for a while ( he says weeks but it’s been more like 2 weeks).

There’s something in me that feels like I’m grieving something and I don’t know why, I cannot understand why I feel a sense of grief about this:(:( but it’s actually really painful unlike anything I’ve felt before really so it’s difficult to convey it to him. I was there for him Thursday and he was incredibly grateful and really appreciated my support. I was happy to be there for him because I do love him and couldn’t not be there for him especially when he asked me. I’m glad I went with him. But like I said there’s a sense of loss in a way and I don’t know why. I made a list of pros and cons for his decision. There were more pros than cons. It makes sense to me not to have more kids. But it’s that the possibility has been taken away from me. It’s much more complex than just agreeing with his decision. I have a deep sense of disappointment right now. I feel quite empty. I feel quite lost and alone. I feel like something has been taken away from me. I feel quite inadequate, not important enough to be heard by him, a bit disrespected in a wierd way, like my life is a bit meaningless, a bit frustrated that I’ve been single more or less nearly 8 years waiting and hoping for my lucky break in finding mr. right, I feel like I found him and he can’t give me the possibility of more kids. I feel I’d feel different if it was a case of him not being able to have kids for medical reason..but it’s his decision to not have kids because ‘he doesn’t want more kids’ that’s difficult for me to understand him really and whether I can base my future on such a vague and selfish explanation. I’m torn between thinking ‘well it’s his body he can do whatever he wants (which he is obviously entitled to do), and ‘he’s not considering me in his decision’. And that’s what hurts, is that I feel that I don’t really mean that much to him, he doesn’t love me as much as he says he does and it’s his way or the highway. I’m just not sure I’m strong enough to completely dismiss my own feelings and thoughts about this. There are more pros than cons to him having the snip. I’m basing all of my thoughts and feelings on the idea that I possibly may want kids when I push 40 odd, it’s that fear that I may start panicking when the big 4-0 approaches and the thought of not having given myself a chance to find somebody who is willing to give me the world.

I’ve become so distant. I’m very quiet naturally anyway but this is such a different and kind of unsettling kind of silence in me. Like I’ve been covered in a blanket, it’s in a way quite soothing, it’s a sense of detachment where nothing aggravates me or angers me, it’s more of a deep acceptance in me that I’m not allowed something, like a sense of meaning has been stripped away from me. I’m not sure if I’m making sense really. But as a woman intrinsically here to bear children….I feel trapped in that i feel like I can’t find anybody better than him who loves me like he does, we’ve bonded as a family…I feel like I can’t leave that as it’s special to me. It’s what I’ve wanted. A little family even if we don’t have a child together we have two beautiful ones between us. I should be grateful there’s noway I could throw away such a blessing.

But today was difficult. His mother and uncle and aunty came to visit. And I spent the day feeling incredibly low thinking about his decision Thursday. And I cannot shake this feeling that i feel like i’m grieving something.

