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Worried grandma, son meeting up with new gf, leaving behind his 3 y/o dd for up to 5 days at a time. Sole custody. Other end of country.

63 replies

Starpigeon · 04/11/2025 18:19

So my adult son has a 3 y/o daughter who he has sole custody for. Mother walked out deciding she didn’t want to be mum and has gone no contact with child. Very sad for all involved. He was evicted from his home as had to give up work to care for her alone. Had to stay in hotels in a different town for around 6 months then moved to a parent and child shelter in home town before finally being accepted for social housing. So granddaughter especially has had very unsettled time this last year. He has now been in new house for around 4 months, he’s messy, won’t let anyone in so knows he has an issue but won’t do what he needs to do. I understand he’s probably overwhelmed. I myself raised 3 children in my 20’s alone after suffering dv from their dad. And am raising another 3 as a 40 something 2 teens (1 with significant special needs,)and a 9 y/o. I help where I can mostly but sometimes it feels like it’s expected of me regardless of how I feel. My son has started to date a lady down the other side of the country he met online. The first time he met her he took gd with him. I had a pop at him and said if I did that to meet a man off the internet with a baby with me there would be uproar and there’s nothing different in regards to risk because he didn’t at that point know for certain who he would be meeting. So the next time he went (3 days) I had grand daughter, he came home a day late after dropping her to mine with minimal belongings and clothes, I went shopping and spent £300+ on clothes and essentials for her. No thanks off dad for that. Then he wanted to go again a month later I said no as I’d already had a convocation with him regarding him demanding for me to look after her while he worked, he wanted me to have her overnight during the week for the whole week, so essentially I look after her for 5 days a week full time and he will pop by before work and have her on the weekends. I did have her a few nights a week at the start of summer hols but had already booked a week away camping with my own children so told him I couldn’t do those weeks, I got the feeling he was expecting me to take her but I said no. That was planned for my own children. He started having his dad look after her, which in itself is a real concern as the man was very violent with me when we were together and had been on and off drugs (anphetamines) for at least 20 years so has periods of psychosis, we have been split up for 20+ years but he tries his hardest to find out where I live. Has told my kids he’s got trackers on my car ect over the course of the last 18 months yet my son deams him suitable to leave granddaughter with him while he goes off for between 4 and 7 days at a time. I’m at my wits end and honestly scared for my granddaughters overall wellbeing. It’s getting to the point I feel like social services should be involved but I don’t want to be the one to make that call. I don’t know what else to do. I have said all of this to him but he doesn’t seem to see the issues. I’ve even had a frank conversation with him about the fact he doesn’t seem to with his actions be a father and told him as much as it would break all of us if that’s what it is he needs to do what’s in her best interest. He cried but nothing improves. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 04/11/2025 21:47

If you can't take her then you need to call SS OP. Think of her. Poor kid.

Unicornsandprincesses · 04/11/2025 21:44

Poor girl. The first five years are pivotal and shape your entire life—it's literally the time your brain is wired. She really deserves somebody who loves her and some stability.

Tammygirl12 · 04/11/2025 19:36

Please please call social services. These are her crucial years. She sounds like she’s already had some rough time, no consistent stable love. If this goes on it will completely shape who she is as a person for the worse

Sassylovesbooks · 04/11/2025 19:32

I absolutely agree with everyone else, you have to call SS. Your granddaughter is being neglected, and her emotional needs aren't being met either. If he's living in a messy home, then it's likely your granddaughter isn't having her basic needs met. Your son is probably carrying trauma from his own childhood, and simply doesn't have the tools to cope with a child. The fact he's leaving his daughter with his violent Father, who's had drug issues in the past (and quite possibly still has) is a serious safeguarding issue. Your son is more interested in his own life and his girlfriend, than he is his own daughter, he doesn't want to prioritise her. At best your son needs help from SS to parent and be a Dad to his daughter, at worst, they deem him unsuitable and remove her from his care. You need to be honest with SS. You can't have your granddaughter live with you permanently and I assume your son's siblings can't either? What about the other set of grandparents, would they take in their granddaughter or do they have no contact? If not, is that through choice or simply they've lost contact because their daughter walked away? It's a desperately sad situation.

Starlight7080 · 04/11/2025 19:31

This is so sad. She needs a safe and stable home. You need to report him. And tell the full truth about your ex to them . She should not be left with him.
Really i would never normally say this but she needs to be removed from your son .

CoralPombear · 04/11/2025 19:22

I’d have her with me op if you’ve space. You all sound like you’re had difficult lives, don’t let it continue for another generation.

BreadstickBurglar · 04/11/2025 19:21

Would any of his siblings be in a position to take her in part or full time?

