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Child contact wirh ex.. coparenting - is this fair?

144 replies

LD233 · 05/03/2024 19:19

Hi so me and my ex have a 7 month old son and as he is not breastfed he has him one night per week on a weekend either Friday or Saturday and brings back the following day. He said he can't see him in the week as he lives 40 minutes away. He doesn't contact at all in the week asking how is son is or checking on him
He also said this will never change and he will always have him just one night psr week. Whereas he sees his other son everyday as he lives with his other sons mom.

I just don't feel like this is fair long term. I'm already having to sacrifice work I am going back part time and putting our son in nursery and paying for it as he is also refusing to pay towards any nursery fees.

I feel like I am struggling and he is doing the bare minimum in my eyes.
I have asked several times if he can help abit more in the week or even one more night and he refuses.

Is one night a week on a weekend the norm for coparenting ? Im thinking long term. I am exhausted from doing it alone but I know that's just being a single parent whilst he and as he has said 'babysits' on a weekend for less than 24 hours. He doesn't seem that interested to me. Especially not even checking in on our child to ensure he's ok

He also has nothing for him at his. I have to provide everything Nappies formula food clothes wipes etc as he refuses

OP posts:
Beetlewings · 06/03/2024 09:07

My school run is more than 40 minutes

MiltonNorthern · 06/03/2024 09:11

LD233 · 06/03/2024 08:56

He also says if I ever stop contact he will be applying to court anyway and he apparently has a load of evidence against me ( which he doesn't) when I was newly postpartum with severe postpartum depression alone on a high dose of anti depressants and I still am on those.

For what? He doesn't want to parent your son. He's just being an arse.
my advice as someone who has had to coparent with a financially and emotionally absent father; take what you can get in terms of him spending time with him and don't expect any more, and get your maintenance claim in (assuming you've checked and he's not already giving you more than you'd get through CMS) then adjust your expectations and get on with your life. You can't change him.

MiltonNorthern · 06/03/2024 09:12

Meadowfinch · 06/03/2024 09:01

'He also says if I ever stop contact he will be applying to court anyway '

Great. Bring it on. The court will issue an access order which will lay out when he should collect his child and how often. Then he will have to step up or be in breach, which leaves him with no argument.

The court certainly won't put in place any kind of order that imposes contact on him. This scenario you suggest doesn't exist. It's impossible.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

LadyGAgain · 06/03/2024 09:26

Children deserve stability and to feel loved and wanted. It doesn't sound like he ticks any of these boxes. You might want to rethink what you need. You're a single parent for sure. Come to terms with that. You clearly want the best for your son yet you think him having more time with this loser is your goal. That doesn't make sense. Ensure CMS is official and wait for the court order. I would be amazed if he bothered.

Meadowfinch · 06/03/2024 09:34

@MiltonNorthern If the father goes to court, to request access, the court will normally grant a child arrangement order that agrees living arrangements for and contact with that child. The op will be told when she should make the child available for the father.

If the father then can't be bothered to keep to that contact schedule, it rather leaves him without an argument, doesn't it.

bubbles888 · 06/03/2024 09:57

LD233 · 06/03/2024 08:56

He also says if I ever stop contact he will be applying to court anyway and he apparently has a load of evidence against me ( which he doesn't) when I was newly postpartum with severe postpartum depression alone on a high dose of anti depressants and I still am on those.

What does he think will happen if he takes you to court, that the judge will say he's awarded 1 day/night a week and mums to provide all nappies,wipes etc?! 🙄 ok then

OP let him take you to court it's you that's wanting him to have more contact time he will look a right fool telling a judge why he's there and go through CMS for maintenance they won't accept him taking money off for things he needs when your son is in his care

Don't let him bully you! Do what's best for your son Flowers

LittleOwl153 · 06/03/2024 10:13

He's clearly out to frighten you and he's succeeding. You need to take control of the situation for yourself and your son.

Your child is 7 months old. He is unable to understand what is happening in his world yet. He shouldn't be being sent to a stranger household, where - let's face it - he isn't wanted, each week. What damage is that doing to him. Recommended contact for an under 1 is little and often so an hour or 2 every 2-3 days, not overnight with no contact.

Do you know what he earns from when he lived with you? Get onto the child maintenance calculator and work out what you think he owes... I bet he's not paying you that. And holding it over your head is disgusting. Get onto CMS and register your claim. They will calculate what he owes and will tell him. You can then report if he underpays and they will chase. (They don't allow deductions for nappies... as it is his time he's responsible for costs.) I'm going to hazard a guess that will ease a bit and more importantly takes away that power.

Once you have made the claim when he drops him back the next time tell him that you will no longer be providing anything fir contact time - that it js his responsibility from now on. He has a week to get organised!

Assuming he's on the kids birth certificate then I think a child arrangement court order would actually help you. It doesn't mean he has to take the child for contact - they won't force that. But it does mean you can take him on (overseas) holiday without seeking permission, you can ask that he's with you for birthdays Christmas etc, and that you have primary say in his schooling. If you ask for a oenal oder to be included it also means that he has to return the child as agreed so he wouldnt be able to withhold him as punishment to you as the police could get involved. If he isn't on the birth certificate tbh I'd just stop contact until he takes the issue to court.

It's hard being a single parent. It's even harder when the supposed second parent does nothing to add and lots to make difficult. You do need to accept that this is your child - and largely yours alone. Squash his power with the above get on making your own and your sons life the best you can. Use family, build networks and enjoy him!

