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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

Just need to vent in a theraputic, please ignore my rant way.

14 replies

OneLonelySock · 24/02/2010 19:20

I am a fraud. I've floated around MN for about a year now like a slowly deflating balloon but I'm not actually a mum. I want to be, I've been ready for it for years now. But I've not even launched off the ground in the TTC phase.

Dh and I have been together for 10years.
He has always known I was wanted children.
After about a year of feeling massively broody, on my 26th birthday I asked him to promise that we would be trying to concieve by my 27th. When he asked me why I was looking a little whistful around that date, I reminded him, only to be told that he didn't remember making it.
I'm now halfway to 31 and still waiting.
I stopped on the pill over 2years ago, because it was playing merry hell with my emotional state, and was going to get an implant but at the time, but it didn't feel worth it because we were going to be starting the family within the next six months...weren't we?
The job I'm working in now I took when I was made redundant, I don't enjoy it and the only upside is the pay per hour and flexibility - again thinking family here. If I'd realised that I would still be there 18months later and still looking at least another year before family's a likelyhood I'd be somewhere else by now.
My old job was in a toyshop so I have an attic full of quality toys at knockdown prices - he's not freaked, the last time we went to ikea he freaked me out by mentioning that he wanted to buy a wooden train set for our unborn because he had one. (and it was stupidly cheap)

I'm getting very emotionally down about this topic. I cry about the situation at least once a week. I've woken up at three in the morning unable to stop crying.
He's down about me being down.
I no longer play with any of my nephews and neices because to me they represent what I feel unable to have.

My mum had a hysterectomy when she was 32, my maternal grandmother a few months off, so I feel like timing is massively important. Now logically they'd both had 4 children + 1 mc each by then, but hey this doesn't stop me from feeling that even if things go well biology is against me.
I want more than one child, so mathmatically 31yrs now + around 18 mths = baby one (33yrs)
+30mthsish = poss baby two and getting onto 35/36yrs...

I love my dh, and he does love me too. We plan on growing old and grumpy together. He's just on a different page. He didn't have a great relationship with his dad, so was worried about being a father himself. But two years ago ended up working for 8or so months as a volunteer playworker for a weekend local childrens group. He came away really proud of the friendships that he'd built with some of the children, and feeling so much happier about the possibility of being a dad.

Now we've not got much space where we are, but I know we've enough to fit in a baby. (really how much do they move around in the first few months anywhose?) But no, we have to move first (last nov: 'should put it on the market around feb'. This feb: 'think we'll be ready in Aug')
And we didn't have much money, but we've cleared all our debts now, he's happy to support me through the pregnancy and able to financially do so, though I budget that (even with childcare/reduced hours) I should always be able to put about half again on top of this, which he isn't thinking about.

I feel stupid. Everything is right for the future. We love each other. We both want kids. There is nothing medically against me. All i have to do is wait. And yet, I feel like I've been waiting for so long now. I worry about what will happen If I can't get pregnant. I don't want to but I'll blame him so much. Guess how much this is affecting our sex life.

I think about leaving, getting knocked up then coming back. Or just leaving.
How much is sperm on the internet these days?

This is affecting me so much. I hate the person I have become. Why he's still with me I'll never know. But it. If we're not starting by my next birthday I'm going to have to go. I don't know if I put either of us through the guilty mess that relationship would end up being.

I have no idea what to do. Doubt anyone can really. Anyhow. Just needed to vent. Thanks.

OP posts:
Owls · 24/02/2010 19:30

Have you had another talk about when the right time is to try for a baby? Sorry, I'm just a bit confused by your post. for you though as you sound so down.

ItsGraceAgain · 24/02/2010 19:35

Sorry if I'm being thick, OLS, but are you sad because you're TTC but nothing's happening? Or are you still using contraception?
[cofused]

ReneRusso · 24/02/2010 19:36

Does he actually realise he keeps putting it off? It would be good if you could get him to confront his fears. Of course you don't need to move house, it's just an excuse. He must have mixed feelings about it and you need to find out why. Sorry I am stating the bleeding obvious. This sounds so painful for you. What happens when you talk to him about it? Does he realise you regularly cry about it?

