so scared, what should I do?

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

My sons have just come home from their day with their Dad, and ds1 had told me his Dad had told him that if I don't tidy the house up he is going to phone social services, and that the boys will have to live with him.

Now the thing is, I've had ss involvement before because of my house, and the moment it is a mess, so I know I need to do it, but seen top have a block when it comes to housework.

And now I'm so scared, what if he does call them, wool he get custody? Even though he doesn't have beds for them? Oh fuck I'm so scared! !

Help me please

[maristella]

sounds like you need an action plan.

What does this mess consist of?

[Fairylea]

I'd start now. Then if it does come to anything you've made a start.

Can you grab some black bags and quickly bin anything that isn't necessary or hasnt been used for a while ?

Are we talking mess as in cleaning or as in clutter ?

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Toys , paperwork, general crap. No mouldy food or anything minging though

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Mostly clutter! Am tackling boys bedroom now

[BertieBotts]

Okay Golden, this is NOT going to happen, because you are NOT going to let it. Okay?? I have no idea if he has a chance of getting custody over this, I think it's very unlikely he'd get it after one phone call, TBH, but just to be on the safe side and to make YOU feel better, I agree with Maris that you need an action plan.

Can you be honest about the mess here? If it helps, I've been in a similar situation as I also have a mental block about housework. I have a checklist somewhere which was given to me by a social worker, it's the official checklist that they use, if you like I could try to find it/remember it. It really helped me get a handle on acceptable vs unacceptable mess, because I'd do what I thought was the important stuff, and my HV would come back and say it looked the same :( because she was looking at different things. Then I got myself into a right state because I couldn't keep it spotless all the time and I just had no idea what was a priority and what wasn't.

My house is not great at the moment and I would be embarrassed to let people in, but I know that I can get it better than it is, and you can too. It IS manageable, you just have to get there in small steps.

Do you think it's talk from your ex to get back at you, or do you think it's genuine concern from him over your boys' welfare?

How old are the boys BTW?

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Probably just talk from him. In the last 10 mins we have half done their room, that's how much it's just clutter.

They are 8 and 6.

[maristella]

When I have a daunting amount to achieve I write a list.

Around the house this might include: rubbish, washing up, bathrooms, polish, bedding, wash bedding, hoover, mop etc.

Paperwork can be dealt with while watching tv

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

He told the boys he's gong to give me a week to sort it out, but what if he doesn't, what if he phones them now, will they come straight round?

[BertieBotts]

That sounds like a lot better than my house then

There are some shelves on offer at argos at the moment, 3 for 2 - they're all squares and you can mix and match to make different arrangements. They're great for storage if you need some extra places for things.

For paperwork it can be worth getting a few files and just sorting stuff as soon as it comes in rather than it all being in a massive pile.

At 8 and 5 surely messy bedrooms aren't going to be a massive issue TBH - the 8 year old at least could be expected to clean up his own mess and the 5 year old with some help could, also. So I don't think SS are going to be too bothered about a few toys on the floor of a bedroom. It will be the general living areas they'll be bothered with, whether the kitchen and bathroom are hygienic, that there aren't things lying on the floor that the children could break and/or hurt themselves on, that they have clean sheets on their beds etc.

[BertieBotts]

What, now at 7pm on a Sunday?

I doubt it.

If he contacts them, they'll probably either ignore it, or contact you by letter arranging a visit. They can't just turn up, so don't worry :) It's not like your ex is going to show them video footage of you beating the children black and blue - he's (apparently) going to tell them that your house is messy. That's not really likely to be a priority case for them, I don't think.

[BertieBotts]

And how generous of him to give you a week



In fact, TBH I'd say screw him. Your house sounds absolutely fine to me. How dare he worry you over nothing? If it's a mess, then clean it, but don't feel like you HAVE to in order to appease this bully. He's your ex, remember :) You have your house as untidy as you like, as long as it's not a danger to your children!

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

But I have 'previous' for ant of a better word, where the children were sent to my mums for a week. I'm scared he's going to use this against me and get custody :-(

[botandhothered]

Have you a friend that can come round tomorrow and help when the children are at school?? It can really help keep you on task if you have someone there to lend a hand?

[puds11]

Get some under bed storage boxes and ask the boys to chuck all their toys in there then just whip them under the bed. You can get them from wilkos

Be very brutal with what you have. If you dont use/need it, chuck it or charity shop it.

Run the hoover round and voila, tidy(er) home.

[BertieBotts]

Do you feel able to share the circumstances of that? Are you still in touch with a social worker relating to that at all? How long ago was it - and they were returned, so the social workers must have felt that you made sufficient improvements - have those improvements stayed?

Sorry must go and run DS a bath, but PLEASE don't worry, if all he has to go on is the state of your house, well, you can get it spotless if need be. NO social workers are going to turn up at your house tonight and nobody would remove a child from the care of a loving parent who is obviously coping perfectly fine, whatever the other parent is saying about them.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Thanks. I'm starting to feel better, but possibly won't sleep tonight for tidying, but your words are helping me :)

[YourHandInMyHand]

What was your house like previously when ss were involved? Was it worse than it is now?

Be a bit ruthless tonight and sort as much as you can.

Do you have storage for paperwork, enough toy boxes, space for books?

If house isn't dirty and the kids have clean bedding, are washed and in clean clothes, eating non mouldy food I wouldn't worry.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

It was over a year ago now, I have posted on here about it, under variation of the name I have now, probably IneedAbetterNickname possibly with in 2012 on the end. Boys bedroom is tidy now, but not hoovering now, my neighbors won't be happy as they have a baby. Going to clean the bathroom next, which isn't that bad tbh.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

It was far worse before.

[tschiffely]

How does your ex know that your house needs tidying? Is it something your dc have said to him?

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

No, he can see my hallway and into my lounge when he picks up/drops off, they are prob the messiest bits tbh

[tschiffely]

messy house is not a crime! if your dc are clean, fed and happy that is the priority. Your ex is being a manipulative git.

[tschiffely]

you know what....sort drop off/pick up away from your house. Get your place uber tidy/sorted so if/when ss turn up, your ex will look like the complete wanker he is.

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Ss assigned me with a family worker, who continued working with me for about 6 weeks after ss closed the case. Would it be worth calling them in the morning does any one think? Thanks again for all your supportive words.

[tschiffely]

Could he be bluffing, is he just trying to wind you up? Could he realistically acommodate dcs with his work/school holidays etc? What is his motive here?