So I've been dating a guy for about 7 months now. Things are awesome between us, they have been from the start pretty much and there haven't been any major issues except for one.

My boyfriend has a 2 year old daughter with a girl he had been with for about 3 years. They had a really rocky relationship [as far as he, his family and his friends have said] and apparently she trapped him into having a kid by stopping her birth control without telling him. During the three years they were together they had broken up and gotten back together many times until almost a year ago, they broke up and he said he was done with her. I've known him for about 2 years now and saw how miserable he was and we ended up being really close friends during that time until 7 months ago when we started dating.

Ok so finally here's my problem :p Even after all this time, it seems like I can't have a conversation with him without him mentioning his ex and telling me all this shit about her. He just likes to vent to me about her, and I've never once told him not to, I've never told him it bothers me because I'm trying to be supportive and understanding of his situation. We're both 20 years old and at our age I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to have a child. Usually I would see that as a sign that he's not over her but I realize that they will always be a part of each others lives because of their daughter.

I guess I feel slightly threatened even though he's made it very clear to me that he's happy with me and hasn't been this happy in almost 4 years. I feel terrible knowing how sick it makes me when he goes out with both of them together for the sake of their daughter. Sometimes I feel it's not necessary for him to have to deal with his ex as much as he does. They go shopping together for toys, clothes, they take her to doctor's appointments together, to daycare... I'm sure this makes me sound incredible selfish.

I'm not an insecure person in general, I'm not usually so paranoid and jealous in relationships but I've never dealt with a situation like this where there is an actual family involved.

Can someone please tell me if the way I feel is normal? Is there any way to change the way I feel and help me to be more understanding?

Well the man has allot on his chest it seems so him going on about his ex is normal but sooner or later you are gonna have to tell him to move on although don't know how easy its gonna be since he had a kid with the ex it mite be a little hard to just move on

I was in the exact same situation. My boyfriend had been with his ex on and off for two years. She was horrible to him, made him stop seeing/calling all his friends, cheated on him, lied and stole from him. He talked about her a lot too and it made me uncomfortable at first. But then I realized this was a woman he had been with for two years of his life. The most important, growing teenage years too. He had learned from her and grown up with her. There no reason he should just let that go completely. She helped make him who he is now. And I absolutely love him. I became more comfortable with it.

Just realize that he's not hung up on her. She was just in his life for a long time. And you know he's happy with you right? That's all that matters.

About a month ago my boyfriend came to me and thanked me. He said without me and without my help, love and care he would have never been able to get away from his ex and realize he deserved much better. I'm sure your boyfriend feels the same gratitude.

Thank you, it's funny how much that cheered me up. I think I just find it so difficult because there is a child involved and I know that his ex will ALWAYS be there in his life. I'm sure I'll learn to deal with it in time.