So A Former Girlfriend of DH's Past Contacted Him.....Very Confused (Updated post46)

kilee

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 20, 2003
Messages
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I spent all day yesterday Christmas shopping, then when I got home we had to leave immediately to go to my dad's birthday dinner w/ the entire family.

Anyhow, we got home late and I was going to go right to bed. Dh tells me "we have to talk about something tomorrow".....yep w/ those words I'm awake again.

When I got home from shopping I noticed dh had cracked in several beers, which was odd, because he rarely drinks. I was just into too much of a hurry to put too much thought into it.

Anyhow, turns out a former girlfriend of his contacted him on FB yesterday. She claims that her son is his.

I don't know what to think........

Here is the background: Dh was 17 and she was almost 23 when they were dating. They were not together very long because most family members were very upset about their age difference. Also because just a few weeks into their "going out" she turned up pregnant. Initially she told my husband it was his child and then he said a week later she told him she didn't want to hurt him but it wasn't his child she had been seeing someone else. He then said that when the baby was born she found him then and asked him to come over 1 time and see the baby. He was confused but went. She still insisted that the baby was not his.

All of that background info I knew because he told me in the first year we were together. We just never really talked about it again.

Now this child is 16 yrs old, and she contacts my husband yesterday after 16 years and tells him this is in fact his child. She claims she told this child when he was 10 yrs old "who his father was". She also claims she lied back then because he was just too young, all of his issues then, their families, ect.........

She is pushing really hard for dh to meet this child, like now-- w/o paternity test or anything. Dh and I agree he doesn't want to hurt the 16 yr old feelings, but a paternity test has to be done.

It gets complicated because she told dh she was showing the child photo's from dh's FB page. The child immediately recognized my son and asked who that kid was because he's in several classes w/ my son. Needless to say we now have to talk to my son (he's almost 17) because I have a really strong feeling if we don't something will be said to him tomorrow at school from the impression I'm getting.

I just don't know what to feel. My husband was a very reckless, always in trouble kind of teenager. He dropped out at 16 yrs old, he was arrested several times (though he never went to jail), he has an adult daughter he conceived when he was only 15 yrs old,was heavy into drugs, and he got married at 18yrs old to another girl he barely knew and it last 6 weeks. He has a "colorful" past, to say the least.

The thing is, he is NONE of those things now. He straightened up around 19 yrs old. We didn't meet until several years later, and when he told me about all the heck he raised as a teen I was in shock because you would never know it. When I met him he had already gotten his GED, he was in college getting a better education, he held a steady, great job, he was drug-free. He is still all those things. He has a great job, he's a great husband and step-father, he's a great provider, he's been drug free since he was 19 and NEVER touched any of it again. He's just NOT that guy........he was very upfront about his past before we married and I accepted it. I was actually sometimes in awe at my husband for the guy that he was and the complete turn around he did. I thought it was an incredible.


Other than getting a paternity test, is there any other advice on how to handle this? I've been in just a numb shock state since he told me.
 
Wow..that hit like a ton of bricks...Get the tests is your first step and secondly just be there for him it sounds like he has turned his life around. I hope everything turns out OK for you both.
 
Agree to meet after taking paternity tests and getting the results back and see what the girl says.
 

Oh, and block his facebook page from these people.
 
I just don't know what to feel. My husband was a very reckless, always in trouble kind of teenager. He dropped out at 16 yrs old, he was arrested several times (though he never went to jail), he has an adult daughter he conceived when he was only 15 yrs old,was heavy into drugs, and he got married at 18yrs old to another girl he barely knew and it last 6 weeks. He has a "colorful" past, to say the least.

The thing is, he is NONE of those things now. He straightened up around 19 yrs old. We didn't meet until several years later, and when he told me about all the heck he raised as a teen I was in shock because you would never know it. When I met him he had already gotten his GED, he was in college getting a better education, he held a steady, great job, he was drug-free. He is still all those things. He has a great job, he's a great husband and step-father, he's a great provider, he's been drug free since he was 19 and NEVER touched any of it again. He's just NOT that guy........he was very upfront about his past before we married and I accepted it. I was actually sometimes in awe at my husband for the guy that he was and the complete turn around he did. I thought it was an incredible.

