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Ex doesn’t want our child more than every other weekend!

406 replies

SassyCrab · 31/01/2026 14:11

Me and my ex broke up 3 months ago and he has said he can only have our child every other weekend which is usually a 7pm pick up Friday and late drop off Sunday. But I’m just find it overwhelming at the minute doing everything by myself accept 4 times in a month, when I try to have an adult conversation about it he will just say “this is what you wanted so you will have to suck it up” and that “he still needs a life” it’s not fair that our child only sees his dad every 2 weeks for a short space of time. I understand he works 5 days a week and his hours are long but something needs to be done as I’m doing absolutely everything why he basically lives his life as he wants. If I took this further with court, I’m not asking 50:50 I just want more than 4 times in a month! Would they honour more time or take it as he still doing something?

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 31/01/2026 14:23

I sympathise. I’ve been single 5 years now and my exh has our kids EOW and some of the holidays. In fact when we first split he was doing every 3rd weekend at most. I don’t get any maintenance atm either.

How old is your child? It takes some time but it’s easier for me now than it was a few years ago. Mine are 10 and 7 and a lot of fun to be with these days. Don’t get me wrong it’s still tiring but it’s a bit less exhausting than it used to be.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/01/2026 14:16

Isn’t that 2 weekends a month? Not 4?

you can’t force anything Flowers

Jellybunny56 · 31/01/2026 14:15

No OP, if you take him to court and he says he will only do 2 weekends a month the court will simply say- okay, crack on.

No court has or ever will force him to do more than what he says he will do.

plentyofsunshine · 31/01/2026 14:15

This is such a horrible common scenario. You can't force a parent to parent - and really, why would you want your kids to go to a man who doesn't want them 😥.

You sound like a good mum - your kids have got you and thats the important thing.

Do your parents help out at all? Or In-laws?

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 31/01/2026 14:15

Mine told me he was going to go for custody (no surprise there). Then buggered off to the other end of country and didn't see them more than once a year. I was left with five children under eight, no family support, no money and singlehanded.

Sadly, you can't make them step up. They can do what they like and we have to take it.

Dreamlava · 31/01/2026 14:13

You can’t force someone to care for their child, and nor should you even want to.

He is ultimately the loser but he can’t see it.

No court in the land is going to force a parent to spend time with their child

just ensure that his paltry involvement is at least reflected in his CM

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