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Is it ok for bf of 1.5 years to spend time with my dd without me?

205 replies

Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 30/12/2021 10:52

We have been together for 1.5 years. My daughter is 5 and a half and they get on really well. They always messing around. I was thinking it would be nice if he took her to the park without me to bond a little. So far everything we have done has been together. We don’t live together.

Would that be a good or bad idea?

OP posts:
ivfbabymomma1 · 31/12/2021 12:50

@justustwoandmoo

I can't believe this thread. It's honestly no wonder society is as heartless and self centred as it is.

A bloke watches a film with a child = pedo.

MN really does hit a whole new low on occasion.

Yep! Agree with this 100%
PurpleMauve · 31/12/2021 13:55

@mrkramps
‘If it's an absolute no no as you say - is it grounds for SS to get involved?’

If a Social Worker (SW) is already involved with the family, they should be keeping a close eye on the relationship with the BF, advising OP to establish healthy boundaries, etc. It’s unlikely that a SW is currently still allocated to the family (if they ever were), but OP can confirm that if she wishes. OP said she completed the Freedom Programme, so is likely to have had contact with SS previously, but this is not always the case as any agency can make a referral re. the Freedom Programme.

Unfortunately, most people innocently allow people they do not know well enough to spend time alone with their children (this includes adults and other children but that’s going off topic slightly). In these incredibly common everyday scenarios, SS would not necessarily get involved unless they are alerted to it and there are clear and obvious concerns. But, someone has to inform SS, otherwise SS are usually none the wiser. One of the main multi agencies, e.g., Midwives, Health Visitors, GP’s, Therapists (Health), schools, Police, etc usually inform SS re. concerns. Family members, neighbours or concerned strangers in the street also report concerns to SS. In many cases concerns are not reported. If they are, sometimes info is not passed on in a timely manner and/or correctly and unfortunately some children slip through the net. Government cuts inevitably lead to workload burnout, lack of staff and one too many negative outcomes for children.

I’m concerned that OP is concerned enough to post here to ask the question about her BF spending time alone bonding with her DD.

OP refusing to respond to questions re. whether she has sought a Clare’s Law/Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme/Sarah’s Law disclosure is another red flag, esp. given OP’s history.

I may be jaded due to my personal life experiences and my job, but this is my opinion. Many other PP that not work in this area also think this way, and I assume for good reason.

I agree that OP does not have to get married if she does not want to. BF may present as great, but 18 months is usually not long enough to really know someone. There needs to be more time and commitment in the relationship before the DD and BF naturally spend alone bonding time together. DD is too young for this to happen at this stage of the OP’s
relationship with a BF.
Do they have plans to live together? There are so many questions that have been unanswered.

It does appear rushed. OP understandably has concerns about her DD having to spend time with her Father soon. I expect that this has a lot to do with planning bonding time between the BF and her DD.
I agree with OP’s concern and reluctance re. her DD having to spend time with an abusive parent, but that’s a legal issue/problem.
Some of us are lucky to have abusive ex’s that do not bother going down the legal route in order to gain access to children, but that is again slightly off topic.

Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 31/12/2021 14:37

Jesus I have no concerns about my boyfriend I simply asked the question as to other people’s opinions so I could from a rounded view. That’s the whole point of this forum no. It’s is extremely rude @PurpleMauve if I have read your message correctly to assume I’m worried about dd seeing her father as I’m too pre-occupied with finding time for her and bf….extremely rude. I’m worried because he is found guilty and refused access for 3 years via a judge…seriously that’s extremely rude of you.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 31/12/2021 14:41

I’m not answering questions that have nothing to do with the question I’ve asked. I’ve not said I’m concerned, I don’t need police checks as those are for those who are concerned. Whether I plan to marry, move in etc is something in the future, I’m asking about now….and yes as most have said a bit too soon so yep seems like a good plan.

OP posts:
UsernameInTheTown · 31/12/2021 14:51

I was 16 in '97 when I heard about the murder of Billie-Jo Jenkins. From the start I knew it was the foster father who killed her and lo and behold he was charged. Ever since then Step Dads have given me really bad vibes, it's like a territorial thing and it's always the step father who commits the murder. (Until this last year).
There are many excellent stepfather who a kind, gentle and beautiful souls and I admire these men and think they are super, taking on another's child as their own, as I do women who do likewise. However, I would NEVER have a random man around DD7, and to me, 18 months is random.
I realise my reaction is extreme but onceDD flies the nest, then I can welcome random into our home and not a moment before.

PGSTesting123 · 31/12/2021 15:01

14:51UsernameInTheTown

Absolutely agree

It's always the partner of the parent when theses things do happen

Even if you 100 per cent trust someone still give that 1 per cent doubt

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:05

My question is why

Why would you want them to head off alone?

Surely you want to spend time with your daughter
Surely you want to spend time with your partner
So just go all three

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:07

Mind you

I speak from perspective of a single mum of 5 years who has no intention of introducing her boyfriend to the children (older than yours) until at the very least a year has passed

And there will be NO overnight stays when children here until…. We’ll, they move out!

PurpleMauve · 31/12/2021 15:09

@Iwannascreammerrychristmas8

Iwannascreammerrychristmas8

‘Jesus I have no concerns about my boyfriend I simply asked the question as to other people’s opinions so I could from a rounded view. That’s the whole point of this forum no. It’s is extremely rude @PurpleMauve if I have read your message correctly to assume I’m worried about dd seeing her father as I’m too pre-occupied with finding time for her and bf….extremely rude. I’m worried because he is found guilty and refused access for 3 years via a judge…seriously that’s extremely rude of you.’

