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AIBU?

To want to stop "sharing" DS at Christmas- Long

52 replies

Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 17:22

Ds' father left me when I was pregnant. Since then, he has had ds stay with him for 4 days a month (he lives a couple of hours away). I grew up with a father and really wanted ex involved as much as possible.

My ds does not want to see his dad, he is 4, tells me his dad hits him (which I'm sure he doesn't, ds wants me to stop "making" him go to his dads), he is hysterical every time he has to go.

Since ds began school, he now sees his df for a weekend a month- ex says he cannot afford to have him every other month (travel costs) despite visiting his long distance girlfriend far more often. He has no contact with ds in between visits- health visitors have told him how important it is to make contact with ds to help him to be less anxious about seeing him. I have begged him to make more of an effort, we got Skype but after a few weeks he always says his internet won't work/he's busy etc.

He didn't attend ds' parents evening (said he had no money), doesn't want any input in decisions (for e.g. when choosing what school to send ds to he told me to sort it out as he "trusted" my judgement). Doesn't attend important doctors appointments, saying he can't miss uni or can't afford it. He won't get a job because he is in uni- despite many other students manage it- he is exempt from having to contribute financially. Bascially he plays dad for 2 days a month.

However, he always has been adamant we should share christmas' with ds and alternate. We have done this since ds was born as I really wanted ds and his dad to have a good relationship. It's also ex's birthday on christmas day. However I'm feeling increasingly unsure about this. AIBU to think if ex leaves every other aspect of ds' care to me why should I sacrifice every other christmas with ds? Ds doesn't want to go.

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gymboywalton · 07/11/2012 17:29

i wouldn't if i were you
no f'ing way

how can you be so sure that he doesn't hit your son? if your son is so unhappy about going to see him, there must be something going on surely?

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fatcuntroller · 07/11/2012 17:35

Yanbu at all. And how can you be so sure he isn't hitting your son?

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Bogeyface · 07/11/2012 17:37

I wouldnt be so quick to write off your sons comments about being hit.

You're not there, you dont know for sure and 4 years arent generally clever enough to come up with a lie like that.

I think that your son may be being abused and you are ignoring it :(

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 07/11/2012 17:38

Why are you assuming your DS is lying to you about being hit?

No father is better than one who makes you anxious and hits you.

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missymoomoomee · 07/11/2012 17:38

Dads should absolutely have equal rights, children should have a total right to see their Dads. This, however, isn't equal and your son doesn't want to see him anyway.

He's not bothering his ass most of the year and then demanding xmas days. Tell him to fuck off unless he starts making an effort for the rest of the time.

I would also be inclined to believe your son about the hitting. It seems strange he wouldn't want to see his Dad unless something is going on.

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Kalisi · 07/11/2012 17:38

I think you're concerned about the wrong thing here tbh. From what I have just read, it sounds like you should be concentrating on figuring out why your ds does not want to visit his father rather than how 'fair' it is to have custody over Christmas.

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Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 17:40

Ds has occasionally told me my friend who has been is same room as me just hit him, he seems to say it when he doesn't like someone... I guess because ex has maintained that contact (of 4 days a month and now 2) I feel this is more than many absent fathers. I try to give him the benefit of doubt, for instance he says he can't get a job as no employer would accept he needs a weekend off every month... Is that realistic? He is very manipulative and I guess in a way he still manages to manipulate me.

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McChristmasPants2012 · 07/11/2012 17:41

Why don't you belive your child about his father hitting him.

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MyLastDuchess · 07/11/2012 17:41

YANBU. Being a parent isn't just about Christmas. And why would DS want to spend Christmas with someone he hardly knows?

If your ex will come and spend Christmas with you and DS then I'd say maybe. But sending him away from you to be with a relative stranger who can't even be arsed to help choose his school ... forget it.

(My parents split up when I when young and always made important decisions together, and made it clear to me that I was very important to them both. Your ex is doing the opposite.)

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AllThatGlistens · 07/11/2012 17:43

Completely unrealistic and incredibly manipulative. Of course 4 year olds will sometimes tell tall tales but I would still be very wary of dismissing what your DS is telling you entirely out of hand, he is clearly distressed at the thought of visiting his dad, I'd be honestly concerned and paying close attention to that.