.

Ok, first take a deep breathe (sp?) You both been hit with a 2 X 4.
Next, remember the part that I bolded. He has gotten his life turned around, that is an incredible accomplishment. Do you have any idea how hard it is to become free of any addiction? Keep the things you know to be true in your head.

As for former girlfriend....
1. I would definitely demand a paternity test. She may have had just as colorful past as he had. Also she may need to answer a few questions, primarily why she decided to wait 16 years to spring this on him.
2. I don't think I would met the "son" just yet. Your house hold is the first priority. You guys need to discuss how you want to proceed before involving an innocent kid.
3. Definintely be honest with your son. I'm pretty much an advocate of being truthful with my kids. They've gotten sex ed at an early age, we talk to them about gays and alternative life styles since they were 6. We discuss house money with them since forever and learning about birth control has not made them promiscuous. I just believe that I want my kids to get truthful information from me. I never worry about what their h.s. will teach them because any controversial subect has been talked about since they were little that it's all routine to them and they can bring up any topic from Uncles drug abuse to Tiger woods infidelity.
 
That is shocking news, that I'm sure you were totally unprepared for, especially since your DS may have to hear about this before you'd have time to have a paternity test done, come to terms with it yourself, and then want to tell him at some point. I don't have any advice except to say, DEMAND a paternity test.

Your story reminded me a similar story this past summer from the DIS boards. I did a search, and here's a link to it. This DISer were SURE that the young man WAS her DH's biological son, but it turned out that he wasn't. My best wishes to ALL of you, for a good ending, whatever that ending turns out to be.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2214500
 
/
Other than getting a paternity test, is there any other advice on how to handle this? I've been in just a numb shock state since he told me.
I'd bring your son in on it as soon as possible. This will help him arm himself in case the other boy mentions it. It also serves as a life lesson on making good choices now because bad choices can haunt you forever.

Then wait it out. You can't do anything until the paternity tests come back.

By all means, discuss your next step if the test comes back positive. It's good to have a plan. But it seems that this is a situation where your DH had been told many times the child wasn't his and he lived these past 16 years believing that. You also knew about the situation before you married him and you seem to be pretty happy with your current relationship with your DH. This bombshell shouldn't change anything in that arena.

Wait it out. Take it one step at a time. These things sometimes happen and you'll deal with it when you have more facts.

On another note: I don't understand how the girlfriend's son (16) could be younger than your son (almost 17). Was your son's age a typo?
 
WOW, that must have hit you like a ton of bricks :hug:

Personally I agree that you must talk about this with your son and do some role playing about what he can say to this kid or others who might harass him in school. Otherwise I would worry a fist fight and detention aren't far off in your DS's future. To this the best response for your son might be "We'll see what the paternity test says" because everyone even in a crowd knows what it is and this other kids claims are empty without the test. Second, there is no comeback for the other kid. Also, it would make this other boy demand for his mother to go ahead with it.

As for the claims, I hate to say it but judging by your description of your DH as a young man two things come to mind. First, he doesn't sound like he was very responsible so I do think it is reasonable to think he wasn't careful about birth control. Second, again since he sounds like he was troubled I wouldn't blame a girl from hiding the pregnancy from him at the time. She had no crystal ball to know the fine man he would grow up to be.

No matter what though, only the blood test will prove anything at all. I would not invite this kid into my family without one, besides your DH needs legal leverage. Once your DH gives in to her demands of him meeting her DS all his leverage for getting her to test the boy is gone.
 
Wow!!!!

2 questions:
- has this child had a father figure going up. Someone he called "dad". Not that it matters, just wondering.
-who's last name did the exGF but on this boy's birth certificate? After all, she did claim he wasn't your DH's.

Yes, I would definitely demand a paternity test. In the meantime, if it were me, I would want to discuss with DH how we will handle it if it comes back positive. What kind of relationship you want to have with this child.

