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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

Feeling hurt - advice needed

23 replies

sweetpea2023 · 27/11/2023 18:24

Hi there,

I'm 36 years old & currently 37 weeks pregnant with my second child (first child with my partner), and today I just completely broke down after months of feeling pretty crappy/anxious about something in particular, so I'm hoping you lovely bunch on here could please give me your perspective on the situation & tell me if I'm just being overly hormonal 🤰🏼

So basically, in a nutshell, I honestly feel like I’m loosing my mind with my partner, he severely lacks life experience, I'm only his second partner ever (he's 33 years old) and I find the only way to get through to him about anything (and I really mean anything) is to be completely direct/black & white (basically, spell it out!), and I honestly couldn’t be any more clear/black & white with him if I tried, he knows exactly what I need from him to make me happy, and I literally ask him for the bare minimum, but everything just seems like hard work & he just won’t put in the effort, no matter how hard I try, it’s breaking my heart & today it all just reached a peak & I broke down 😓

I'm very close to my parents & although they really like him, I honestly think my mums on the verge of having a word with him as she can see how much his sheer lack of effort is effecting me, and I’m so unbelievably nervous that if he can’t get the basics right now, then how on earth is he going to step up when a baby is here, I’ve spent my entire pregnancy crippled with worry as he just makes absolutely zero effort 😢

In a nutshell, we made a promise to each other before I agreed to start trying for a baby, and that promise was that if I gave him his wish of being a daddy, then he would make sure a ring is on my finger before the baby is born, as it’s something I know means a lot to my parents, and to myself, and it’s the only thing that would make me feel safe, I made it abundantly clear that it’s a ‘non-negotiable’… and he promised me that would happen no matter what… so we went & chose the ring over a year ago, and it’s still sat in his sock draw at home because hes apparently ‘waiting for the right event to present itself’ 😰

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I'm literally going to have this baby any day now (induction booked for 2 weeks time, sweep performed today with my midwife) & he still has absolutely no plan of doing anything with that ring, and he’s admitted it to my face today that he has no idea 'how to propose’… it’s just so lazy & it’s all completely ruined now… I feel so hurt that he made me a promise & he’s gone back on his word without a care in the world for how it’s made me feel, when I'm constantly making such an effort in the relationship 😞

He cooked me a meal for the first time EVER last week after I pleaded with him over 10 times to PLEASE put in some effort & to consider me more, and he just can’t see why 15 months into a relationship & 9 months of being pregnant (plus 16 years of being best friends) that that’s an issue 😓

I’ve cried all day, I’m absolutely exhausted & incredibly worried for the future things continue like this… I’ve told him under no uncertain terms that if this baby wasn’t in the picture then I would have walked away by now, as I’ve never in my life been in a relationship with such an inconsiderate partner… I just hope it gets through to him, bcus I’ve honestly had enough, and it takes A LOT for me to get to this stage where I just feel like giving up 😞

One thing I will just add is that he's fantastic with my daughter, she's 8 years old, and she adores him, he's a teacher, so he's great with children, so I really cannot fault him when it comes to my daughter, which is definitely a good thing, as she's my absolute world 🌎❤️

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🤞🏼

Thank you x

OP posts:
StrawberryWater · 27/11/2023 18:31

Leave now, it won't get any better.

Userengage · 27/11/2023 18:42

He sounds like a bit of a man child but you knew that already. I’m surprised that although marriage (or at least engagement) was so important to you that you chose to start TTCing before you had a ring on your finger.
Anyway you don’t appear to be compatible.

Bostonbakedbeans · 27/11/2023 18:51

Giving him the (huge) benefit of the doubt, maybe he's planning on proposing when the baby arrives?
But if your mum has noticed hes useless and is thinking about speaking to him about his behaviour then I think you're already in deep shit. If he doesn't step up when your baby arrives and continues to be a lazy arse then I'd sack him and go it alone.

AutumnFroglets · 27/11/2023 19:00

So you are 9 months pregnant and he's cooked his first meal ever...
Good grief woman, what are you thinking? Get rid as your life is never going to improve.

This non- negotiable ring should have been the wedding ring, not an engagement, as being engaged does not protect you legally - it's just a pretty bauble. Ask him to book the registry office (drag two witnesses off the street) and get married before the baby is here. See how quickly he wriggles out of that.

Motnight · 27/11/2023 19:10

I think that the fact that you are not entangled by marriage might be something that you end up being appreciative of, Op

Hbosh · 28/11/2023 16:33

Honey, I'm sorry to have to say this but it seems like your poor decision making is at least half responsible for the mess you're in.

You got pregnant after 6 months together?? Deliberately? And you thought this was wise???
I'm sorry. Yes your partner is a man-child. But how do you expect to be surrounded with good people in your life when you let just anyone be the father of your child?
You say a ring on your finger is non-negotiable. Guess what, the bun in your oven for the past 9 months has shown that your idea of non-negotiable means 'I'll be a bit upset about it, but don't worry, I won't hold you to your promises'.
You expect to be taken serious by this man, when you don't even take yourself seriously.
You can't give someone whatever they want and then not hold them to their promises, and hope they will be good to you out of the kindness of their heart.

He ignores your requests.
He lies to you
He doesn't take care of you
He shows you in no way whatsoever that he cares about you

And you're hoping for what exactly? A miracle?
Please, start respecting yourself enough to be able to demand respect from the men in your life.

