r/Advice • u/Any-Television-3332 • 4h ago
My daughter is upset with me because I don’t know who her dad is.
My daughter who is a teen is upset with me because I can’t tell her who her dad is. I got pregnant with her after a one night stand with someone I met at a bar back in 2012. I never got the guy’s name and even though I know what he looks like I never saw him again.
When I found out that I was pregnant I was scared to tell my parents because they’d want to know who the guy was. When I couldn’t tell them who he was they got upset but they were supportive thought out my entire pregnancy. I worked in corporate at that time and I made a good salary so finance wise I was ok, but I knew as my daughter got older she’d start asking questions about her dad’s identity.
When she was 5 I quit my job in corporate and became a small business owner. My business grew years later and I got extremely busy. My daughter would ask and ask about her dad and I’d tell her that I don’t know who he was. She actually thought that I was lying.
I have an aunt who I don’t get along with and she somehow convinced my daughter that I know who her dad was and that he left me because I was a cheater. So my daughter thinks that I’m lying to her about her dad. It wasn’t until my parents sat her down and told her the truth that had realized that I wasn’t lying. I felt ashamed but I apologized to her and told her that maybe one day she’ll find out but she shouldn’t grieve over the fact that we don’t know who he is or if he’s alive or dead.
She hates me and says that it’s all my fault, after all that I’ve done for her. Playing the role of both parents and being present in her life. I was told by my mom to get both of us (my daughter and i) into therapy or counseling to help get some of this weight lifted off our shoulders. I just wish that she’d understand that I didn’t purposely go out and got knocked up and purposely did it to forget who the guy was.
Has anyone ever went through this ordeal especially mothers? If so how did you handle this? I’m trying to let my daughter know that I love her and I’d never stop loving her and that life goes on regardless of if she has a dad or not.