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DD wants to move in with her Dad. Very sad.

257 replies

Worried234 · 21/07/2021 13:03

Hi.

My DD is 12 and splits her time 50/50 with me and XH. We have tow other children who live with me full time, and go to XH at the weekends. The 50/50 was DDs choice and we started it in October.
Last night XH contacted me to say that DD wants to live with him full time.
I really don't want her to
I'm heartbroken. She is 12.
Has anyone any suggestions? I'd never drag it through court.
Her brothers are 15 and 8.
All children are XHs.

OP posts:
Bryonyshcmyony · 21/07/2021 16:20

It seems utterly mad that it's up to the 12 year old

Nicolastuffedone · 21/07/2021 16:20

Is her dads partner more ‘fun mum’ maybe? By that I mean she doesn’t really ask much of her eg keep her room tidy, load the dishwasher etc, has more time to spend with her? This is in now way a criticism of you OP, but at 12 maybe these things are a novelty to a child..

TheSmallAssassin · 21/07/2021 16:21

[quote RadandMad]@toocold54 Because kids can make silly choices for silly reasons, and come to regret it later. Adults have more life experience and a longer perspective - do you believe you could think through all the implications of a decision at age 12? We have all sorts of laws like age of consent, legal drinking age and so on for precisely these reasons.

Unless there's a compelling reason otherwise, I think kids should be looked after by both parents - children in non-divorced families don't get to choose after all. Otherwise they'll gravitate to the parent that makes their life easiest, which may not do them much good in the longer run, and especially during the teenage years.[/quote]
What are the long term implications of living with a different parent though, if OP has no issues with her ex's parenting and the door is always open to come back?

Checking things with your daughter and leaving her room to say what she wants without worrying about upsetting anyone, then giving it a go over the summer and reassessing in September sounds like a good plan.

Interested in this thread?

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SpiderinaWingMirror · 21/07/2021 16:23

So 50 50 is 7 days out of 14. How about suggesting it be gradually increased to see how she feels? Maybe move to 8 and 9 days etc.
Nothing wrong with her wanting more time at Dads. Nothing wrong with making sure you have enough time to parent her properly.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 21/07/2021 16:25

A month on/off is an awful schedule. Every time she moves house, the rest of the family there has had so many shared experiences and news she won't know about. She really must feel like she belongs nowhere.

Bryonyshcmyony · 21/07/2021 16:27

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

A month on/off is an awful schedule. Every time she moves house, the rest of the family there has had so many shared experiences and news she won't know about. She really must feel like she belongs nowhere.
Yes it doesn't sound great.
BillMasen · 21/07/2021 16:28

@gardeninggirl68

Why are some people making Dad out to be the bad guy with ulterior motives??
Because mumsnet
KOKOagainandagain · 21/07/2021 16:29

I think it would be good for my son to stay over at his dads, at least every other weekend if he wanted to. But his dad made sure this wasn't possible by renting a town centre one bedroom apartment. So he just has the status of visitor, no responsibility and entertained and then returned home for me to do the real parenting. They hang out at his flat, he eats junk food, watches a movie. Not surprisingly he thinks his dad is 'fun'. Regardless of how pissed off with me and the demands of real life he is, I can't tell him that his dad deliberately chose to live somewhere with no space for him. Sometimes you just need to suck it up.

Why do you think your daughter wants to live with her dad (and his new partner and step sibling)? What reasons does she give? Is it VIP status or does she genuinely feel happier and more relaxed?

I wouldn't just do a trial in the holidays. For this to work and be real the pressures of school and homework etc need to be present. So maybe first 3 weeks of holiday she stays with her dad during the week and then with you at the weekend, then switch and then the first 3 weeks when school returns she is with him Monday to Friday and just with you at the weekends. Then reassess.