I bet you can’t sleep at night knowing she’s with her druggy violent grandfather 😔

You know you’re going to have to speak to SS. I’d like to think they might support him to buck up.

YellowCrayola · 04/11/2025 19:21

The bar for removal never ceases to amaze me. I’m sure the social worker on this thread is right, but being allowed to keep a toddler in this situation (what sounds like an inhabitable house, one parent AWOL, one uninterested parent who chooses to leave the child with his violent drug addict father for days at a time) is unbelievable. No wonder some kids literally never stand a chance. It’s not your fault OP, you sound like a kind, sensible woman and I agree adding a traumatised 3 year old to your situation would be unbelievably hard work. But this kid would likely do better in a stable foster family or being adopted, assuming your other adult DC can’t have her?

SALaw · 04/11/2025 19:20

Would one of your adult children take her on?

NotTheSameTwentyFourHours · 04/11/2025 19:16

She's got a better chance of a successful placement in a long term fostering family at three years old than if you wait and she's taken into care in a couple of years' time (or indeed a successful adoption with ongoing contact - no reason you and your son wouldn't still have contact after adoption these days, as neither of you are a threat to her).

Clarabell77 · 04/11/2025 19:14

I don’t think social services will do much if she’s being fed, clothed, supervised etc. Takes a lot for them to intervene.

Tbh I’d probably take her as much as possible if I was you, just to keep her safe.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 04/11/2025 19:11

Oh OP what a horrid situation to be in.

You have to put her 1st, and that's to phone social services. And bear in mind, if you were to take her on, they may be able to put support in for you to be able to do so. But please call them - she only has one childhood.

Tigercrane · 04/11/2025 19:11

Peridoteage · 04/11/2025 19:00

Social services.

Threads like this make my heart bleed, multi generational dysfunction producing more and more poor children who aren't well cared for to go on and become functioning adults.

If they make it to adulthood.Call Social services.

Danioyellow · 04/11/2025 19:11

Crazyclover · 04/11/2025 18:32

I am a children's social worker and you absolutely have to ring your local services - they will put support in for him - they will not turn up and take her away (unless there is a definite need to such as abuse). He sounds like he has lost interest in her and wants to live the life he had before she came along.
Please call your local council, its not 'grassing' or telling tales, its finding him support and helping your grand daughter.

Exactly what I was going to say, he needs help, even if it’s pressure along with support to make him do things. I can’t even imagine how awful her living conditions are if his own mum is banned from witnessing the mess in his house. That little girl needs saving. At the very least he’ll be forced to provide the basics for her, which it sounds like she’s not currently getting

crappycrapcrap · 04/11/2025 19:10

You need to make that call before something awful happens, she is not your son’s priority and is being emotionally and physically neglected. Don’t be complicit in this.

Jollyjoy · 04/11/2025 19:09

You’re in an awful position but like you say, deep down you know what you need to do. Have you spoken to your son that you are thinking about this? How do you think he will react?

Peclet · 04/11/2025 19:09

Is your GD in nursery?

He would have the maximum funded hours available to him.

Social care need to be involved. You know it.

what man leaves his child for 5 days. And what woman wants to date him!!!

im sorry. But this is very serious. Do what needs to be done. Please.

NerrSnerr · 04/11/2025 19:09

Please make the call. Your granddaughter deserves so much better than this the poor thing.

AQuickWord · 04/11/2025 19:06

Your son is a victim of his childhood, and this poor girl will become a victim of hers. Please get some external support for this child asap.

The1990club · 04/11/2025 19:02

This post has made me so sad for that sweet little child. I hope you do the right thing OP.

Dartmoorcheffy · 04/11/2025 19:02

That poor child. This situation needs to be sorted out immediately. Hes a shit father and will never be any different. The best course of action would be for this child to be adopted into a loving family befoe she grows up with irreparable mental health issues.

Peridoteage · 04/11/2025 19:00

Social services.

Threads like this make my heart bleed, multi generational dysfunction producing more and more poor children who aren't well cared for to go on and become functioning adults.

CantBreathe90 · 04/11/2025 18:57

Your son is an absolute waste-man, sorry OP. Not much you can really do about that. You MUST call social services, to protect your poor, vulnerable granddaughter. Either adopt her yourself, or encourage your son to put her up for adoption by someone else, who can give her the safety and stability she needs. I think at 3, she still has a good chance of being homed with someone. It's no life being neglected and damaged the way she is.

Inapickle3012 · 04/11/2025 18:56

My heart hurts for that little girl

CeciliaMars · 04/11/2025 18:50

Would you be willing to look after her full time? If not, social services is the only way to go. Poor kid - what a mess.