Difficult situation - Boyfriend has 3 kids
My b/f and I have been together for only 2 months, but we really love each other and I think we may have a future. But he's been divorced for 3 months and has 3 kids (age 8, 9, and 10). They're great kids, polite and well-behaved. I've never been with a guy who has kids, so this is all new to me. He gets them every other weekend. Our time together hasn't suffered, but he keeps pushing the kids on me and wants them to "get to know" me. He's not asking me to play mommy or anything. We DO have fun when we go out together, and the kids really like me. On the other hand, he and I have to "hide" our feelings for each other. We can't hold hands or kiss. He says that will change really soon, and I know he's just being a good father, but I'm not used to having to hide my feelings. And there's a selfish part of me that hates the idea that I'm not #1 in his life. His ex-wife is not very stable, so he said he may fight for full custody. This will mean the end of our relationship but he just doesn't see that. I don't want to get hurt; the future of our relationship rests on his ex-wife's stability!
Are there any other childfree-by-choice people out there who have had experiences with a significant other who already has kids? How has it worked out for you? Any advice?
Been there, done that, have the tee shirt
I came to this forum becuase I was in a situation very similar to yours - I started dating a man named Drew who was divorced with a son and a crazy ex-wife. Drew was a wonderful man and his son was great. My situation was different, in so far as I want to get married and have a family some day so I welcomed the thought of having a son.
Ultimately what it came down to as time wore on was that Drew's crazy ex was ALWAYS going to be in our lives. She was always going to wrecking plans by having "emergencies" that required her to drop off their son at Drew's house at the last minute. She was always going to be walking into his house, eavesdropping on phone calls, etc, etc. There was only one viable way out - one day I would have to out-bitch her, and I knew I COULD do it, but I didn't think I would like who I would have to be in order to do it. Things just sort of fizzled out . . .now I see a man who is more on the same page that I am and things are much better for me. Hopefully Drew can find someone who can handle the challenges that his ex-wife brings into his relationships.
Jules
My thoughts on where you're at. . .
Normally I agree with Rod 110%, but this time I have to say that I see things a little differently . . .
I agree with Rod, in so far as you need to tell this man where you stand on things. He needs to know how you feel about the future of his relationship if he would happen to get custody of his kids.
I was in a similar situation when I came to this forum, and there are a few things you need to know right out of the gate - - -
#1) The kids' mother is ALWAYS going to be in your boyfriend's life. If she is not a stable individual you and he will bear the brunt of that, and I am not trying to be ugly or to scare you off but she's always going to be around - if you can't stomach that GET OUT NOW - - her influence will only be felt more as time goes by, not less.
#2) I don't think you should ride things out and see how they go - if he has introduced you to his kids, he is very serious about you. You need to talk to him about what you are feeling ASAP and together the two of you need to decide where you want to go from there. (Frankly, he may have reservations about being with someone who feels the way you do about kids and if he is going to be in a position where he has to decide - isn't it better that it happen sooner rather than later when more emotions and time have been invested?)
#3) You are NOT selfish and you are entitled to feel the way you feel, but if you are in a relationship with someone who may be a fulltime father soon and you don't know if you can stomach not being his top priority - you have a responsibility to let him know that. NOT telling him how you feel when not just his feelings but his children's feelings are on the line, well that is not the kindest thing that you can do.
Good Luck!