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Partner wants child for his legacy

185 replies

Almost40A · 08/02/2025 19:15

Name changed for this.

How would you feel if your partner/dh told you he wanted a child to continue his legacy?

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 10:08

gannett · 09/02/2025 09:37

It makes as much sense to me as any other reason I've heard for wanting children (ie, not much sense at all).

Yes, exactly.

How is having a child anything but selfish?

healthybychristmas · 09/02/2025 10:14

I don't think you are right for each other. Why on earth would you marry and have a child with a man who talks like this? Financially won't it set you back as well?

Almost40A · 09/02/2025 10:15

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 10:07

@Almost40A I don't understand how wanting a baby to "have a family with someone you love" is any less selfish than wanting to have a baby to pass on your genes, though.

Pretty much every single parent on this planet chooses to have a baby for selfish reasons.

Because I could be anyone really, as long as I provide the means to accommodate and provide said legacy for him. A vessel to ensure his legacy continues. It’s not exactly meaningful for me.

It’s the wording of it, albeit it could have been clumsily put as others said. It made me think and feel a bit…used? Considering there’s no rush for marriage. Is he more committed to ensuring he has a legacy or to me and our family?

OP posts:
gannett · 09/02/2025 10:26

Almost40A · 09/02/2025 10:15

Because I could be anyone really, as long as I provide the means to accommodate and provide said legacy for him. A vessel to ensure his legacy continues. It’s not exactly meaningful for me.

It’s the wording of it, albeit it could have been clumsily put as others said. It made me think and feel a bit…used? Considering there’s no rush for marriage. Is he more committed to ensuring he has a legacy or to me and our family?

Totally reasonable to feel like this and to bring it up with him.

Probably the worst marriages I've known are the ones where it's clear one partner wanted babies/a family, and didn't much care about the man or woman they needed to give them that.

I always made it clear I'd be child-free when dating and it was very useful to gauge whether a man felt like that or not.

Dery · 09/02/2025 10:33

@Almost40A - I did a longer post upthread (probably went on a bit) but anyway: I don’t think it’s about being indifferent to having children with you. I think it’s about him trying to explain why being a step-father to your children does not replace his desire for his own biological children. He’s expressed it clumsily but he clearly wants to have children with you.

I think you are making artificial distinctions between why you had children and why he wants his own. It’s quite normal for people to want their own biological children. As a poster said upthread: if the roles were reversed - if the children were his - you wouldn’t be being told that you were wrong to want your own children also. It’s no different for him.

And while his barriers to marriage sound artificial, and your desire for marriage is understandable, he’s always been clear he wanted his own children. If that option is now off the table as far as you’re concerned (and it’s understandable why you might have changed your mind), he may not want to commit to you in marriage and lose the opportunity of having his own children. You’ve had that opportunity. You’ve done that. Surely you can see why he would want that for himself.

A dear friend of mine was in your position and after several years the relationship came to an end.

I don’t think either of you is wrong here (in your shoes, I certainly would not want more children), but sadly you’re probably becoming incompatible.

AgentJohnson · 09/02/2025 10:33

But there’s no discussing this with him, he thinks it’ll all just work out and we can rely on other people.

Its a no from me. He doesn’t sound particularly mature. He wants what others have and clearly has no idea about the sacrifices that have to be made when having a child.

Only have a child if you want one because if the novelty wears off for him, you will be the one left doing the grunt work.

Creameded · 09/02/2025 10:36

OP, don't have a child with a man like tjis.
It is all about him.

You are done and you would want to be out of your mind to go back to having babies.

You rent, you work full-time and have so many responsibilities.

Going back to having the 24/7 responsibility of a baby, childcare, up at night, toddler age, starting school, years of primary all again all to provide a legacy for him?

Not a chance.
I have seen a few close up accidental pregnancies after 10 years from couples I know and to say it was hard is an understatement.

Yes of course they love their 4th child/ accident with a 10 year gap, but would they do it again, or advise it?
100% not.