OneLonelySock · 24/02/2010 19:41

Sorry, very random wasn't it. As I said I really just needed room to vent.
He knows I want a baby, but doesn't feel ready to try until we've moved house, he's talking another 6 mths.
No not yet TTC. contraception is covered from his end.
He knows exactly how I feel, and he's now getting down himself, but yup I feel that he is just putting it off and won't face up to it.
I feel...
Emotionally, phwarg
Logically, we can do this lets wait!

OP posts:
CliffBarnsby · 24/02/2010 19:46

Is the stuff that 'has' to be done being 'created' by him - an excuse? Can you speak to him again and set up one more timeline - and when that time comes to more or less 'tell' him? I know DP and I could never completely make the decision to purposefully have children - it just seems such a huge decision to make, maybe he feels that way, too? We could never be sure this was the right time, very overwhelming to the both of us which is why we decided to leave it to 'chance'.

Sorry if none of this is applicable, as I am not entirely sure - he wants children, but doesn't yet? Or doesn't know when? Or is he just telling you what you want to hear?

ItsGraceAgain · 24/02/2010 19:50

Inapproriately fell around at this: "contraception is covered from his end"
Sorry again!

It looks as though he's nervous about the responsibility, and trying to make sure everything's "ready", doesn't it? It's very sweet that he wants things to be perfect for your first baby - even down to having a wooden train - but does he realise it's all going to be chaos & mess, however prepared you are?

Tbh I can fully understand nervousness about making such a big life change. Have you got friends with babies? Can you spend a bit more time with them (and sprogs), hopefully to get some discussions going about the everyday facts of new-babydom?

I am by no means trying to encourage you to encourage him, IYSWIM. I think everything you've said is fairly normal for a couple on the verge of starting a family. But, since it's becoming such a big issue between you ... that could actually make it harder to conceive when the time comes. Perhaps more familiarisation would help to normalise/bring the 'problem' down to size, kind of thing.

Nothing very concrete to add, I'm afraid

verytellytubby · 24/02/2010 19:58

My DH was never ready for children. I begged from when I was about 21 (I've always been broody). He finally agreed when I was 27. He freaked out when I finally got pregnant then came around to the idea. He then got a massive shock when we had an accident after DD and it ended up being identical twin boys.

Can you try Relate to talk through the issues? Does he say why he's not ready?

I feel your pain. No situation is perfect for children but you sound so prepared (more than we ever were, massive debts!).

Good luck.

verytellytubby · 24/02/2010 20:00

Plus I meant to add he believed for a long time our accident was deliberate on my behalf which it wasn't. Our relationship was rubbish and we went to Relate for that and other many issues I won't bore you with. You must keep talking to him and find out what's holding him back.

applecharlotte · 24/02/2010 21:27

I feel so much for you.. you sound so sad. I can relate to what you're saying.

I have a great, stable relationship. My OH says he feels ready to start a family (voiced frequently after a bottle of wine) but seems scared to talk about the practicalities in the cold light of day (where we would live, would i need to work etc etc). He just wants to 'see what happens' whereas I'm a planner. I need to discuss the ins and outs before making such a life changing decision so we're at stalemate.

Maybe he needs some time to catch up with where your head is at?

From what you've written its sounds like if you left him or let him know how serious this issue is he would step up?! I don't know what to suggest as I'm in the same situation.

I think a frank conversation is needed. Which is scary but you need to think of yourself and being this unhappy can't continue. Probably projecting.. so ignore my ramblings.. but I hope things get better for you soon.