LucyvanderPelt · 28/11/2023 16:42

So he’s been like this since you’ve been with him? He’s not going to change. Why would you think having a baby with him would change him? It’s up to you what you decide to do about it, you can continue to put up with it, or not.

Dizzydials · 28/11/2023 16:56

Forget about the engagement for now. It’s a cause of stress for you both and legally is meaningless.
Do you actually want to marry him? If you do then start planning a wedding together even if it’s a small wedding.

Seaoftroubles · 28/11/2023 17:43

OP, what on earth made you decide to have a baby with someone so useless if you knew what he was like? l mean he is 33 not 13, and should have some sort of clue about life! Tbh getting engaged is the least of your worries, in fact in the future you might be glad you remained single!
I'm guessing that your home is in your name as he seems incapable of doing anything constructive but l'm amazed he can hold down a job as a teacher as that requires planning and organisation.
Are you sure this lack of effort and seeming inability to contribute to ordinary everyday tasks isn't just because he's totally lazy at home so that you end up carrying the load?

OhComeOnFFS · 28/11/2023 17:48

So you were with him for six months and he never cooked a meal, and then you got pregnant? Why would you do that?!

Do you really want to marry him? He sounds absolutely useless really. Why don't you see what he's like with the baby before you insist on marrying him?

LucyvanderPelt · 28/11/2023 17:57

OhComeOnFFS · 28/11/2023 17:48

So you were with him for six months and he never cooked a meal, and then you got pregnant? Why would you do that?!

Do you really want to marry him? He sounds absolutely useless really. Why don't you see what he's like with the baby before you insist on marrying him?

I agree with this. Please don’t legally entangle yourself with this man on the basis of what you currently know about him, especially if you are financially independent and/or have your own home.

Shoxfordian · 28/11/2023 18:39

He's a loser, you're wasting your time here

sweetpea2023 · 28/11/2023 19:24

to answer the above questions, we were best friends for 16 years before we became romantically involved, so I know him pretty well, but I just never imagined he'd put in so little effort, I really thought he'd step up as I truly believed I knew him well enough after all this time, but clearly not 😥
To answer the other points... yes, I own my own house, I have done for 8 years, it's always been just me & my daughter, I've never let a man move in, & I have a good job, I'm very independent 🏡
I've asked him to 'step up' and he's said he will, but he just 'doesn't know how'... I just really don't know to react to that 2bh, I'm his partner, not his mother... are men just maybe a lot more immature than us women?? 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
heathspeedwell · 28/11/2023 19:28

At least you know what he is like now.

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/11/2023 19:42

Userengage · 27/11/2023 18:42

He sounds like a bit of a man child but you knew that already. I’m surprised that although marriage (or at least engagement) was so important to you that you chose to start TTCing before you had a ring on your finger.
Anyway you don’t appear to be compatible.

This. I’m sorry op, but you knew what he was like and decided to have a baby with him, presumably thinking he would change. He hadn’t, isn’t and won’t. I’d dump him, or you will have three children, not two…

sweetpea2023 · 28/11/2023 19:58

I appreciate all your honest advice, that's why I posted on here as I knew I'd get honest perspectives, good or bad, so thank you 🙂

I guess the book ultimately stops with my potentially poor judgement, I need to stop seeing the good in everyone moving forward, as it's a pretty hefty price to pay 🥺

OP posts:
billy1966 · 28/11/2023 20:21

You have moved in a selfish lazy loser who wanted a mother.

God help you but it really is going to get so much worse for you and your daughter.

Have him move out asap and focus on your parents helping you.

He is only going to make your life so much harder.

Don't wait for the baby, get him out.

If it makes him step up fine, but dont continue to house such a loser.

sweetpea2023 · 28/11/2023 21:34

I've not actually moved him in yet, he has his own house, so I've ensured he's stayed there for now until I see a vast improvement, as I'm not willing to disrupt mine & my daughters stability in our home until these red flags vastly improve... I guess that's my only way of being cautious until things get better, fingers crossed they will🤞🏼

OP posts:
billy1966 · 28/11/2023 21:57

Well thank goodness for that.

Such a pity you are now committed long term to a relationship with him via a baby.

You deserve so much better.

It will never be to your benefit to move in a man child.

BorrowersAreVermin · 28/11/2023 22:08

It does sound like he's a bit useless rather than not interested mind. Lacks the initiative rather than the will. Seems a bit harsh to be saying the OP has made a big mistake.

E4rwig · 28/11/2023 22:21

Leave this man, he will not improve. Staying with him will end up being more stressful than leaving and raising the baby yourself. It sounds like you have good support from your parents, you will be better off without this absolute waste of space!

Roundtable83 · 28/11/2023 22:27

…and that promise was that if I gave him his wish of being a daddy, then he would make sure a ring is on my finger before the baby is born…”

just re-read that statement and hear how it sounds. Given the circumstances you currently find yourself in, a proposal would be the last thing I’d be worrying about right now.

Focus on the impending birth of your baby, your daughter and trying to build some kind of family dynamic with this man. He may step up and prove himself once his child is here. And if he doesn’t, you wouldn’t have wanted to accept a marriage proposal from him anyway, surely.

Perhaps being ‘best friends’ with this guy is as far as it should go between you.

QueenBitch666 · 29/11/2023 00:15

Get your ducks in a row. He's a waste of space

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