BillMasen · 21/07/2021 16:30

@SpiderinaWingMirror

So 50 50 is 7 days out of 14. How about suggesting it be gradually increased to see how she feels? Maybe move to 8 and 9 days etc. Nothing wrong with her wanting more time at Dads. Nothing wrong with making sure you have enough time to parent her properly.
So dad isn’t able to parent properly?
LifesNotEnidBlyton · 21/07/2021 16:30

The comments posts like this get are just unbelievable sometimes.
You get posts all the time like "My DC doesnt want to go to their dads anymore and wants to live with me full time." and the comments are mostly -

"Listen to your DC. They're old enough to know."

"Why dont they want to go? I'd be thinking abuse so would stop contact."

"Dont send them. He can't make them see him."

"What has he done to make her not want to go? It's a red flag that they've been going and now don't want to."

But then a post like this comes along where the sex of the parents are reversed and it's -

"Your DC isnt old enough to make this choice. Tell her she cant."

"Has he made her say this? It might be abuse." (Because obviously on Mumsnet if a child doesnt want to see their dad he is obviously guilty of abuse, if they do want to see their dad more then he has obviously made them say it and is guilty of abuse, but the mum isn't ever thought to have made the child not want to see their dad or to have done something at home that's made them want to see him more.)

"Dont let her. Make her stay with you."

"What has happened at his house that's made her say this? It's a red flag if she now wants to live with him so I'd be thinking hes giving her material things and she wants to live thre for that. ." (Because obviously a child would only like their father more than their mother if he is buying that love! On Mumsnet anyway....).

It is just totally unfair, this idea that children should be with their mums more than their dad, and that any less than 50 50 (and even that isnt usually what people think should happen here, its usually EOW and 50% of holidays) is just unthinkable.

People forget that with all the bad threads about bad husbands and fathers on here that most of those are because people come on when they have a problem and not when things are good. So people forget that most fathers love their kids just like the mother does, that children are equally theirs, and that they aren't second class parents. Not all children love their mum more, and even ones who do it isn't just because their dad is a bad father, people just like one parent more than another. Most people on here wouldnt like it either if they were told they had to live 50 50 between two houses when one house had someone one they liked a bit more in and they liked that home more.

On here when parents aren't together if it's a baby? "A baby should be with its mum because of the bond and breastfeeding and having a familiar home." A toddler? "Too young to be between homes they need their primary caregiver they've been with from being a baby." A primary aged child? "Not old enough to say so either 50 50 or with mum and at dads EOW and 50% of holidays." A teenager? "Well at that age they're too old for 50 50 they'll want a full time home so they should just see their dad when they want but live at mums.".

Surprise, people think mum is parent one and dad is parent two and whatever age the child most people on here (so obviously mostly women and mothers....) think the kids should be with mum unless there's something so badly wrong with her even they can't say it's a good idea. They will fit what they think to whatever they need to to make it so mum should be the primary carer.

You can't use "mother knows best" anymore, its 2021, and most fathers aren't absent cold feeling people who don't want to do the day to day child rearing. Giving birth to the child doesn't give you lifetime rights to come before the father.

As females their are things every day that are sexist against females and rightly people have something to say about that, just look at the feminist section, people know it isn't right. But then move over to another section and most people don't care one bit about treating fathers badly.

This just isn't fair on children. You should put your childs safety first but after that they should be in whatever custody agreement makes them feel most comfortable.

Westchesterarms · 21/07/2021 16:31

@Gunpowder

I think if this was my DD and in general The relationship was good/neutral, I would say (in a matter of fact/cheerful way: ‘sorry darling. Obviously we both want you to live with us but I’m afraid you are stuck with me for at least half the time until you are 18, and really I want you even more than 50 % of the time. I know it’s annoying but I’d just miss you too much’

I think it’s really important she knows you love her, maybe the asking to be with her dad 50% of the time was a test, maybe she thinks you love her brothers more so she’s throwing all her eggs in with her Dad? Maybe she’s being loyal to him and is worried he’s lonely?

