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Updated thread....

5 replies

frustrated18 · 05/04/2018 17:14

The below thread shows the problems I've been having with my ex. My dcs are due home today. He's been at work (dcs looked after by nana and grandad) and we were supposed to meet half way as always.

He isn't finishing work until late now. So it's up to me, we either meet half way but that means dcs won't be home until midnight. Or I get them tomorrow. I've said tomorrow as it's not fair to have them so late. But this now means we are no longer doing the day out we had planned tomorrow. I've not no apology, no nothing from him. All this week he's been working late so I've not been able to FaceTime the kids as they've been in bed when he's got home (grandparents don't have FaceTime etc) I've never gone so long without speaking to them.

I'm so fed up, I just want them home. Heres my post from last week:

Name changed for this. At the end of my tether if I'm honest. 2 dcs aged 8 & 6. Eldest is autistic. Ex cheated and then moved 120 miles away back home to mum and dad.

I've since re married and dc 3 is on the way.


The last couple of months I have become increasingly frustrated with my ex. Had another post about how he's more of a fun uncle than a dad. He sees them eow and some time in school holidays. Dcs travel to see him, we meet half way at a service station on a Friday after school.

He speaks to them maybe twice a week. Isn't involved in ds autism. Doesn't know how they are getting on at school. Just isn't a parent like that. He sees his role as a father as 2 days out of 14. He hands them back and that's his bit done. I've given up trying to involve him in things - especially with ds. He doesn't have a clue about hospital appointments, school meetings...nothing.

Like I say, I've given up but now even picking up and dropping off times are an issue.
He works for a courier company and will never ever know what time he's going to finish work until the actual day. I dropped them off on Thursday for the week. I messaged him on Wednesday to say I would be at the service station for 6.30 if he could be there for around then. I then get a phonecalll the next day saying he won't be leaving work until 6. He can meet me at 8.30pm.

  1. This is too late for me dcs. By the time they actually got home, it would be 10pm
  2. I cannot plan anything. It's ridiculous that I don't know what time I am dropping them off until that afternoon.
  3. In this particular case, dcs has a swimming lesson which is half an hour away from my house but on the way to the service station. I wasn't going to go all the way home for half an hour and then set back off again. Part of the journey was already done.


This will be the same when I pick them up next week. He is working on the Thursday (dcs nana and grandad look after them when they are there but refuse to do any drop offs/pick ups which is fair. It's not their job.) and I won't know what time to collect them until that day. If he finishes at 6 again, he won't be home until 7 and then that's a 10pm home time.

On the weekends they travel, they come home Sunday and he doesn't work and that's fine. But the dropping them off is a nightmare. Again I'm just waiting around for him to tell me when he is ready.

On top of this, when he does have them in school holidays, he constantly changes the days.

First, we was only wanting them over the easter days - 4 days. Then he asked if he could have them for the first week as his mum wanted to have them. I said that was fine. Then he changed it to the second week.

I'm so fed up of him. Like I say, I've given up on him being an actual parent. I told him on Thursday, all I expect from him is the pick the kids up at a suitable time and pay his maintenance. That's all he has to do as a father and he isn't even doing that.

What do I do? Does this sound like it needs a court order? Please remember there is an autistic child involved in all this also.
OP posts:
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ClareB83 · 05/04/2018 17:54

It is difficult because his unpredictable finishing pick ups/drop off times are due to his work. He's not just being a dick.

It's a shame the grandparents won't help out. Can ask your ex to discuss it with them, explore why they won't do it? Eg if it's they won't do it at that location/time you could change things to suit them.

Does he have any other support who you'd both trust to drive the kids?

Otherwise your choice is putting up or choosing a cut off time after which you won't pick up/drop off. But with the latter you will have things like today,

I don't think it really justifies ending contact.

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frustrated18 · 05/04/2018 18:22

I don't want to end contact. I wouldn't do that to my dcs.

I'm just fed up with him not being involved in anything. He doesn't have to deal with what I go through with ds. Nothing.

All I ask is for him to collect and drop the kids off at a suitable time and pay maintenance. That's the only things he has to do as a parent.

His parents won't help because he still lives at home and does nothing to help round the house apparently (he's 33). His dad did used to do them but I think he's had enough of the ex living at home and wants him to get himself on his own 2 feet.

There's no one else I know from where he lives anymore. It's been 5 years since I've seen any of his family of friends so I don't really know.

Cutting contact is not what I want. What I want is to stick to plans and stop messing us all about. I'd give him some lea way if he bothered more with them or was actually interested in their lives but he can't even give me that.

He messaged me late last night to say he couldn't believe that dd could write a sentence. In my head I'm thinking 'she's 6 now, she's been able to write for ages, you would know that if you bothered to ring me about parents evening like you said you would 3 times but never did'.

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NorthernSpirit · 05/04/2018 18:27

Don’t stop contact. Contact is for the kids, not the dad.

I know this is hard on you, but it can’t be easy for him either. Sounds like he works long hours and is trying to see the kids (some dads don’t bother at all). He only sees them EOW, that’s 2 days out of 14. Is it really that big a problem that he drops them tomorrow morning, rather than tonight and your kids get to spend another night with their dad?

Regarding calling the kids. My OH has 2 kids and his EW only ‘allows’ him to call the children 3 times a week. She on the other hand calls them twice a day when they are with us EOW. Let the kids have their time with their dad. It’s not about you missing them.

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frustrated18 · 05/04/2018 19:26

Omg I haven't said anything about stopping contact! I've had to fight for him to see them.

He isn't spending the time with them, his mum and dad are.

Ds came home the other week from his dads telling me he didn't want to be alive anymore. He's 8. I contacted the ex and the reply I got was 'oh right, dunno what you want me to do about it'. He's a crap dad.

But I am not wanting to stop contact. I am missing them but it's not about them not being at home. It's about him not even been able to stick to the little thing hes supposed too.

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ClareB83 · 05/04/2018 20:13

Yes he's a shit dad. But unfortunately your options are pretty limited: shit dad that you are flexible about pick up times for or a shit dad where you are strict about pick up times. Both end up with plans changing at the last minute.

You can't make him be reliable and you can't make him a better father.

The comments by your 8yo are very concerning though. I know so far we all said don't end contact and you weren't considering that anyway, but I think we said it because it is always something you have to keep under review with a shitty parent esp with those sorts of comments.

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