Trying to make sense of it all.. and do the right thing

I have a bit of a situation at the moment that I would like some advice on please if you could help.
It is quite confusing, but please bare with me, and I will do my best.

I was a single parent to two boys aged 16 and 2yrs old when I met my ex-partner, I had been divorced from my eldest sons dad for 9yrs, and out of the relationship with my youngest sons dad for nearly 2 1/2yrs, we split up when I was 4mths pregnant, as he went back with his ex wife.

So I was a single parent and coping quite well, then along came my ex-partner, he had never been married before, and had no children, and due to this reason I was very guarded as to how quick the relationship progressed, as I knew due to my childrens age, and him having very little experience with children we would have hiccups,,
well things seemed to go ok, and we talked about issues as they arose, and despite the obvious problems in situations like this all seemed ok... that was up until last year.. My ex partner asked me to marry him, and we got engaged a year last March, and we set about booking the wedding that was due to take place in October this year...
Well following the engagement my ex-partner seemed really really keen, and the wedding was all he talked about, and venues for receptions and outfits peppered most conversations, and his family were really keen..
All was well up until last August when we had been for a day out with my yongest son, which had turned into a much longer day than we'd planned,and we were all shattered, the first thing we did the car unpacked, and then it was my intention to settle my little boy who was 2 1/2 and get him into bed, my ex-partner seemed to resent my sons fractiousness, and deemed it his place to deal with the situation, which he did badly, and made matters worse, I stated that I was unhappy with his actions and we ended up having a row..
As there was an atmosphere, and he was stomping around I decided that it would be best to return home to my house, and give the situation some space, and I needed to think about the situation and collect my thoughts.. he reluctantly took me home(we didn't live together, but spent time living between each others houses)
The next day he rang as though nothing had happened, and as I was still upset at his behaviour towards my son, I kept the call brief.. later that evening I received a call from his mum stating he'd been around to see her, and he seemed evasive when she asked asto my whereabouts, and she was calling to see if all was ok, I was conscious of the fact that it was his mother, and didn't want to get into conversations about him with her, as it's dangerous territory as mums are funny about that kind of thing,,,,.well she talked plenty about him to me, and it wasn't all good, she seemed realistic to his faults..
Well the next thing I know I'm getting a call from him, stating that he'd just left his Mums, and apparently I'd told her the relationship was over, and he was bringing all of my stuff back from his house, and would collect his at the same time from mine, Iwas confused, but thought it best to wait until he arrived and talk about it face to face, well he turned up with everything, didn't want to talk and left taking his stuff with him.. I was even more confused !!!

Well I heard no more untila few days later, when he rang, and said he's still got stuff at my house, I assured him he hadn't, and checked to make sure, and there was nothing, well he turned upi at my house and was in a real state, and began knocking on the doors and windows, getting irate, as my little boy was in the house, I decided not to open the door, as I was a bit worried as to how it might get out of hand, well then I heard glass smash, and a window got broke..Neighbours had heard the commotion and called the police..who turned up..(by this point my ex-partner had left the scene)
well the police came, and said under the new laws, as I'd been in a relationship with this man under the domestic violence lwas they have to take action.. I think the window being broken was an accident, but realise behaviour like that isn't acceptable particularly as he knew my son was in the house..
Well the police advice was to have no contact with him, and I didn't...
This is where it gets difficult, as about 3weeks later I discovered I was pregnant, and it was a complete shock, as the police action was still going on I was unsure of contacting my ex-partner, so just tried to get my head around it.. Finally last october I rang him and he was very unpleasant he just said well what proof have I that it's mine.. this really upset me, and he knew it.. I felt really low after the call, well I tried leaving it a while, and then contact him again, that call was more civil, and he was almost pleasant, I thought we'd at least broken the ice, but as the calls contiued he blew hot and cold, so I decided to go and see him face to face, he was vile, he told me to leave his home, and I did, on returning home he'd rang the police, and reported me for harrassment..
They didn't persue it..
Well the next contact was in April this year, when I sent him a text informing him that he was a Daddy... I got 'who' back by way of reply..
I sent a picture of 'our' baby on June 4th, and never got a reply, and since then nothing, I am not sure what to do now.. He obviously has no plan to see his child, and the bonding isn't happening, and I daren't contact him further as he may report me for harrassment again..
I'm confused how the change in him went from the guy who loved me so much to want to marry him, to hating the ground I walk on..
Can anyone give me any advice as to how to deal with this, as there are the issues relating to financial support that keep cropping up, and I seem to be getting no where with that either.
Everyone says talk to him, but I tried that, and am scared in by trying to do that he uses it against me..

thanks in advance

Natalie

Submitted by Justine on Sun, 2008-07-20 17:28.

