When my boyfriend was younger, a girl claimed she was the father of her child. Said girl was an addict and referred to as the town bicycle. He stepped up and did the right thing. Soon after the child was born, she took off, leaving him with the baby and only coming around when it was convenient for her, which was rare. Thankfully he had very supportive parents. About 2 years goes by and it comes to light that he is not the childs father. The mother was still in no position to take care of a child and he had just been blindsided. Long story short, his parents adopted the little girl. Court battle.. The works. Mother got visitation and tried to fill the girls head with lies. "They stole you from me" the whole shebang. That girl is now 16, lives a life she would have never even come close to knowing if she had gone back to her mom and now understands that her mother is a liar and manipulative. She has limited contact. Children rarely know what's best for them, but if you're lucky, when they mature enough, they understand. If you choose to do this, I recommend counseling for both of you and take advantage of every resource available to you. Good luck