Would you say the same thing, though, if she said she wanted to stay at ops house and only go to her fathers once a week? Or would you be saying you need to tell your xh that he must respect the DDs wishes? Its hard, isn't it? We get so used to thinking children prefer living with mothers to fathers that it's difficult to let that idea go.

Op, I think you sound like fantastic mum, trying to put your daughter above your own feelings. I bet it's only temporary and she'll soon realise everything's she missing.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 21/07/2021 16:32

@Bryonyshcmyony

It seems utterly mad that it's up to the 12 year old
This Confused
2bazookas · 21/07/2021 16:34

I would ask her what all the reasons are for wanting to live with her Dad full time. Perhaps there's some issue that can be resolved ( ie, clash with older brother). Tell her you would miss her but if that's what she really wants then try what Ex suggests:

"He reckons let her stay for the summer hols and then reassess."

By the time they've had her all summer school holiday, living fulltime with his GF and her son might have changed your DD's mind.

KOKOagainandagain · 21/07/2021 16:40

Month on/month off must be awful to live. No wonder she wants some stability. Especially for a 12 year old whose body and thinking is changing month on month. Who's idea was this?

Weirdlynormal · 21/07/2021 16:42

Do you know what switching house every bloody month, I'd have hated it with a passion. I'd have picked the easy option and gone with that.

It hurts, but I really would reassure her that she's wanted, loved and welcome. Let her go.

TheCrowening · 21/07/2021 16:43

50/50 month by month seems like a completely bizarre arrangement and I can see why this wouldn’t work.

I reiterate that child inclusive mediation seems the sensible thing to do.

thefma.co.uk/about-family-mediation/direct-consultation-with-children/

It gives her the chance to be listened to but also exploration of the thinking around that, and enables you to all work together on agreeing the arrangements.

She’s 12 so absolutely should have a say even if she’s not making final decisions.

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 21/07/2021 16:47

Month on/month off but just ten minutes away, what was the thinking on that originally I wonder? Do you really not see each other in that time? Why as it different to her DBs, whose schedule seems better imo. Would you go with week on, week off maybe to try and see if that would work? I think I'd listen to her first and come up with what might help depending on what she's feeling about it all. Problem solve together and see if you can do something before doing 100% of time, only because I'm not surprised she wants to stop this schedule but something else might meet her needs that she hasn't considered or tried.

godmum56 · 21/07/2021 16:48

@LifesNotEnidBlyton

The comments posts like this get are just unbelievable sometimes. You get posts all the time like "My DC doesnt want to go to their dads anymore and wants to live with me full time." and the comments are mostly -

"Listen to your DC. They're old enough to know."

"Why dont they want to go? I'd be thinking abuse so would stop contact."

"Dont send them. He can't make them see him."

"What has he done to make her not want to go? It's a red flag that they've been going and now don't want to."

But then a post like this comes along where the sex of the parents are reversed and it's -

"Your DC isnt old enough to make this choice. Tell her she cant."

"Has he made her say this? It might be abuse." (Because obviously on Mumsnet if a child doesnt want to see their dad he is obviously guilty of abuse, if they do want to see their dad more then he has obviously made them say it and is guilty of abuse, but the mum isn't ever thought to have made the child not want to see their dad or to have done something at home that's made them want to see him more.)

"Dont let her. Make her stay with you."

"What has happened at his house that's made her say this? It's a red flag if she now wants to live with him so I'd be thinking hes giving her material things and she wants to live thre for that. ." (Because obviously a child would only like their father more than their mother if he is buying that love! On Mumsnet anyway....).

It is just totally unfair, this idea that children should be with their mums more than their dad, and that any less than 50 50 (and even that isnt usually what people think should happen here, its usually EOW and 50% of holidays) is just unthinkable.

