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My DD's birthfather and I have always had a rocky relationship, lots of on and off and fights and backstabbing etc. Even into our adult years when we married other people, in navigating search and contact with our DD's birthfamily there have been issues. It's something that has caused me a great deal of struggle and pain, but over the past few years in particular we've maintained seperate lives and I've been able to put most of it behind me. I wish him the best, and I no longer harbor bad feelings but I know it's best for us not to be actively involved in eachother's lives.
I recently had to contact him regarding a school reunion, (which he is NOT going to.... PHEW!) and he ended the e-mail with "So, what's new with you?" And I began a cordial reply with all the good things in my life: marriage, children, work accomplishments, and I realize that the one HUGE thing that's new, the biggest news of all, is that I've reunited with our birthdaughter.
I know that he has always been interested in reuniting with her. But five years ago when I found her as a minor, I shared the info knowing how he felt, and he went ahead and contacted her behind everyone's backs, including her parents. It caused a lot of issues for me in my own contact with DD's family, and the fact that he went out of his way to hide the info from me after specifically telling me he would share any contact he had really left me feeling betrayed. Even though DD is now an adult, I feel as if he'd do something similar leaving me to have to deal with issues in my reunion. I just don't trust him.
The thing is, I also know that DD wants to eventually reunite with him too. She did tell me that she wants to seek him out when she is ready, and I agreed to help her with that since she mentioned she doesn't have his contact info. I do bring up her birthfather here and there in our communication, but only to reiterate that it's a topic that I'm willing and open to discuss. I've also sent her pics of us when we were her age so she can compare features. She and I are still fairly new in reunion ourselves, so my guess is she isn't ready to begin contact with him just yet.
I know that their reunion is not my place to be involved, and I'd rather keep my involvement to to the sharing of info variety. Part of me feels sneaky deliberately leaving out this piece of info, especially knowing they are both interested in eachother. If the tables were turned, I know I'd want to know, even if it was just to hear how she was doing. I know I felt hurt when I learned that he withheld the info from me. But I keep thinking "fool me once, shame on you...." and he's fooled me 865,000 times. I seriously do not trust him, even though the worst he can do is find her on his own and contact her, which he could do anyway. Still, is it wrong to withhold it for purely selfish reasons?
Advice?
If she wants to reunite but is not ready then I would not feel guilty leaving it out considering how he handled it the last time. I would tell your daughter and get her take on whether to leave it unsaid or said.
She needs to be ready first.
D
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I don't believe you are obligated to tell your ex about anything pertaining to your relationship with your daughter. I would not get in the middle of it, personally.
I think that you can't make it an "if the tables were turned" situation because you two are very different and react to that information differently. You would want to know just to know that she's doing well. When he wanted to know - and you shared - he contacted her directly and was secretive about it.
The ball is firmly in DD's court, and she knows that she'd have your support and help if she needs it. I think that's the extent of your responsibility in this matter to be honest.
If you communicate with DD in the near future, perhaps let her know that he asked what was new, and that you weren't sure if she wanted you to share that information with him? But beyond that - nope. I wouldn't tell him either.
On principle alone, with a clean slate, I'd be an advocate of telling him. But, I just don't trust that he isn't going to do something that will cause problems between you and DD or her parents. You know that what he did last time colored how Amom saw you for YEARS and seriously injured a delicate trust. You are building that back, finally. And it's taken you years to get to this point with all of them.
I don't think that you not telling him is keeping them apart. They both know each other's full name- he could easily look her up again and vice versa. They don't need you to get in touch with each other and you are not keeping them apart. They both may not have everything bit of info on each other, but they both have enough to easily get in touch the moment one of them decides to reach out. And you've told DD that you're an open book to answering questions or giving her any contact info she needs.
You have plenty of other news to share. If he wanted to know if you were in contact with DD, specifically, he would have asked whether you have had any contact.
I know my view on this is completely shaded by our friendship, but I've seen you build this delicate relationship brick by brick by brick over many, many years. I'm just afraid that he could easily knock it all down, and I'm nervous about him entering the picture before things with you and DD are more solid, you know?
Thanks ladies :) I really don't want to tell him, as my reunion with DD is so new, and I am afraid of him barrelling in and overwhelming her and causing her to back off all together. I want time for us to build our relationship, and I don't want to share it with him. It sounds selfish, and being selfish in adoption is "bad". KWIM?
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I've thought about this for a day now. My final conclusion (until I change my mind again) is to tell your daughter that her bdad wrote you and you were torn to what to tell him and she how she wants you to handle it. It may open the door for her to say, let him know, or please don't. My main concern was he caused trouble last time, and reunion is such a tricky thing on the brain, that I'd hate for him to contact her later, and then twist it that you "kept" the news, kwim?
I analyze EVERYTHING my bmom does or says at 43. Not as obsessively as in the beginning, but there is a certain importance to everything she does or says that I don't attach to other folks.
browneyes0707
Thanks ladies :) I really don't want to tell him, as my reunion with DD is so new, and I am afraid of him barrelling in and overwhelming her and causing her to back off all together. I want time for us to build our relationship, and I don't want to share it with him. It sounds selfish, and being selfish in adoption is "bad". KWIM?
I really don't see why you need to be the go-between for him and your daughter. He has her info, she has his. They can conduct their relationship separately and he does not have to be privy to your relationship with your daughter on any level.
I don't see how it is selfish, either, to not share your news with him. And I do understand the concerns you have about your ex sabotaging your relationship with your daughter. Go with your gut here.
Actually I'm glad I did go with my gut, for reasons different than I had thought. I did respond and left out any mention of the past/our daughter, etc and my ex replied that feels that he had a "tough time" of things in HS and early college and doesnt wish to revisit his past. He has a family, (who do know about our DD) and it seems as if he is no longer interested in pursuing reunion. If my DD wants to write him, she knows I have his address (she mentioned to me that she didn't know where to find him) and I'll hope for her sake that he is open to whatever she wants.
I don't see any reason why I would have to contact him ever again :)