Just remember, if it does come back that he is your DH's, the child is the innocent one in this matter. If it were me, I would want to meet this young man and see what kind of relationship he is looking for, and I would go from there.

:hug: to you!
 
I spent all day yesterday Christmas shopping, then when I got home we had to leave immediately to go to my dad's birthday dinner w/ the entire family.

Anyhow, we got home late and I was going to go right to bed. Dh tells me "we have to talk about something tomorrow".....yep w/ those words I'm awake again.

When I got home from shopping I noticed dh had cracked in several beers, which was odd, because he rarely drinks. I was just into too much of a hurry to put too much thought into it.

Anyhow, turns out a former girlfriend of his contacted him on FB yesterday. She claims that her son is his.

I don't know what to think........

Here is the background: Dh was 17 and she was almost 23 when they were dating. They were not together very long because most family members were very upset about their age difference. Also because just a few weeks into their "going out" she turned up pregnant. Initially she told my husband it was his child and then he said a week later she told him she didn't want to hurt him but it wasn't his child she had been seeing someone else. He then said that when the baby was born she found him then and asked him to come over 1 time and see the baby. He was confused but went. She still insisted that the baby was not his.

All of that background info I knew because he told me in the first year we were together. We just never really talked about it again.

Now this child is 16 yrs old, and she contacts my husband yesterday after 16 years and tells him this is in fact his child. She claims she told this child when he was 10 yrs old "who his father was". She also claims she lied back then because he was just too young, all of his issues then, their families, ect.........

She is pushing really hard for dh to meet this child, like now-- w/o paternity test or anything. Dh and I agree he doesn't want to hurt the 16 yr old feelings, but a paternity test has to be done.

It gets complicated because she told dh she was showing the child photo's from dh's FB page. The child immediately recognized my son and asked who that kid was because he's in several classes w/ my son. Needless to say we now have to talk to my son (he's almost 17) because I have a really strong feeling if we don't something will be said to him tomorrow at school from the impression I'm getting.

I just don't know what to feel. My husband was a very reckless, always in trouble kind of teenager. He dropped out at 16 yrs old, he was arrested several times (though he never went to jail), he has an adult daughter he conceived when he was only 15 yrs old,was heavy into drugs, and he got married at 18yrs old to another girl he barely knew and it last 6 weeks. He has a "colorful" past, to say the least.

The thing is, he is NONE of those things now. He straightened up around 19 yrs old. We didn't meet until several years later, and when he told me about all the heck he raised as a teen I was in shock because you would never know it. When I met him he had already gotten his GED, he was in college getting a better education, he held a steady, great job, he was drug-free. He is still all those things. He has a great job, he's a great husband and step-father, he's a great provider, he's been drug free since he was 19 and NEVER touched any of it again. He's just NOT that guy........he was very upfront about his past before we married and I accepted it. I was actually sometimes in awe at my husband for the guy that he was and the complete turn around he did. I thought it was an incredible.


Other than getting a paternity test, is there any other advice on how to handle this? I've been in just a numb shock state since he told me.

Hire a lawyer asap. I went through this 3ish years ago if you remember. However my dh was not even aware that he had a dd.

The reason you need to hire a lawyer is because since she is not 18 you are going to have to pay child support IF the paternity is proven AND the mom goes after child support. Legally she can do this.

When dh's dd contacted us she was 22 with 2 kids, so there was no legal financial road to go down. The mom could have tried something however she did not.

So you need to get a lawyer, get testing, and then go from there.:hug:
 
Wow! :eek: Hugs to you and your family. :hug: It actually sounds like the ex-GF is a little off her marbles. She obviously has a history of lying to suit her purpose.

Why in the world would she announce it on FB? And why now? I'm wondering if she's simply trying to hit up DH for college tuition. I wouldn't be surprised if she stalls on the paternity test. I would tell DH to NOT meet the boy until paternity is established, so as not to needlessly hurt the boy.


On another note: I don't understand how the girlfriend's son (16) could be younger than your son (almost 17). Was your son's age a typo?

I'm wondering this too. But, I noticed she kept referring to him as her son. Maybe it's her son by a previous marriage. Which would be good as he won't have a sudden biological half-sibling to contend with. That is quite a different relationship from dad has a long lost son that he may or may not bond and become friends with.