I’m not going to apologise for offending you. You posed a question re. your personal life on a public forum and I gave my opinion, along with countless other random strangers on the World Wide Web.

No, I did not say that you are too pre-occupied. I think that you are trying to rush the relationship between your child and your BF of 18 months, and that maybe this is related to the fact that your child will soon be forced to have contact with her Father through the Courts.
Can you not challenge the contact?
If a Judge refused access for the last three years, what has changed?

I hope your BF continues to be a great person in your and your DD’s life, but 18 months of you dating him is not enough time for anyone to be encouraging alone time between them, as your DD is still very young.
I’ve been in your situation with a young child a new BF. 18 months is no time.

Cheeeeislifenow · 31/12/2021 15:10

My question is why

Why would you want them to head off alone?

Surely you want to spend time with your daughter
Surely you want to spend time with your partner
So just go all three

Ffs. Op has already given an entirely normal scenario...
"Mum can you bring me to the park?
No as I'm make Ng dinner/ cleaning or whatever maybe do can bring you? "

It's not a case of packing them off with a rucksake each and telling bthem to spend six hours together.

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:10

Op you had a horrific experience with your ex
And I’m so sorry for that

But doesn’t that make you concerned that your judgement of men is not… always strong?

MissMaple82 · 31/12/2021 15:12

If it feels comfortable then yes, my son used to love spending time alone with my ex

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:17

6 hours or 1.5 hours
Irrelevant

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:18

Can I ask how old you and he are op?

Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 31/12/2021 15:22

No it doesn’t make my judgment of men a bit off. It makes me a person who was once trapped in an abusive marriage that got herself and her daughter out, that worked through it alone with with therapy, got her own house she had almost paid off, worked, and recovered form the bottomless pits of hell.

OP posts:
Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 31/12/2021 15:23

I’m mid 30s likewise.

OP posts:
Iwannascreammerrychristmas8 · 31/12/2021 15:24

My judgment of men is probably more honed then those who haven’t been through what I have.

OP posts:
Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:28

Op
A mere couple of weeks ago you started a thread asking if your boyfriend of almost 14 months was emotionally unavailable

* After a couple of years I met my boyfriend, I fear I was very much still traumatised. It’s been over a year and I’m beginning to see he is emotionally unavailable to me. When I need him and there are very emotional events in my life at the moment he just can’t reach me. I need him at the moment, I can’t help that. He is always saying I need to work, that’s life unfortunately or my car needs fixing or things is my house. I just want to feel like I’m a priority at the moment just well I’m finding it really difficult. It’s not his physical time I’m after, I know we all need to work. I want some of his emotional time. I get frustrated and he can’t see it. He then sends endless msgs about his day, what he’s doing etc. I don’t mind any of that but where is the emotion. I can’t live like this anymore, holding it all in, feeling I’m needy and too much, will push him away. I have emotions….aghhh am I expecting too much. Im just so fed up of being alone all the time mentally and emotionally. *

It doesn’t sounds healthy relationship

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:29

You describe him as “very inexperienced” and this is his longest relationship and he’s in his thirties

So there’s a bit more to the story than you are posting on this thread

growinggreyer · 31/12/2021 15:31

So, you have no worries about your daughter spending time with an unrelated man. Why did you start this thread, again?

Excitedforthefuture · 31/12/2021 15:37

@Iwannascreammerrychristmas8

No it doesn’t make my judgment of men a bit off. It makes me a person who was once trapped in an abusive marriage that got herself and her daughter out, that worked through it alone with with therapy, got her own house she had almost paid off, worked, and recovered form the bottomless pits of hell.
Which is a truly incredible thing OP. No disputing that

But on the other thread you started about this boy friend - you say he’s very inexperienced, glosses over all you’ve been through and tries to trivialise it. You describe him as like a little boy and that you could “eat him up”

It’s as though you jumped from a highly abusive man to a very inexperienced boy-man

NumberTheory · 31/12/2021 16:20

@growinggreyer

So, you have no worries about your daughter spending time with an unrelated man. Why did you start this thread, again?
She started it because, as she has said a few times, she was wondering if it was a good idea in the sense of was she trying to force their relationship. Not in the sense of was she endangering her daughter.
WhoAre · 31/12/2021 16:21

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WhoAre · 31/12/2021 16:22

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rocky1914 · 31/12/2021 16:55

@Iwannascreammerrychristmas8

I’m not answering questions that have nothing to do with the question I’ve asked. I’ve not said I’m concerned, I don’t need police checks as those are for those who are concerned. Whether I plan to marry, move in etc is something in the future, I’m asking about now….and yes as most have said a bit too soon so yep seems like a good plan.
So what is the reason you created this thread then? You're asking us if it's "too soon" for them to spend alone time together? Too soon in what regard? I get a really strong feeling of naïveté from you OP. I'll be honest. After knowing someone for only 2 years, the last thing you should be concerned about is your DD spending alone time with him. Or their relationship flourishing. He's your boyfriend. Why aren't you concerns regarding strengthening your bond with him first and foremost? I'm so confused and I'm actually concerned for your DD in the sense that it sounds like you genuinely think the sun shines out of this man's arse and that he can do no wrong? That's insane to me. Especially considering that you were previously in an abusive relationship too. Where is your antennae? Why are you just walking blindly through this? Don't answer these questions directly to me. You owe me or any of us a damn thing. Ask yourself these questions. Because something doesn't add up here.
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