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Whoknowswhocares · 07/11/2012 17:43

You're son is hysterical when he has to see his dad. He tells you that ex hits him. Yet your post is all about concern over YOUR sacrifice and angst in having to share DS at Christmas?
Get a grip woman and start looking at the big picture!

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PastaDee · 07/11/2012 17:43

YANBU. I wouldn't want to share Christmas either in these circumstances.

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MrsDeVere · 07/11/2012 17:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 17:51

I have been concerned hence my talks with health visitors, also began videoing my ds' reaction each month, as solicitor told me it's very hard to prove anything unless ds actually had an injury which he hasn't. Stuck between a rock and hard place atm.

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Blu · 07/11/2012 17:52

Going off to spend a weekend with someone you haven't seen for 3 weeks, and away from your own home is a big thing for a 4 year old, and I can understand him being upset. I don't think he should be separated from his Mum and permanent home at Christmas. I think your ex needs to see this more from your DS's pov. But I don't know how best to persuade him of that.

But say no to Christmas for starters.

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RedHelenB · 07/11/2012 17:52

My ds makes a fuss sometimes about seeing his dad but his sisters tell me he's fine when he's there. Sometimes you do need to take things with a pinch of salt, children can be reluctant to leave what they are doing to get ready to go somewhere. As to Christmas, then i think you need to discuss it between you, any chance of boxing day being an alternative Christmas for ex & ds for example?

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 07/11/2012 18:01

Well he could always try getting a job that doesn't involve weekends...?

I think you would be perfectly reasonable to keep him at home over Christmas. Poor little chap being sent away to someone he doesn't want to spend time with :(

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Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 18:02

Thank you for your replies, it's more than him not wanting to leave what he is doing- he has a very strong reaction. On the rare occasion I have seen ds with his dad for an hour or so ds is very quiet and tearful, acts scared of ex. If he cries- ex screams at him, and poor ds tries so hard to hold it in for fear of ex shouting again. Infuriating, and ex will not listen to a word I say. Legally, very difficult to prove anything.

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Whoknowswhocares · 07/11/2012 18:07

Stuff legally! Let him take you to court if he wants to or insist on supervised contact.
Just protect your son from potential harm. It's bad enough that he appears terrified of his dad when you have seen them together. FGS don't allow home to go again without a fight!

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YourHandInMyHand · 07/11/2012 18:08

Do you have contact formalised eg a court order?

This current situation is not working and your last post at 18:02 makes me even more inclined to be concerned about your DS. You have seen him scream at your 4 year old who seems afraid of him!

His job line is complete bullshit. Does he not work at all? Irrelevant to contact just wondering.

Xmas seems like a secondary issue but no I would not send my DS to spend xmas with someone he is afraid of. Fuck that! He could take me to court over it if he was desperate. Though from the sounds of it I doubt he'd bother to.

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SamSmalaidh · 07/11/2012 18:11

If you stopped sending your DS do you think his dad would go to court for contact?

I wouldn't send your DS there for Christmas - he should be somewhere he is happy!

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Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 18:15

He is at uni full time. The thing that has stopped me taking it further, along with solicitor saying I can't prove anything is ds does come home happy. When ds visits him, he stays with his girlfriend and her family- who my ds seems fond of. He is not often alone with his dad.

However everyone's responses have made me more inclined to put my foot down. I guess after speaking with solicitor I felt backed into a corner with no choice but to send him. Videoing ds' reaction is the only "proof" I have of his distress. Health visitor advised me to get as much evidence as possible, keeping a diary of ds' reaction.

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Goodbyetonsils · 07/11/2012 18:16

Yes his dad would go to court for sure- he see's ds as some kind of possession that he has "Rights" to as and when he wants.

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SamSmalaidh · 07/11/2012 18:17

Is there a court order at the moment saying you have to send him, or is this a voluntary agreement you and he have come to?

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lashingsofbingeinghere · 07/11/2012 18:22

I would be very unhappy leaving a little boy with someone he is frightened of.

I don't think you are giving to DS what you yourself had as a child (a father you grew up with). You are giving him a man who scares him and seems to make him rather unhappy. Unless you are painting a very one sided picture I would be cutting right back on the visits and certainly not sending DS to his DF for Christmas.

Without any background to your relationship it is hard to know what your ex's motives are regarding your DS. You say he is manipulative - is he wanting DS at Christmas to upset you?

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