This is just another reason for me why NOT to have a FB page. :sad2:
 
Big hugs to you.

First I agree you need to take to your son and explain what is going on. He does not need to be told by anyone else.

I would immediately make adjustments to my facebook page. Is DH friends with this person on facebook? Is so have him take her off his list. If not he needs to make his facebook page private. I have mine so private that not even my son or husband could find me. I have to friend people because no one can find me. I like it that way. You and DH does not need her posting crap on FB that either of you can read.

Next, have the paternity test immediately. If it comes back positive I would think you need to sit down and figure out what you want to do about the situation. I know that sounds cold but you and DH need to agree on what you want or do not want in your current life. I would suggest counseling as well because if he is this child's father you are going to need counseling to deal with the situations that are going to arise. I say that because this lady seems to want to cause trouble. You need a support network to help you not allow this to ruin your marriage.

Good luck. I hope it works out that he is not the father.
 
I have no advice for you, but just wanted to tell you to hang in there! I'm sure it's going to be a bumpy ride for your family, but if you all just stick together it'll work out for the best.
 
This is just another reason for me why NOT to have a FB page. :sad2:
I agree. I didn't get in on the whole MySpace craze and I'm certainly glad I'm not participating in the Facebook craze.

I've seen way too many problems come out of this kind of cyber ego-stroking.
 
I agree. I didn't get in on the whole MySpace craze and I'm certainly glad I'm not participating in the Facebook craze.

I've seen way too many problems come out of this kind of cyber ego-stroking.


ahhhh obviously technology is not the problem here......people cause these problems with or without facebook. Facebook is an excellent tool if used correctly (I love keeping in touch with family & friends all over the world) and people could take the same stance on the internet saying it is evil and dangerous. Don't blame technology, it is the ex GF who caused this problem.
 
We talked to ds a little while ago. He took it in stride, but said "I really never like that kid.....he's always making trouble". We told my son that we don't know anything for sure yet and it will be a little while before we do. We just let him know we wanted him to know what might be.



As for the claims, I hate to say it but judging by your description of your DH as a young man two things come to mind. First, he doesn't sound like he was very responsible so I do think it is reasonable to think he wasn't careful about birth control. Second, again since he sounds like he was troubled I wouldn't blame a girl from hiding the pregnancy from him at the time. She had no crystal ball to know the fine man he would grow up to be.

I agree w/ this totally. There is no doubt that the child COULD be his. She did state that the fact that my dh was so out of control was one of the issue's back then.

Good luck. I hope it works out that he is not the father.

This sounds cruel, and I feel almost ashamed, but I'm hoping he's not too.

ahhhh obviously technology is not the problem here......people cause these problems with or without facebook. Facebook is an excellent tool if used correctly (I love keeping in touch with family & friends all over the world) and people could take the same stance on the internet saying it is evil and dangerous. Don't blame technology, it is the ex GF who caused this problem.

I actually LOVE FB. It helps keep us connected w/ our friends and families all over the country. I actually know more about what is going on in my sisters life w/ it too.



On another note: I don't understand how the girlfriend's son (16) could be younger than your son (almost 17). Was your son's age a typo?

My dh is my son's step-father. My son has a great relationship w/ both his "dad" and my husband. We got together when my son was just shy of 5yrs old and married when he was 7 yrs old.
 
I agree w/ this totally. There is no doubt that the child COULD be his. She did state that the fact that my dh was so out of control was one of the issue's back then.




My dh is my son's step-father. My son has a great relationship w/ both his "dad" and my husband. We got together when my son was just shy of 5yrs old and married when he was 7 yrs old.

This is one of my fears. My Dh was very similar to yours. He was a wild teenager and then straightened out at 19, joined the Air Force, went to college etc.. If you were to meet him today you would have no clue. He is a great father, Dh, and best friend.

In your case, I would tell your son. He is old enough now to understand. But let him no that he MAY NOT be his son and that there will be a paternity test. I would NOT leave him in the dark .
 














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