When someone can't have kids

Achaila
Achaila Posts: 264 Member
According to my soon to be ex husband; my inability to have anymore kids is going to make it hard for me to maintain another relationship and I'll be lucky if I ever find another man to marry me. I willingly can't have anymore kids (my tubes are tied) and I already have 2 kids. I want to know though, when you are looking to settle down with someone is that something that is super important to you? I want to hear what both sides have to say about why it is and isn't.
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Replies

  • _noob_
    _noob_ Posts: 3,306 Member
    if someone brought that up to me on a first date, then yes, that would be a dealbreaker
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
    that's why he's a soon to be ex huh?

    I have MANY friends who don't have kids and never did, by choice. Personally I divorced at age 38 with 2 kids, and neither my ex nor I wanted to have more with anyone else. We are both happily remarried to people who also don't want to have more kids. His new wife has one and my hubby never had any and is happy being a part time step dad. Meeting men was definitely not an issue.
  • Achaila
    Achaila Posts: 264 Member
    Let's say you're together 6 months, a year, however long it takes for a couple to start talking about marriage, kids, ect. and you find out the person you love can't have kids, would that affect how you felt about them?

    Or if you somehow knew beforehand that someone couldn't, would they be someone you wouldn't be willing to settle down with?
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Most people don't choose to go live in a barren wasteland. When you do date, I would just make sure to bring it up, so there are no surprises.
  • _Krys10_
    _Krys10_ Posts: 1,234 Member
    Let's say you're together 6 months, a year, however long it takes for a couple to start talking about marriage, kids, ect. and you find out the person you love can't have kids, would that affect how you felt about them?

    Or if you somehow knew beforehand that someone couldn't, would they be someone you wouldn't be willing to settle down with?

    I think it should be brought up way before 6 months.
  • DashDeV
    DashDeV Posts: 545 Member
    Depends how attractive they are.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    It would be a deal breaker if you dated a man who wanted children, obviously. But Many already have them and don't want more, others never wanted them and still others don't care.

    As with anything else, it all comes down to the individual.
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
    CAN'T have kids and don't want to are two entirely different things. If I physically could NOT, then it should definitely be brought up early on in the relationship so each person can decide what they want for their life.
  • Achaila
    Achaila Posts: 264 Member
    Most people don't choose to go live in a barren wasteland. When you do date, I would just make sure to bring it up, so there are no surprises.

    I'm already dating someone who could not agree more with my choice to not have anymore kids because my reasoning behind it. But according to my ex, he will never marry me. :laugh:
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Let's say you're together 6 months, a year, however long it takes for a couple to start talking about marriage, kids, ect. and you find out the person you love can't have kids, would that affect how you felt about them?

    Or if you somehow knew beforehand that someone couldn't, would they be someone you wouldn't be willing to settle down with?

    If you haven't discussed having children before six months, that isn't much of a relationship. It usually comes up pretty early on in one way or another.
  • Junken_Diraffe
    Junken_Diraffe Posts: 716 Member
    Depends on age and whether the other person wants kids. I'm unable to have kids now, but I have 2. My boyfriend cannot have kids now, though he has 3. We are both very happy to have our own kids and don't want more.
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    I am Child-Free by Choice, and my boyfriend is cool with it. There is nothing wrong with not wanting more (or any) kids.
  • leonaedithlewis
    leonaedithlewis Posts: 75 Member
    According to my soon to be ex husband; my inability to have anymore kids is going to make it hard for me to maintain another relationship and I'll be lucky if I ever find another man to marry me. I willingly can't have anymore kids (my tubes are tied) and I already have 2 kids. I want to know though, when you are looking to settle down with someone is that something that is super important to you? I want to hear what both sides have to say about why it is and isn't.

    BTW - your soon to be Ex sounds like an *kitten*. At this point, his judgement about how you will do in future relationships (which is none of his business) is irrelevant.
  • tworthen79
    tworthen79 Posts: 1,173 Member
    Not having the ability to have children should be brought up long before 6-12 mos in. All that does is lead the other person on in thinking that there is a possibility of kids in the future. It also depends on the situation. You may find a man who already has children, been divorced, has a vasectomy and he can't have kids either.