Bit of background. Emotionally neglected as a child by father. Abandoned by my mother when I was 8. String of toxic relationships. Had a child with a narcissist. And it scared me so much. That was nearly 8 years ago. Tried dating/relationships but they’ve always ended badly. Finally found somebody who was willing to fight for me and stick around. Felt loved. Got pregnant and he told me to get rid of it. Now he’s done this vasectomy and doesn’t want any more kids. It’s like I’ve waited a long time for my happy ending and it’s not been much of a happy ending in all honesty. And it’s almost as if it’s my karma. Like I deserve this or rather i don’t deserve my happy ending. And I’m getting on a bit now. If I choose to end it there’s no guarantee I’ll find someone anyway To have more children with. I guess it’s this sense of loss that I was single for so long, left on The shelf kind of thing and i guess it’s that feeling of being ‘past it’. That disappointment that it’s never going to happen for me. Even though I should be grateful that there is somebody who loves me. It’s so complex I’m not sure how I feel myself even. The best I can describe it as is this sense of emptiness and loneliness. Even though I have him and my boy. He bought me a big bunch of flowers delivered them to me today with some nice chocolates. As a thank you to me for going with him Thursday. I got them this morning just before I was about to go to his to meet his aunty and uncle. I thanked him then he asked me a random question that made me feel a bit uncomfortable ‘do you still fancy me?’ And it may have made me feel uncomfortable because I wasn’t sure how to answer. It made me feel awkward because it was crap timing to ask. But I wasn’t massively reassuring towards him:/ I said ‘ye I do’ but just said bit awkward just before I meet your family. I’m not sure if I still have that desire towards him at this moment in time because of how low I feel and because of what he’s done. I’ve asked him to give me a bit of time to really adjust to all this. But I found today extremely overwhelming and I was very distant. It annoys me how casually he talks about the snip. He told his mum as well. And she was there today. And I just felt incredibly awkward in all honesty. His uncle and aunty mentioned his previous wedding as well which made me feel uncomfortable. I felt slightly judged by them and felt like his aunty was comparing me to his ex wife. (I get the impression the aunty got on alright with his ex wife). I increasingly because uncomfortable today although they were lovely. Deep sadness in me. He noticed but then he started having a go at me or making me feel guilty for not being intimate with him for a while. I simply haven’t felt like it because of health issues and because of him deciding to get the snip and because of arguments. The last argument we had is when I really shut down with him. It was akin to gaslighting. Yesterday he decided to change his Facebook status to ‘in a relationship’. I told him I do need time to think about and process what’s happened but that I can’t throw away what I have now, him and this small family, I can’t throw that away. So he did that, bought me flowers…yet today he had a go at me for not showing interest in him sexually. Felt incredibly awkward because his family were around but I literally couldn’t bring myself to be normal or affectionate with him. I don’t know why I’m like this it’s such a fucked up situation to be in and I’ve not really experienced anything like this before. It’s so difficult. And I came home earlier with my boy and I can’t even bring myself to message him:/ I genuinely don’t know what to say to him without it sounding formal or detached. Plus I have no idea how to make sense of what I’m feeling right now anyway so don’t want to make things worse. He’s more concerned about me not showing any sexual interest. I literally don’t know what to say to him.

OP posts:
stairgates · 28/08/2022 08:56

I think he has chosen that for him the choice of no more children was the most important thing above everything which is 100% his choice to make. If you feel strongly that your decision for another child is the most important thing for you then again that is your decision to make.

ZaphodDent · 28/08/2022 09:09

Sorry to hear the obvious sadness in your post.

Sometimes in life things happen that force us to face realities, and show us what we really want. You might have carried on for years hoping for another child with him. At the very least now you know there is not going to be a child with this man, and you can take decisions accordingly.

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:10

I completely agree it’s his choice. It’s just very difficult to come to terms with and will take a while for me to completely accept. It’s such a difficult situation for me to be in and not anything like I’ve experienced before.

OP posts:
Devo1818 · 28/08/2022 09:18

I don't think not wanting more children is either a vague or a selfish reason. Quite the opposite. Your feelings are totally valid and I feel for you, but he isn't in the wrong here x

Isaidnoalready · 28/08/2022 09:24

So you had a pregnancy and he told you to get a abortion?

ThinkingaboutLangClegosaurus · 28/08/2022 09:25

Got pregnant and he told me to get rid of it.

That is a very big thing. So he’s pressured you to have an abortion, though it sounds as if you had mixed feelings, at the very least. No wonder you’re grieving.

Now the vasectomy too. He’s making it very clear your hopes and dreams aren’t his concerns.

Sorry, OP. Never say you don’t deserve a happy ending. You do, but I fear it won’t be with him.

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:26

I agree neither of us are in the wrong. It’s just so sad , I feel like I need a whole week of just crying it all out in order to come to terms with it if that makes sense. Feel like I just need to cry it out and hopefully see things differently once the dust has settled. I’ve never even been broody anyway and I don’t desperately want children right now. I’m basing how I feel on the possibility of having one in the future as I’m getting on a bit. But like I said there’s more pros than cons to him getting this done. But I’m still sad about it.

OP posts:
Wouldloveanother · 28/08/2022 09:26

So in a nutshell, boyfriend had the snip and you didn’t want him to, now you’re upset?

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:31

I got pregnant early in the relationship, and it would have been way too early for us. But he did essentially say, it’s my choice but if I had it then he couldn’t see us working in the long run. @wouldloveanother, yes in a nutshell. And yes that’s the underlying feeling I have is that my hopes and dreams aren’t his concern.

OP posts:
Itwasntright · 28/08/2022 09:32

You come across as so, so passive. Like you've got no control in this at all. Intrinsically, you and he are a bad match. You want another baby, he doesn't. So much so he's pushed you into an abortion and now got a vasectomy. If you want another baby, leave him and find someone else or use a donor. You don't have to accept the crumbs he's throwing you. Take charge of what you want.