CliffBarnsby · 24/02/2010 21:41

Is the stuff that 'has' to be done being 'created' by him - an excuse? Can you speak to him again and set up one more timeline - and when that time comes to more or less 'tell' him? I know DP and I could never completely make the decision to purposefully have children - it just seems such a huge decision to make, maybe he feels that way, too? We could never be sure this was the right time, very overwhelming to the both of us which is why we decided to leave it to 'chance'.

Sorry if none of this is applicable, as I am not entirely sure - he wants children, but doesn't yet? Or doesn't know when? Or is he just telling you what you want to hear?

CliffBarnsby · 24/02/2010 21:45

argh. I dunno what happened with my posts.

TheFantasticFixit · 25/02/2010 01:51

Hey Lonelysock

I'm brand spanking new on here and joined because your post is so similar to my situation (sorry to existing members that I haven't introduced myself before!)

I too have been ready to have children for some time and my partner is somewhat slower in wanting us to get to the stage of TTC. I would start trying tomorrow if he was to agree as I am desperate to have a child and be a mother.

We reached your current situation about a year ago, and it got to the point where I was upset and so frustrated when my friends announced their pregnancies. (I would like to point out that I would never have made them aware of my frustrations though!) I was desperate for it to be our announcement, our happy story.

He dragged his heels for a long time, giving excuse after excuse as to why 'now' wasn't a great time for us. I knew that he was and is 100% committed to me and I him and he is, without a doubt, the man for me and the one I want to grow old (and to paraphrase you, grumpy with - I love that)

My frustration spilled over into nearly every bicker, conversation etc and I was certainly absolutely no fun at all to be with. In the end, he took me out to lunch one Sunday and I broached the subject (he did roll his eyes at the beginning, and in hindsight i'm not surprised.. I was literally a broken record) but he listened to me, and I think for the first time, on this subject, really listened to me. I think a lot of men expect that we are broody and they think that it will come in waves and we will get over it after a little while. I spoke to him calmly and told him that it wasn't a feeling that was going to disappear and then I would be back to my 'normal' self - that this was a desire so strong that I was also surprised by the velocity of it. After listening for a long time he understood my need and desire and we compromised both of our ideal times to TTC, agreeing to start trying in February.

Unfortunately our plan derailed somewhat as I was made redundant in December (doesn't life have the most wonderful way of throwing all of your best laid plans up in the air?!) and am still looking for a permanent role. I'm devastated that our baby planning has to wait and so I have so much sympathy and empathy with the way that you are feeling right now.

The upshot of this essay though is that you must talk properly to your DH before making decisions to leave when clearly you do love each other very much. He clearly is worrying that when you start TTC it needs to be at the 'right time' which I think as women we know instinctively that that is an intangible ideal. Certainly my DP has thought that in the past and I have had to talk him through his fears and expectations in great length to get to the nub of the issues that he had.

Please take him out for a drink, somewhere quiet where you can both talk. Don't ambush him but raise the issue gently and ask him to listen to your fears and concerns. I really understand your fear of having difficulties conceiving..it keeps me awake at night thinking about it.

From what you have said already he sounds such a thoughtful chap and I really hope that you are able to compromise both of your ideals and agree on a plan for your future children and that you feel reassured by that.

Best of luck - sorry for hijacking your thread with such a long post!

prettywhiteguitar · 25/02/2010 10:17

hey totally sympathise, I'm not in entirely the same situation but am desperately broody.

My only advice is don't make him feel like he's backed into a corner, it will just make him feel like its not a pleasurable thing trying for a baby.

And if you can just pretend its not bothering you it will help take the pressure off him and then at least he might talk to you honestly.

He might have something on his mind, but if he feels you are really upset then he won't want to upset you more by talking

I know !!but men make no sense

I play guitar and go to gigs cause I know thats a side of me that I can't have with a newborn, maybe you could see it like that ? I know its bloody difficult

Aviendha · 25/02/2010 15:14

I can recommend the withdrawl method for getting pregnant

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