    But I wouldn't wait until a year in to it, to spring that type of information on someone.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Sex outside of marriage is a sin.
  • gringuitica
    gringuitica Posts: 168 Member
    I'm already dating someone who could not agree more with my choice to not have anymore kids because my reasoning behind it. But according to my ex, he will never marry me. :laugh:

    That's ridiculous. There are plenty of men who do not want children of their own – or who have already had children or who will be happy being stepfather to your two children. That's the kind of man you will marry.
  • steve8a
    steve8a Posts: 4
    there is always adoption as an option for couples that can not have kids of their own. I have several friends that have adopted.
  • StarChanger
    StarChanger Posts: 605 Member
    I have a hubby that many women would LOVE to have (tall, built, employed, super-supportive, cooks, cleans, etc. He's not PERFECT, but he's pretty perfect for me!) and we DON'T have kids. He WANTED a woman who DIDN'T want kids (which is why he worked for me...among other things). Now, 17 years later....still going strong.

    Your soon-to-be ex is an idiot. MANY men would love to have a woman who is not going to bring any more mouths to feed (obviously, you already have a couple...and he probably will too!).

    And bottom line is that you CAN still have kids. You just need to get in vitro fertilization. Wouldn't cost you much more than a "tubal-reversal" (which often do NOT work...don't waste your money) but if you met the perfect guy and you both decided you really wanted more kids....you can still have them. There's nothing wrong with your uterus or ovaries....
  • mrsjones2point0
    mrsjones2point0 Posts: 332 Member
    It should be brought up before being intimate with someone, right along with any birth control discussion you should be having.

    That said: if a man truly loves you, that won't matter. . .he should be in it for you, not for your ability (or inability) to breed. Besides, do you really want to marry a man who won't love your children as his own? Any good man will love you for you, and won't care that you can't have more children. Of course, you will find that attitude more in your 30's than in your 20's.

    Plus, you should always consider the fact that you may meet a man who already has children of his own, and won't want more as well!
  • Some_Watery_Tart
    Some_Watery_Tart Posts: 2,250 Member
    I think there are all kinds of people with all kinds of different preferences. It's important to know the preferences of the person you are dating before the relationship gets serious. But I wouldn't worry about what your ex says either. Just 'cause he couldn't hang...
  • jenjencin78
    jenjencin78 Posts: 4,415 Member
    I am in the same boat that you are-I can't have any more children by choice. I think that it will be a discussion that will need to occur pretty early on in a relationship. You will have to disclose that you can't have anymore children and your new partner will have to decide whether or not it's something they can live with. I don't think that it will hinder you finding someone else to be with, there are many people that do not want children of their own for a variety of reasons. Your soon to be ex is just being a jerk and trying to make you feel insecure. Don't pay him any attention.
  • sizzle74
    sizzle74 Posts: 858 Member
    I would think that would be a bonus for many men.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Sex outside of marriage is a sin.
    It is known.
  • ames105
    ames105 Posts: 288 Member
    I think your soon to be ex husband is saying anything he can to play with your mind. Don't let him do it.

    There are plenty of men who already have children and don't want any more. There are plenty of men who don't want children at all or would be happy with a couple of step-children. There are some men that it would be a deal breaker for, yes.

    Finding these things out is all part of the dating process. Its called getting to know each other. You find out if you have the same beliefs, desires, goals in life and you go from there. If you don't, you move on. If you do, then all the better!!
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    Don't see the big deal...You have two kids already...I'm sure there are plenty of other men out there who don't want to have kids that would be happy with the two you have and not need anymore.
  • GemmaRowlands
    GemmaRowlands Posts: 360 Member
    There will be a lot of men who either don't want kids at all or already have them- or even those who would be happy with the sort of "ready made family" that you have! But I do think it's important to let them know the deal.. I'm not sure when you should drop it into conversation though; it might sound a bit odd and somewhat presumptive to mention it on a first date!
  • sizzle74
    sizzle74 Posts: 858 Member
    Sex outside of marriage is a sin.

    Confirmed. This site is run by Mormon nuns.
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    Sounds like your ex is just trying to psychologically f*** you. There are plenty of men out there that already have or do not want children.

    But, OP, you should always make your dates aware that you can't have kids. That way, you don't waste your time on someone that wants them. I probably wouldn't mention it on the first date, but at least within the first month.
  • MelMoly
    MelMoly Posts: 1,303 Member
    Sex outside of marriage is a sin.

    This made my day... :devil:


    Really?! That's what you have to say... judge much?
  • madworld1
    madworld1 Posts: 524
    Sex outside of marriage is a sin.

    Maybe in your world. :flowerforyou: