ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Social Post
Level
4 / B2
Published
Title
My Partner is Having a Baby
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/my-partner-is-having-a-baby/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Read the Comments, Why Did They Post?, True or False, Put Events in Order

Language: Words That Go Together, Everyday Expressions

Use It: Reply Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: When life changes your plans, what do you do first?

a) I look for new opportunities I hadn't considered.

b) I try to keep the parts of my plan that still matter to me.

c) I give myself time to adjust before deciding what comes next.

Illustration of a man and woman seen from behind, with their arms around each other, looking toward a low sun over hills and a winding dirt path.
What will the future bring?

Vocab List

click (v.) — to feel a natural connection with someone and get along well
heat up (phr. v.) — to become more intense or passionate
take a step back (v. phrase) — to pause your involvement in a situation so you can gain perspective or focus on your needs
the L word (n. phrase) — an indirect way of referring to love, especially saying “I love you”
no strings attached (phrase) — without conditions, obligations, or expectations in return
mourn (v.) — to feel deep sadness over losing someone or something important to you
no hard feelings (phrase) — no anger or resentment about what someone has done or decided
weigh (v.) — to carefully compare the importance or value of different factors before deciding
Reading

I thought I’d finally found someone I could build a life with. We clicked instantly, shared the same values, and were both certain we didn’t want children. Our communication was the best I’d ever experienced.

We had both been in unhealthy relationships recently, so we took a step back to work on ourselves. We agreed to stay friends, with no strings attached and no promises to wait. Dating other people was allowed, with no hard feelings.

We kept in touch through casual coffee meetings, and after a few months, we agreed our feelings for each other hadn’t gone anywhere, and we were both in a better place. We started dating, taking things one day at a time. Things heated up, and the last two months have been pure joy. We’d started saying “we” instead of “I” about the future, and I was wondering who would say the L word first.

Then he called to tell me a woman he briefly dated during our break is three months pregnant. She’s keeping the baby and says he’s the father. I was stunned.

He answered every question openly and took responsibility without getting defensive. This wasn’t cheating. I’m not angry that he dated someone else. But we chose each other believing we wanted the same kind of life, and now that future could look completely different.

I’m mourning what I’d started to imagine. Would staying mean giving up the life I want? How do I weigh the healthiest relationship I’ve had against such a huge change? I’d really appreciate advice.

My Partner is Having a Baby

Level 4 Social
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Illustration of a man and woman seen from behind, with their arms around each other, looking toward a low sun over hills and a winding dirt path.
What will the future bring?
Poster
Loretta

I thought I’d finally found someone I could build a life with. We clicked instantly, shared the same values, and were both certain we didn’t want children. Our communication was the best I’d ever experienced.

We had both been in unhealthy relationships recently, so we took a step back to work on ourselves. We agreed to stay friends, with no strings attached and no promises to wait. Dating other people was allowed, with no hard feelings.

We kept in touch through casual coffee meetings, and after a few months, we agreed our feelings for each other hadn’t gone anywhere, and we were both in a better place. We started dating, taking things one day at a time. Things heated up, and the last two months have been pure joy. We’d started saying “we” instead of “I” about the future, and I was wondering who would say the L word first.

Then he called to tell me a woman he briefly dated during our break is three months pregnant. She’s keeping the baby and says he’s the father. I was stunned.

He answered every question openly and took responsibility without getting defensive. This wasn’t cheating. I’m not angry that he dated someone else. But we chose each other believing we wanted the same kind of life, and now that future could look completely different.

I’m mourning what I’d started to imagine. Would staying mean giving up the life I want? How do I weigh the healthiest relationship I’ve had against such a huge change? I’d really appreciate advice.

Read the Comments

Read the Comments

  • Maya

    Has he said what kind of role he wants in the baby's life if he's the father?

    This comment

    b. Asks how involved he plans to be as a father.
  • Chris

    You don't have to be angry with him to decide this isn't the life you want. A good relationship is a big deal, but so is your choice not to have kids. Leaving wouldn't mean he did something wrong.

    This comment

    c. Says she can leave to keep the child-free life she wants.
  • Nina

    Oof, that's a lot to take in after two really happy months. Give yourself a bit of time before making a big decision. You can appreciate how honestly he handled it and still need space to get your head around this.

    This comment

    a. Tells her to take time to absorb the news before deciding.
  1. a. Tells her to take time to absorb the news before deciding.
  2. b. Asks how involved he plans to be as a father.
  3. c. Says she can leave to keep the child-free life she wants.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:41  YouTube

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Language

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. sharef) the same values

2. takee) responsibility

3. answerd) a question openly

4. unhealthyc) relationships

5. getb) defensive

6. appreciatea) advice

a) advice

b) defensive

c) relationships

d) a question openly

e) responsibility

f) the same values

Everyday Expressions

  1. Choose the meaning of 'take a step back'. If you take a step back during a difficult project, you before continuing.
  2. Choose the meaning of 'no strings attached'. If a neighbor lends you a bike with no strings attached, you
  3. Choose the meaning of 'no hard feelings'. When you say there are no hard feelings after a friend cancels lunch, you mean you
  4. Choose the meaning of 'take things one day at a time'. While adjusting to a new job, you take things one day at a time, which means you

Everyday Expressions

Choose the correct meaning.

  1. If you take a step back during a difficult project, you pause your involvement to think clearly before continuing. or ask someone else to make the decisions before continuing.
  2. If a neighbor lends you a bike with no strings attached, you do not owe them anything in return. or can keep it for as long as you like.
  3. When you say there are no hard feelings after a friend cancels lunch, you mean you would like them to choose another date. or are not upset with them.
  4. While adjusting to a new job, you take things one day at a time, which means you focus on today rather than planning far ahead. or wait to see what others do first.

Reply Builder

  1. Show Loretta that you understand her feelings about losing the future she imagined.

    I understand why you feel about losing the future you imagined.

  2. Comment on one possible way staying with him could affect Loretta's life.

    Staying with him could mean , so think about what you want too.

  3. Suggest something Loretta could ask her partner before deciding whether to stay.

    Before you decide whether to stay, ask him how he plans to

Use It

Reply Builder

  1. Show Loretta that you understand her feelings about losing the future she imagined.

    I understand why you feel about losing the future you imagined.

  2. Comment on one possible way staying with him could affect Loretta's life.

    Staying with him could mean , so think about what you want too.

  3. Suggest something Loretta could ask her partner before deciding whether to stay.

    Before you decide whether to stay, ask him how he plans to

Discussion Questions
  1. What advice would you give Loretta before she decides whether to stay?
  2. Which future plans would you find hard to change for a relationship?
  3. Is it wise to avoid starting a relationship until you're ready for one?
  4. How can you support a partner without taking responsibility for their problems?
  5. How can someone cope with losing a future they had imagined?
  6. What should couples discuss before making long-term plans together?
  7. How would you explain a decision to leave someone you still love?

Discussion Questions

  1. What advice would you give Loretta before she decides whether to stay?
  2. Which future plans would you find hard to change for a relationship?
  3. Is it wise to avoid starting a relationship until you're ready for one?
  4. How can you support a partner without taking responsibility for their problems?
  5. How can someone cope with losing a future they had imagined?
  6. What should couples discuss before making long-term plans together?
  7. How would you explain a decision to leave someone you still love?

Answers My Partner is Having a Baby / Level 4

Read the Comments:

  1. Maya: b. Asks how involved he plans to be as a father.
  2. Chris: c. Says she can leave to keep the child-free life she wants.
  3. Nina: a. Tells her to take time to absorb the news before deciding.

Why Did They Post?: She wants advice about their future after learning he may become a father.

True or False:

  1. False. Loretta says they shared the same values and were both certain they did not want children.
  2. True. Loretta explains that they had recently been in unhealthy relationships, so they stepped back to focus on themselves.
  3. False. They made no promises to wait and explicitly agreed that dating other people was allowed.
  4. True. After a few months of keeping in touch, they recognised that their feelings had not changed and that they were both doing better.
  5. False. He told Loretta that he had briefly dated the woman while he and Loretta had stepped back, before they started dating.
  6. True. She explicitly says this was not cheating and that she is not angry about him dating someone else. Her concern is that their future could now look completely different.

Put Events in Order:

  1. Loretta found a partner with the same values as her.
  2. They stepped back to work on themselves.
  3. Her partner briefly dated another woman.
  4. Loretta and her partner started dating.
  5. Her partner revealed that the woman was pregnant.

Vocabulary:

  1. share: the same values
  2. take: responsibility
  3. answer: a question openly
  1. unhealthy: relationships
  2. get: defensive
  3. appreciate: advice

Everyday Expressions: 1. a; 2. a; 3. b; 4. a

Reply Builder examples:

  1. I understand why you feel heartbroken about losing the future you imagined.
  2. Staying with him could mean adjusting your plans around his parenting responsibilities, so think about what you want too.
  3. Before you decide whether to stay, ask him how he plans to balance parenting with your relationship.

eslnewsstories.com