You will be the one who loses here.
Not him.
Look up CM for one child on his salary and that is all he would pay for his "legacy" as he walks out the door.

Do not do it.

FriendsDrinkBook · 09/02/2025 10:42

@Creameded I agree. Having ageing parents that need support , going through perimenopause and navigating teens and a small child starting school will exhaust you op. There was a thread a few weeks ago about which decades are the most tiring and lots of people said their 40s were difficult for the above reasons.

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 10:43

Almost40A · 09/02/2025 10:15

Because I could be anyone really, as long as I provide the means to accommodate and provide said legacy for him. A vessel to ensure his legacy continues. It’s not exactly meaningful for me.

It’s the wording of it, albeit it could have been clumsily put as others said. It made me think and feel a bit…used? Considering there’s no rush for marriage. Is he more committed to ensuring he has a legacy or to me and our family?

It sounds like you're mixing up two different issues.

Pretty much every single person alive has children for selfish reasons. As a PP said, if you were a step-mum wanting your "own" child, nobody would be criticising you for it. I mean, it's just basic biology that people to want to pass on their own genes and DNA.

But if you feel like he's not actually that into you as a person and your family, that's different and of course you're free to end the relationship if it's no longer for you.

MyCatNamedCookingFat · 09/02/2025 10:49

What about what YOU want?

Do you even love this man?

If you want to get married, book a wedding and see if he wants to get married.

You can have a party afterwards. He can arrange it.

If he doesn't want to, then that's your answer. He wants your body and your life upended for what he wants.

Selfish.

Sassybooklover · 09/02/2025 10:49

I'm sure for men, there is always a portion of them that wants to carry on the family name and genetics. However, this should not be a primary reason to have children!! You should want children because you genuinely want to be a Dad (or Mum) and be the best possible parent you can be. To love, teach your child new things, and create new memories. If your partner wants a child purely for a legacy, then run a bloody mile. Once baby is here, is he going to want to parent his child, take responsibility, be a good Dad or leave the parenting to you, because he's provided his sperm and now job done?!!!

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 10:53

I'm sure for men, there is always a portion of them that wants to carry on the family name and genetics.

Isn't it exactly the same for women? Maybe not with the family name thing, but with genetics. Loads of women on here want their own biological children and we don't see them being criticised because of it.

Maxorias · 09/02/2025 10:56

Almost40A · 09/02/2025 08:56

Thank you I do appreciate all the comments so I can consider it from all angles.

He was very clear from the start that he wanted children and I told him I was definitely open to it. Which was true. There have been times where we’ve been actively trying and I’ve been happy to, but then life got in the way, illness, parents illness, work stresses, and I just increasingly feel so busy and tired. I’m worried how I would cope to be honest, I realistically don’t know if I have the capacity to have another child without having a breakdown. I’m essentially working two jobs and trying to do the best for my kids. He is great with them and they love him, but has a tendency to check out of family life / interacting with me and the kids when he is having low moments.

The legacy comment just made the whole thing a lot less appealing and it is difficult to discuss the logistics with him. For example when I tried to talk about childcare for when I would return to work if I was on maternity he says my parents and his family…my parents are aging and terminally ill and his family are too far away to travel back and forth every day. But there’s no discussing this with him, he thinks it’ll all just work out and we can rely on other people. It’s like he’s in a dream world and if I want to discuss the realities of a situation I’m just being a party pooper.

Oh, okay, all that wasn't clear in your previous posts.

I can appreciate how you feel - I mean, if I had teen kids I wouldn't be keen to start over. And life can get pretty overwhelming, especially of late with rising costs and all. You are allowed to decide that kids are no longer on the table, you don't need a reason other than you just don't want to anymore.

But I do think that if you've changed your mind about kids you need to tell him sooner rather than later. Maybe that's a deal breaker for him, maybe not, but he has to know.

Bibi12 · 09/02/2025 10:56

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 10:53

I'm sure for men, there is always a portion of them that wants to carry on the family name and genetics.

Isn't it exactly the same for women? Maybe not with the family name thing, but with genetics. Loads of women on here want their own biological children and we don't see them being criticised because of it.

I wanted biological children because it's the most straightforward, natural way to have them. Passing on my genes was not even on my mind when planning a family.

Dery · 09/02/2025 10:59

@Almost40A - I’ve already posted twice so feel free to ignore me but it seems the real problem here is that you want him to no longer want his own biological children and he wants to you to want to have a child with him. Both of you are reasonable in wishing things were so but it makes you incompatible.

blacksax · 09/02/2025 10:59

Asterales · 08/02/2025 19:25

How would I feel? I'd feel like he was an arrogant, self-absorbed arsehole who had no interest in parenting a child in the true sense, but wanted a trophy lifestyle inclusive of a kid so that he could bask in his own marvelousness and bore on about it to anyone unfortunate enough to be in his vicinity while someone else (presumably you) did the work.

I agree. It's a bit "Look everyone, and marvel at my manly fertility".

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 11:00

Bibi12 · 09/02/2025 10:56

I wanted biological children because it's the most straightforward, natural way to have them. Passing on my genes was not even on my mind when planning a family.

My point was that if you read the threads on here about adoption or step-children, they're always full of people wanting their own children - who talk about how it's not the same when you adopt, or foster, or have step-kids. How nothing is comparable to having a child that's made up of your DNA etc.

It's entirely normal for people of both sexes to want to pass on their genes - it's basic biology at the end of the day. I guess I'm just not sure why this man is being criticised when women often want exactly the same thing.

CrispieCake · 09/02/2025 11:03

The legacy comment just made the whole thing a lot less appealing and it is difficult to discuss the logistics with him. For example when I tried to talk about childcare for when I would return to work if I was on maternity he says my parents and his family…my parents are aging and terminally ill and his family are too far away to travel back and forth every day. But there’s no discussing this with him, he thinks it’ll all just work out and we can rely on other people. It’s like he’s in a dream world and if I want to discuss the realities of a situation I’m just being a party pooper.

He doesn't think this is his problem. He thinks you'll sort it.

Dery · 09/02/2025 11:04

@biscuitsandbooks - totally agree. I think this is OP’s partner trying to explain why he wants more than to just be a stepfather (or quasi-stepfather) to her children. Stepmothers aren’t criticised for wanting their own biological children. No-one’s wrong here - it’s a compatibility issue.

NiftyKoala · 09/02/2025 11:15

I'd be embarrassed for him he thinks he could have a legacy.

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 11:17

NiftyKoala · 09/02/2025 11:15

I'd be embarrassed for him he thinks he could have a legacy.

Do you feel embarrassed for women who want their own biological children too?

frozendaisy · 09/02/2025 11:29

A thing, it’s fine for men to spout they want a child but it’s not their body that gets to carry, birth and feed it, they don’t take a long maternity break in their jobs, they are not usually the default parent, how many men walk out of families when they get bored?

You are late 30s OP, there might be, also might not, but statistically, an increased chance of complications with pregnancy, birth and baby.

Would he stick around if his legacy child wasn’t “perfect” in his eyes? He might say he would but would he really?

It’s difficult as it sounds like he has and does step up with your children, he said at the beginning he wanted his own child, he is aware that your fertility might decline and you said you were open to the idea.

On the flip side you know what single parenthood entails, don’t want another child in precarious circumstances and want the security of marriage as a commitment.

Personally I wouldn’t have another child in your circumstances. But I would tell him that directly. If you are open to the idea with conditions, you need to talk it through.

If he wants his own child he is likely to leave, or resent staying. If you both have a child and split up you will resent him.

It sounds like a lot of your relationship is good, so you need to find a way forward without resentment on either side. And that might mean splitting, but it could be done amicably.

It’s just different for a woman having a child. You are wise to put in conditions and security, particularly financial before agreeing.

Bibi12 · 09/02/2025 12:03

frozendaisy · 09/02/2025 11:29

A thing, it’s fine for men to spout they want a child but it’s not their body that gets to carry, birth and feed it, they don’t take a long maternity break in their jobs, they are not usually the default parent, how many men walk out of families when they get bored?

You are late 30s OP, there might be, also might not, but statistically, an increased chance of complications with pregnancy, birth and baby.

Would he stick around if his legacy child wasn’t “perfect” in his eyes? He might say he would but would he really?

It’s difficult as it sounds like he has and does step up with your children, he said at the beginning he wanted his own child, he is aware that your fertility might decline and you said you were open to the idea.

On the flip side you know what single parenthood entails, don’t want another child in precarious circumstances and want the security of marriage as a commitment.

Personally I wouldn’t have another child in your circumstances. But I would tell him that directly. If you are open to the idea with conditions, you need to talk it through.

If he wants his own child he is likely to leave, or resent staying. If you both have a child and split up you will resent him.

It sounds like a lot of your relationship is good, so you need to find a way forward without resentment on either side. And that might mean splitting, but it could be done amicably.

It’s just different for a woman having a child. You are wise to put in conditions and security, particularly financial before agreeing.

Marriage DOESN'T protect women. What protects women is assets and pensions acquired through marriage. If they rent and both work then divorce will be very straightforward and she will get nothing.

Even in case of bigger payouts women often can't afford to buy on their own due to high childcare costs/reduced work hours. The money then just stops them from being eligible for benefits.

Without own property and with two young teens already having a baby with this man would be extremely risky and marriage will not magically solve it. Not to mention any potential health problems in pregnancy, SEN child etc. Things can always go wrong.

Any negative consequences will fall on two already existing children who are at the age of crucial development and who need financial and emotional stability in the home more then ever.

Neither of them is wrong but like I said before they are at completely different stages in life and fundamentally incompatible.

NiftyKoala · 09/02/2025 12:26

biscuitsandbooks · 09/02/2025 11:17

Do you feel embarrassed for women who want their own biological children too?

Have a great day!

Almost40A · 09/02/2025 12:27

Dery · 09/02/2025 10:33

@Almost40A - I did a longer post upthread (probably went on a bit) but anyway: I don’t think it’s about being indifferent to having children with you. I think it’s about him trying to explain why being a step-father to your children does not replace his desire for his own biological children. He’s expressed it clumsily but he clearly wants to have children with you.

I think you are making artificial distinctions between why you had children and why he wants his own. It’s quite normal for people to want their own biological children. As a poster said upthread: if the roles were reversed - if the children were his - you wouldn’t be being told that you were wrong to want your own children also. It’s no different for him.

And while his barriers to marriage sound artificial, and your desire for marriage is understandable, he’s always been clear he wanted his own children. If that option is now off the table as far as you’re concerned (and it’s understandable why you might have changed your mind), he may not want to commit to you in marriage and lose the opportunity of having his own children. You’ve had that opportunity. You’ve done that. Surely you can see why he would want that for himself.

A dear friend of mine was in your position and after several years the relationship came to an end.

I don’t think either of you is wrong here (in your shoes, I certainly would not want more children), but sadly you’re probably becoming incompatible.

Edited

Thank you, I really do appreciate the wide range of responses, it’s given me lots to think about.

Yes he has from the very start expressed a want to have his own child, but I also expressed wanting to get married first. When discussing details of a wedding, it’s clear we’ve locked horns so to speak as I would much prefer a low key ceremony, preferably elopement. He’s focused on having a big day like all of his friends and family have done. A big party celebrating with everyone he knows. That’s my idea of hell and I’ve done that before and really hated it, never mind a waste of money that we don’t actually have and would be years before we could even do that. Maybe I’m an old romantic but I feel it’s more meaningful for us to have a low key thing, with a focus on being married, showing that commitment, and not a big show for everyone else’s sake and because ‘thats what everyone does’.

He doesn’t seem willing to budge on that

OP posts:
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