Hi Natalie

I'm new to this site, but read your letter and really feel for you. The first thing that sprung to mind was that it sounds like this man has a narssisstic personality. He can be so kind yet turn if 'things don't go his way'. He also seems to want to be 'in control' and 'the centre of attention' and he will put you down. I'm not a psychologist but did marry a man in haste (not the father of man child) and his true colours came out - the psychologist that I went to see, told me to look up the different personality types and this one hit the nail on the head. I can suggest that you do some research into it to.

I would suggest that you do 'fight' for maintenance. He is simply running away from his responsibilties of providing for his child. You have to think of the future expenses of school etc. I'm in South Africa, but I'm sure that your maintenance courts there provide excellent support for you. if he doesn't want to be a 'hands-on' dad, you have to accept that, but he does have a legal responsibility towards this child. Even if you have to get a paternity test done, I would suggest you do it to claim the financial assistance from him.

Let me know how your'e doing.
Take care
Justine

Submitted by Natalie A on Mon, 2008-06-16 19:37.

Thank you both very much for your advice, it is much appreciated.
I tried the involving his mum bit, but unfortunately when the incident cropped up when we split up, and the conversation she had with me over the telephone seemed to have got somewhat distorted, I did contact her to find out why there seemed to be a differing of the conversation I'd had with her, and the conversation she relayed back to her son 99% inaccurately, the conversation didn't go very well, as she got very defensive, and started saying it's nothing to do with mme, I don't want to get involved, I at the time did reply rightly or wrongly(but it was an upsetting time made worse by the interference from her at the time) that she had chosen to get involved intially in telephoning me, and then in speaking to her son, and basically giving him a completely different version of the conversation that had made matters worse.. and to now adopt the attitude that she didn't want to get involved well it was a bit late !
I haven't changed any of my contact numbers, yet despite her knowing I was pregnant, and since had the baby, none of his family have been in touch, and I wouldn't know how after all this time how to go about approaching them, and I don't think she would get involved in fear of upsetting her son.
With regards to the financial side, I don't really want to ask him for anything, but being on maternity pay everything I fill in asks about maintenence payments, and when I put zero, I am met with well you will have to apply for that to bring your income upto the required amount.
I would desperately love my little boy to know his Daddy, even yesterday I sent a card for Fathers Day, and a text message too, and no response.
He wasn't joking when he said he hasn't a maternal bone in his body... lol
I would never badmouth him to his child though at the end of the day there's is a completely different relationship, and hopefully one day it may have a chance to flourish, the difficulty is as time goes on my family will change and it's the fear of things settling and him coming in and disrupting things once settled that worries me.

Submitted by emily on Mon, 2008-06-16 10:52.

The situation sounds horrible and very painful for you. I can't imagine how you're feeling so all I can do is encourage you to look forward and remember that you have done this single parenting lark well before and felt like everything was OK - you can get back to that. I agree with Kate that children need to have as good a relationship with their dad as possible, but if contact's not possible at the moment then you'll need to make sure that until he comes back into their life that you talk nicely / positively about them whenever the child's around even as a babay you shouldn;t be bad mouthing the dad within their ear shot. Get his mum involved and that will help keep the channel of communication between you and the dad open. The money side of things is hard but again I agree with Kate - you're unlikely to get it while you're in a war zone. Try advice from CSA but really the best way to get money is to earn it or claim it through benefit yourself. The more financially independant you are from him the better - I promise it'll make you feel less angry / hurt / dependant and anxious about your child.

I wish you lots of luck - you can do it - you have before - chin up!

Emily

Submitted by kate on Sun, 2008-06-15 20:41.

Hi Natalie

The main issue here is to get your ex to be a father in some shape or form to your child. Who knows why he behaved the way he did when you had your row but it sounds like he is on the unpredictable side. But he is your childs father. Rather than hassle him for money which I suspect is a sure fire way of sending him to ground I would let him know that he is important to your child because to be honest a positive relationship between child and father is THE most important issue here and if that works a bye product may well be some financial support. Now I reckon that your trump card is his mother she sounds nice and kind and fully aware of what her son is like . why not contact her let her know that the paternal side of the family is important and that you would like them to be involved in your childs life etc etc and see how far that gets you ? She may be able to talk to her son , if her son doesn't want to see your child Granny might and that would be a good thing

Good luck

Kate