How do you explain to a child that they may not see their dad again

[PascoeG]

It's looking increasingly likely that DD's father is not going to see her again. They have had regular contact for 4 years. However in the last year this has deteriorated and 3 weeks ago we had an argument. I said we would need to go to mediation to sort it out. He text me and said you will hear from my solicitor.

He hasn't turned up for any contact since then. He has blocked my number and I expect my email too. DD has tried facetiming him as she usually does each night. He hasn't picked up once. I messaged his mum (cold fish at the best of times) and asked her to pass a message on to him to say I have mediation booked. She didn't reply and I text again to say 'did he get the message' she just replied 'yes'.

I'm fobbing DD off atm with 'daddy is very busy at work'. What can I do here to make it easier for her. She was seeing him 3 times a week beforehand.

It’s not your job to parent his parenting.

What he is doing is emotional abuse.

Go to a solicitor yourself and say what contact you are willing to reinstigate and if he doesn’t comply within a set time tell him he will have to go to court.

DD should be exposed to his current behaviour. He either needs to change or not be part of her life anymore.

What a knob. I'm sorry you're both having to go through this. You can't force him to see her and if he had her best interests at heart there's no way he'd do this. He'll be blaming you as an easy excuse to himself to let him feel off the hook. Just keep trying to distract your DD for now just in case theres a chance he grows up and reinstates responsible contact soon.