People forget that with all the bad threads about bad husbands and fathers on here that most of those are because people come on when they have a problem and not when things are good. So people forget that most fathers love their kids just like the mother does, that children are equally theirs, and that they aren't second class parents. Not all children love their mum more, and even ones who do it isn't just because their dad is a bad father, people just like one parent more than another. Most people on here wouldnt like it either if they were told they had to live 50 50 between two houses when one house had someone one they liked a bit more in and they liked that home more.

On here when parents aren't together if it's a baby? "A baby should be with its mum because of the bond and breastfeeding and having a familiar home." A toddler? "Too young to be between homes they need their primary caregiver they've been with from being a baby." A primary aged child? "Not old enough to say so either 50 50 or with mum and at dads EOW and 50% of holidays." A teenager? "Well at that age they're too old for 50 50 they'll want a full time home so they should just see their dad when they want but live at mums.".

Surprise, people think mum is parent one and dad is parent two and whatever age the child most people on here (so obviously mostly women and mothers....) think the kids should be with mum unless there's something so badly wrong with her even they can't say it's a good idea. They will fit what they think to whatever they need to to make it so mum should be the primary carer.

You can't use "mother knows best" anymore, its 2021, and most fathers aren't absent cold feeling people who don't want to do the day to day child rearing. Giving birth to the child doesn't give you lifetime rights to come before the father.

As females their are things every day that are sexist against females and rightly people have something to say about that, just look at the feminist section, people know it isn't right. But then move over to another section and most people don't care one bit about treating fathers badly.

This just isn't fair on children. You should put your childs safety first but after that they should be in whatever custody agreement makes them feel most comfortable.

^^ this absolutely this
userxx · 21/07/2021 16:48

@mynameisbrian

Why do you think she wants to stay at her dads ? He is an emotionally abusive man who has manipulated her into doing this? I ask as it’s unusual and given her older brothers don’t see him it makes me think he isn’t very nice

What????

godmum56 · 21/07/2021 16:51

@Bryonyshcmyony

It seems utterly mad that it's up to the 12 year old
why? its her life and all she is doing is moving from one loving responsible parent to the other, not going to live in a bedsit in Soho over a sex shop
AnxiousWeirdo · 21/07/2021 16:52

I think letting her stay for the summer holidays is a good starting point, she might realise that she doesn't want to actually go ahead with moving in at all, it's hard for a 12 year old to have decent foresight. I would say though that a blanket ban on the idea is likely to push her away from you and would probably damage your relationship. Good luck op.

HeyGirlHeyBoy · 21/07/2021 16:54

why? its her life and all she is doing is moving from one loving responsible parent to the other, not going to live in a bedsit in Soho over a sex shop Grin

[Unless there's a massive dripfeed]

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 21/07/2021 16:54

@Worried234

The 50/50 was a month with me, then a month wirh him, and so on...
Ugh that's an appalling arrangement Why on Earth would you do that when you live ten minutes away?? Why don't you move it to 4/3 3/4 and try that first?
Dervel · 21/07/2021 16:54

I’d be very careful here OP I’m a single father and my son’s mother went through similar a few years ago with her eldest (not my dc), she was resistant to it and prompted a massive court case (which she lost). The whole endeavour put a massive strain on their relationship, which I don’t think has fully healed. Unfortunately the distances involved were at the other side of the country, so she doesn’t seem them anywhere near as much.

My advice is listen to your daughter, support her choices. There is no reason you can’t just informally say she can spend more time at her Dad’s if that’s what.she truly wants, but that she’ll always have a home with you when she needs it.

Don’t take it as a rejection either, it may be she’s less secure in her relationship with her father which may have prompted this push to spend more time with him, and she’s fundamentally very secure with you.

Best of luck!

godmum56 · 21/07/2021 16:54

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

why? its her life and all she is doing is moving from one loving responsible parent to the other, not going to live in a bedsit in Soho over a sex shop Grin

[Unless there's a massive dripfeed]

hahahahahahaha