Wouldloveanother · 28/08/2022 09:33

I get that it’s upsetting but your options are to stay and accept it, or leave and find someone who does want more kids. Even if he changed his mind you’d probably be posting on here saying ‘feel like he only agreed to this baby because I pushed him to do it, he’s not interested in the pregnancy at all’.

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 09:39

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:31

I got pregnant early in the relationship, and it would have been way too early for us. But he did essentially say, it’s my choice but if I had it then he couldn’t see us working in the long run. @wouldloveanother, yes in a nutshell. And yes that’s the underlying feeling I have is that my hopes and dreams aren’t his concern.

That's still a pretty coerced abortion.

Would you have gone ahead if he hadn't said that?

It sounds like you would really have liked to have another child in an ltr with him, but instead he's pressured you into an abortion and now ended all chance of having another child (bar freak accidents).

It's v understandable why you're upset. And it's a joke to pressure someone into an abortion (I feel like he emotionally blackmailed you into it "you can have the baby, on your own, or a relationship with me, not both") and to plan and go through with a vasectomy when you know your partner would ideally like more children ...and then expect intimacy and sex.

The bottom line, however, is that you two are not actually compatible...you would like another child, he absolutely does not and has taken the ultimate step to make sure he doesn't.

ThinkingaboutLangClegosaurus · 28/08/2022 09:39

OP, you deserve someone who shares or at least respects your hopes and dreams! Very nice of you to be his ‘support human’ while he has his elective surgery. He must have known how painful it was for you. I’m sure he enjoys your kindness; too bad he doesn’t reciprocate.

And do please let yourself grieve and recover from these losses (the abortion and your hope for a future with this man). Maybe sensitive counselling could help?

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:41

Yeah, it’s just that I’ve already got my little boy already and he’s got his daughter. We’ve bonded as a little family in that sense so it’s not just me I have to think of really and tbh I think I’d be the selfish one if I was to throw that all away for the sake of ‘possibly’ wanting a child in the future. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting to feel this sense of grief about it. It is quite sime when you say either accept it or leave and find someone else. Took me 7 years to find him, someone who does say that I’m his one and that he’s never felt about anyone like this before, to have this little family now that I am grateful for and would break my heart to throw that all away. He doesn’t want kids and that is something he’s been clear about, that’s his choice and it’s taking all the strength I have in me to accept that

OP posts:
Wouldloveanother · 28/08/2022 09:43

I think you’re right. It sounds like you have a nice family unit on the go. A new baby would muddy things as your daughter and his son are on equal footing at the moment - both have a biological parent in the family, whereas a new baby might make them feel pushed out. Just focus on enjoying the family you have and don’t upset the apple cart.

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 09:45

You've had such a hard time in life and relationships that I think you had him on a pedestal as a great/nice guy but a. He's not actually all that nice with what he did re. the pregnancy in my view and b. Even if he were great/nice; you're not actually compatible in terms of wanting more kids. He's clearly totally and utterly ok with one, on with having no more ... And you're not.

He's had the vasectomy to make sure he doesn't ever impregnate you (or any other woman) again.

Whereas you feel differently and it's a huge thing. You sound like you think that be sure he's half way "decent" compared to past partners, that he's unique .... But he's not. You can meet someone else decent who's not totally opposed to having more children.

EverythingHeadinSouth · 28/08/2022 09:46

"I agree neither of us are in the wrong."

Maybe not when considering the issue of his vasectomy in isolation. However, looking at the bigger picture he does not sound like a prince. More like a very selfish man with strong undertones of controlling and abusive behaviour.

Forget about which one of you is more in the right or the wrong over this though. If a relationship pushes you to write a mini novel on MN then the relationship is wrong. I think you should seriously consider that it has run it's course and you need to make a change for your own happiness and MH.

Badtasteflump · 28/08/2022 09:46

I agree with others on here that you sound like a passenger in your own life. You do have some control over your future, but that means setting boundaries and making decisions. If that's something you struggle with, it might be worth getting some counselling, especially as you touched on things from your past which might need unpicking.

Re your relationship with your partner, he has every right to have a vasectomy and that in itself isn't a red flag. What jumped out for me is that you were PG and he told you 'to get rid of it'. Did he really deal with the situation in such a callous way? If so then is he really the supportive partner you deserve and want?

