"I faked infertility to keep my career"

[FP]

http://womansday.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=225136

My career has always been my first love, but when I was 31 I agreed to marry a lovely man that I had been seeing for several years.

Sam was really keen to have children straight away but I was focussed on my job and doing really well so I managed to convince him to wait a few years. He kept bringing up the topic and, although I was still not interested, I eventually agreed to start trying for a family.

I started taking folic acid and calcium and stopped drinking alcohol. But secretly I kept taking the pill. I felt terrible but I knew that if I got pregnant now I would lose my job, I figured this was the best way to keep everyone happy. Besides, by this time I was still only 34 and figured that I still had plenty of time to have children later, when I had achieved what I wanted at work.

Sam was so excited, he started buying little present for our 'baby' and spent time researching the best cots, car seats and carriers. I felt bad but I'd just been promoted again and was able to throw myself into work and forget about my lie.

Each month when I got my period Sam was so sad, and I had to pretend to be too. He'd cook me special meals full of baby-making vitamins and burn oils that supposedly promoted fertility. After a year of "unsuccessful attempts" Sam suggested seeing a fertility specialist. I put it off as long as I could but eventually I had to agree to go along.

I felt sick sitting in a waiting room surrounding by hopeful looking couples waiting nervously. I had to lie to the doctor and undergo a series of tests. When I couldn't take it anymore I broke down and cried to Sam that all the testing was too intrusive and made me feel like a failure. I was consumed by guilt. As always, Sam was so wonderful and supportive, I hated lying to him.

By this time Sam has spent loads of money on all kinds of "natural treatments" and with the stress of it all, along with me working longer and longer hours at work, we began to fight. Sam resented me spending so much time at work and putting extra stress on my body. Gradually we stopped fighting and gave up on the idea of a baby of our own.

Today I am 46 and have pretty much missed out on my chance to have children. It hurts me to watch the sad look on Sam's face when he plays with our friends' children. And it hurts me even more to watch the sympathetic look that my poor childless husband gives me; misinterpreting my guilt for the pain of being unable to give him what he wanted.

No job is that important. If only I'd realised this 10 years ago.

What was that controversial advice about marrying career women by Mr. Noer a year or so ago? Oh yeah, don't marry them.

[Aegis]

Well, the good news is that it's not too late for Sam to have kids.

[Quentin0352]

He still won't because have kids because she is still a liar and not willing to tell him the truth since it would risk him dumping her. I feel sorry for the guy since even if she did have a child with him, if they separated she would have ripped him from the life of the child for petty revenge based on her selfish behavior past and present.

[TheManOnTheStreet]

All together now...

AWWWwwwwwwwwwwww da poor widdow womannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.....

TMOTS

[Cordell Walker]

what a spineless yellow bellied god damn critter this  woman is
I hope Sam realizes this  soon and breaks camp
whoa
Im usually not at a loss for words but

[Aegis]

He still won't because have kids because she is still a liar and not willing to tell him the truth since it would risk him dumping her. I feel sorry for the guy since even if she did have a child with him, if they separated she would have ripped him from the life of the child for petty revenge based on her selfish behavior past and present.

No, I mean it's too late for her but not for him.

[Quentin0352]

He still won't because have kids because she is still a liar and not willing to tell him the truth since it would risk him dumping her. I feel sorry for the guy since even if she did have a child with him, if they separated she would have ripped him from the life of the child for petty revenge based on her selfish behavior past and present.

No, I mean it's too late for her but not for him.

Understood but he has to know first. Instead she has him roped playing on his sympathy for her being supposedly infertile and having tried to give him the children he wants. She just continues to lie to him and play on him until he is drained emotionally and if he dared to divorce her over the issue she would clean him out because he was such an ass for not putting her desires first.

[K9]

What I understand about the DV industry is they claim that when a man hides resources (money, etc) it is DV. What about when a woman hides her fertility? What about when a woman deprives a man of children through outright lying? She doesn't love him, she's using him for her own personal self-centered satisfaction. I claim spousal abuse!

Also, look at the comments there. Pretty well agree with us.

[neoteny]

Also, look at the comments there. Pretty well agree with us.

Except for Anna, QLD, who's seemingly that board's Devia...   

[Mr. Bad]

What I understand about the DV industry is they claim that when a man hides resources (money, etc) it is DV. What about when a woman hides her fertility?

Traditional marriage used to be a contract between a man and a woman:  He provided a home and other resources for her and she provided her fertility, i.e., children, to him.  However, as is the case in almost every other aspect of life, feminists have managed to relieve women of their responsibility with the marriage contract while imposing even more responsibilities on the man, e.g., he must still abide by his responsibilities to provide her with resources while she has no obligation to provide him access to her fertility.   This is yet another reason why men should never marry. 

Welcome to the modern world, courtesy of feminists and their fellow travelers. 

[neoteny]

Mr. Bad,

thanks for the concise and apt summary.