So, you’re dating a man with kids. Things are going well, and you start to envision a future with him. One night at dinner, you ask him if he is interested in having more kids, confident his answer will be an enthusiastic, “YES!” The response he gives you is not only unsettling, but also something you had never imagined before…
“I have had a vasectomy.”
You start to sweat. You’re not sure which direction to take the conversation, so in an effort to play it cool, you respond with, “But that’s reversible, right?!” He responds with a blank stare. Not knowing how to move forward, he responds, “It can be, but…”
The “but” is the turning point. The “but” is what women cannot comprehend. If the man you’re dating has a “but” at the end of that sentence, prepare for many emotionally loaded conversations to follow.
My Story
My husband told me from the beginning that he had a vasectomy, and had no plans to reverse it. He was direct. While we were dating, I knew with certainty that if we were to get married, my stepdaughters would be the only children I ever had. He asked me repeatedly if I would be okay with that… and just like a woman, I always responded, “Yes, of course! I love your kids!”
You see… a woman’s brain is complicated. Much of what our brain does is beyond our control, I’m sure of it. Anyway, despite how direct my then-boyfriend had been, I still was certain we would have kids one day. I knew that once he saw how good I was to his kids, and how good of a wife I was, he would be itching to give me a child of my own. I knew he would fully understand a woman’s strong internal need to give birth to a child, and I knew he would do his part to make my dream a reality. I knew that he would also want an “ours” baby… one that looked like us and had our traits. He was such a good father, and I knew that he secretly wanted another child- with me.
Boy, was I wrong.
Through the ups and the downs, I have finally accepted the fact that I have given up my ability to bear a child, all for the man I love. This is a hard, lonely road to be on, and if you have found this article, maybe you are on the road with me. I’m here today to share my perspective.
5 Stages of Grieving your Husband’s Vasectomy
Denial.
Of course, he will get his vasectomy reversed! He doesn’t mean it when he says he doesn’t want to have any more kids. He thought he was done having kids with her… but now he’s with me. Of course, he wants to make me a mother! He is such a good Dad, he secretly wants more kids… he’s just too afraid to admit it!
Anger.
Why does she get to share something with him that I never will? Why wouldn’t he want to have a child with me?! Does he think I’m not good enough to his kids? Does he seriously think being a stepmom should be “enough” for me? There’s no way he honestly thinks that could fill my void, right?!
Bargaining.
I will get up every time the baby cries in the middle of the night. I will be the primary caregiver… he won’t even know the baby is here! If he gets his vasectomy reversed, I will let him buy that boat he’s had his eye on. I will let him sign a paper that he would not owe child support if we were to divorce. I’ll do anything!
Depression.
Why doesn’t he think I’m worthy of being a mother? Why am I not good enough? Why will she always have- and continue to build- memories with my husband that I will never have? I am disengaging as a stepmom… it’s too much to handle. I don’t deserve to be a mother, anyway.
Acceptance.
Our life is pretty great as-is. We are far more blessed than others. I can make a lasting impact on my stepchildren. My husband recognizes the sacrifice I made to be with him, and helps me carry the burden when I am feeling down. My stepchildren need me. I fill a unique role in their lives that no one else can fill.
This grief is not about him or her… it’s about you. As you work through the stages over time, you will realize that reflection and perspective will make all the difference.
Coming to terms with a decision you knowingly made- like marrying a man who directly told you he would never be able to give you a child- is hard. But you know what’s even more difficult? Doing it alone. Lean on your support system… your friends, family, and of course, your husband. They may not understand what you are going through, but they can certainly help you come out on the other side.
If you haven’t made it to the acceptance stage yet, just know that you are enough. You can live a long, happy, fulfilling life without having biological children.
For those who have hit the acceptance stage, know it is still okay to grieve at times. This void will always be with you in some form or fashion… it’s all about how you choose to live with it and move forward.
PS: It’s true you have a unique role in your husband’s life that no one else can fill. This is the metaphor that changed my perspective on being a stepmom.
Thank you for this post! OMG this is true about me. I met the love of my life but he had decided he was done having kids and was getting vasectomy. He didn’t get it done saw no point. Then met me and was like nope no kids.
I thought I had accepted it. Then as the day has approached I resented him. Then I open up to a friend who will be honest with me and she said he is selfish. If he wanted this done he would have done it before you.
Now , today 5/28/2020 is the day and he had it done. I am torn and about to lose him. He literally said he is moving out after he recovers.
All last night and this morning I’ve felt so sick. So angry. Depressed.
So sorry you had to go through this all, Marie. Sending tons of love your way.
My husband and I have been married for over 13 years. I was 27 and he was 36 when we got hitched. Today we are 41 and 50, and although we did a vasectomy reversal after our first year of marriage, the universe did not see fit to give us children of our own. I’m the lucky bonus mom of two amazing adult children. He and his ex-wife lost a child on June 6, 1996, and tonight as I watch him grieve the death of a stillborn infant, I too am struggling with my own sense of loss. I’ve reached the stage of acceptance, but once every blue moon, an ache will arise that feels like it come out of nowhere. Tonight your words brought me comfort. Thanks for writing this blog. Your truth and your story made a difference in my life two years late.r.
Sending you so much love as you navigate your own journey. We’re glad this article was able to give you some comfort in a difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to reach out!
My husband is 19 years older than me and his vasectomy was done many years before he met me. At first he said he will look into having it reversed but it never happened. I tried to get him to see a specialist to see what options ww have but he did not want to go through it. I knew about vasectomy before we got married but I thought a miracle will happen somehow. I am now 42 and I know I will never be a mother. I cannot even talk to him about how I feel. It hurts to think about it so I don’t think I went through the stages mentioned in the article.
So sorry to hear you’re experiencing such pain, Dana. It’s important to process your grief so it doesn’t morph into resentment. Sending you loads of love.