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 09:51

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:41

Yeah, it’s just that I’ve already got my little boy already and he’s got his daughter. We’ve bonded as a little family in that sense so it’s not just me I have to think of really and tbh I think I’d be the selfish one if I was to throw that all away for the sake of ‘possibly’ wanting a child in the future. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting to feel this sense of grief about it. It is quite sime when you say either accept it or leave and find someone else. Took me 7 years to find him, someone who does say that I’m his one and that he’s never felt about anyone like this before, to have this little family now that I am grateful for and would break my heart to throw that all away. He doesn’t want kids and that is something he’s been clear about, that’s his choice and it’s taking all the strength I have in me to accept that

You don't have to accept the situation/the relationship as a done deal.

Children are very adaptable and can adjust if you were to separate.

You're not tied in just because they've gotten to know each other.

People break up and unblend families all the time.

No offence but you sound so battered and beleaguered that youre just accepting what you don't want because you're invested, he's relatively "good" (that's very relative) and youre tied in, it taken so long to meet someone half decent and you probably don't believe you'll meet anyone else half decent at all or at least in time to have more kids.

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 09:53

it’s taking all the strength I have in me to accept that

Maybe it's not the right thing then.

How old are you?

LastWordsOfALiar · 28/08/2022 09:54

The way I see it, personally, is you've both had children. You've both experienced it first hand and now, as a unit, you have two children between you.

You've also both experienced breakups, I'm assuming fairly painful ones once children are involved.

Why would you want more kids? My partner and I have spoken about vasectomies and I've asked him if he's sure as if we were ever to break up, would he want more kids. He's armament he's had his family and if that happened he has no intention to create another. His kids would still be his kids.

I think you need to reframe your thinking. You already have a family, a unit of 4. Any more kids will be expensive and will likely change the dynamics for our existing children. Presumably, if ex's have part custody you also get some prescious time to yourself.

Enjoy your life. There's more to life than having kids. Enjoy the ones you have and the life you have outside of them too.

I think your partner is being very mature to be honest. He knows he doesn't want more and he's taken responsibility for it. More men should. Better that than having unwanted offspring. Or expecting the woman to do all the family planning.

Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 28/08/2022 09:59

You're grieving the loss of a future child, this is a big thing, something that can absolutely destroy people. The great physical, financial and emotional lengths that people will go to, to have a longed for child prove this.
And his primary concern seems to be that his dick hasn't got wet this past fortnight. Do you really want to be with this person, incapable of even basic emotional support, or understanding his part in your loss, he sounds brain dead to me.

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 10:02

I got into a conversation with an animal.charity shop volunteer once about kids, about my LO. She's had 1 daughter young and her relationship with the Dad had broken down.

She's met another divorced or separated Dad with quite a few kids and blended their families. She really wanted at least another child. He said he would love "ten of them".

He had a vasectomy, without telling her anything about his plan, at some time after that. I don't know when he told her, maybe after the vasectomy.

She was then in the position of leaving him, ending their marriage (I think they'd gotten married, I'm not sure) ... unblending their family, breaking up their home as it was, stopping being his kids stepmum etc etc.

He knew she was far too decent and invested to do that. He relied on her feeling stuck/locked in and on her investment in their partnership...and he was correct.

She was still, years later and heading towards the last bit of her natural fertility, looking at little kids like mine, broody and longing and sad.

Obviously the hidden vasectomy was in a league of its own, at least your partner hadn't lied about it, but still - he's got what he wants, she has not. To me their relationship is fundamentally unequal, and there's something very sad about it.

discombob · 28/08/2022 10:02

Katerinabrandysauce123 · 28/08/2022 09:31

I got pregnant early in the relationship, and it would have been way too early for us. But he did essentially say, it’s my choice but if I had it then he couldn’t see us working in the long run. @wouldloveanother, yes in a nutshell. And yes that’s the underlying feeling I have is that my hopes and dreams aren’t his concern.

I think this is just very unfortunate but it doesn't make him a bad person. Depending on how early the pregnancy happened, of course he's going to make his position known. And I can see how he could see things breaking down. If you'd continued and things broke down, people would call you irresponsible and say you didn't have your sons best interests at heart, and that you rushed in. You can't win.

He hasn't done anything wrong, after you've elaborated on this. It really is just an unfortunate situation and I feel for you.

LemonDrop22 · 28/08/2022 10:05

I think this is just very unfortunate but it doesn't make him a bad person

Telling a woman you've impregnated that, if she proceeds with the pregnancy, you are extremely unlikely to stay with her, does make him a bad person.

That's a type of coercion.