Anameisaname · 06/03/2024 10:18

LD233 · 06/03/2024 08:56

He also says if I ever stop contact he will be applying to court anyway and he apparently has a load of evidence against me ( which he doesn't) when I was newly postpartum with severe postpartum depression alone on a high dose of anti depressants and I still am on those.

Yep let him do that. I would bet money that once he looks at the costs he'll soon stop!

MiltonNorthern · 06/03/2024 10:19

Meadowfinch · 06/03/2024 09:34

@MiltonNorthern If the father goes to court, to request access, the court will normally grant a child arrangement order that agrees living arrangements for and contact with that child. The op will be told when she should make the child available for the father.

If the father then can't be bothered to keep to that contact schedule, it rather leaves him without an argument, doesn't it.

Yes it does, but you implied he would have some kind of consequence if he breached the order, which he won't

Andthereyougo · 06/03/2024 11:35

I think the father is a lost cause.
He sounds resentful at “babysitting” his own child, his gf wasn’t happy you’re pregnant…..are you sure these are the people you want to trust with your precious baby every week?
Atm your baby can’t communicate what he sees/hears/feels from dad and his gf but in time he might come to realise they really don’t want him there.
I’m sorry you’re in this really awful situation but I’d not push him for contact , wait to see if he contacts you and make sure via cms he’s paying all he should.

Andthereyougo · 06/03/2024 11:37

Going to court will cost him, I’d bet my house he won’t do that.
Keep a record of every time he’s late, if baby is unchanged, clothes dirty etc.

Show less and less interest in him seeing yoyr baby, I bet he’ll lose interest.

BrendaSmall · 06/03/2024 11:44

How old is his other child?
I always thought co-parenting was 50/50, which he certainly isn’t doing!
Hopefully when the baby is in his care, he’s looking after him correctly and not neglecting him.

Iwasafool · 06/03/2024 11:50

LD233 · 06/03/2024 07:25

This is what I'm worried about as she has caused me grief in the past. Even though they had no contact for years as they were going through court but he cheated and left me for her and she hated that I was having a baby with him after tbe court case finished. He's an awful person but I try to allow him to be a dad to our son. But our son isn't a priority and never will be to him

Please protect your baby. It doesn't sound like a good place for him to go.

LD233 · 06/03/2024 12:11

BrendaSmall · 06/03/2024 11:44

How old is his other child?
I always thought co-parenting was 50/50, which he certainly isn’t doing!
Hopefully when the baby is in his care, he’s looking after him correctly and not neglecting him.

His other child is 4 years old..he got back with his ex after she stopped him seeing his child and they had a court case which lasted 2 years after he was granted access and back in contact he got back with her left me for her basically. And now treats our child like the other child in my opinion.
He's not on the BC for many reasons and threats he made when I was pregnant and newly postpartum

OP posts:
mindutopia · 06/03/2024 12:54

I mean, now you know why he didn't see his other child for 2 years - because he did exactly the same thing to his other child's mum and she put her foot down and wouldn't play ball. He's very likely only back there and seeing this child because it gives him a place to live. When that relationship breaks down, I suspect he'll disappear again.

Keep the weekend contact if you want, but I'd look to get it formalised in the courts. CMS for child maintenance.

AnneLovesGilbert · 06/03/2024 13:12

I’d stop overnight contact and lean on other people, family or paid, when you need a break. I don’t think overnight contact with someone your baby barely knows and his hostile partner is in your baby’s best interests. As if he’ll take you to court, but if he does cross that bridge when you get to it. Cut out the hassle of having anything to do with him. I can’t see how life will be harder without him in it annoying you and making you feel crap.

contrary13 · 06/03/2024 13:27

"He's not on the BC for many reasons and threats he made when I was pregnant and newly postpartum."

@LD233 - unfortunately, this alone should have been what told you how this situation was going to pan out. I know it's hard, especially with a young baby and you feel like the other parent isn't doing their fair share (I'm a single mother, too). But any 'father' who threatens the mother of his child whilst she's pregnant or newly given birth, ie, when you were literally at your most vulnerable... is not a decent man, never mind a potentially fantastic role-model for your baby.

If he doesn't contact you, how is contact arranged? Does he just turn up on the doorstep unannounced and uninvited? Because surely that could be construed as harassment...? What would happen if you just stopped answering the door if you know it's him on the other side? Could you invest in a Ring doorbell, if you don't already have one?

He's not interested. Your baby is too young to tell you if they are being neglected or passed off onto their 'stepmother' for care (which... I'd say is 99.9% recurring, likely to be happening, I'm afraid). Your child deserves better than this.

Deep down, I think you suspect (and are probably right) that he was only filling in time with you, until he could talk his way back into his ex's bed/home/life. This isn't about the older child, or your baby. This is about him behaving appallingly to you - and to her. Like others have said, the ex won't be too thrilled that he's procreated elsewhere, because how is she meant to explain that yes, her son is four, and they live as a family with the father... but the baby/toddler's not hers, but some other woman's...? You were, and I am truly sorry about this, a protracted affair of sorts. If you're pushing for him to do more for your child by him - which you already know he's not interested in, so it simply isn't going to happen (which yes, is shit and horrible for your baby as they get older), how much of that is because on some level you're hoping that he'll leave the woman he went back to, for you? He won't. Because he's got what and who he wanted all along. Had his cake... and ate it, too.

Is this the sort of life that you want for your son? The example of what being a man and a father is all about? Because as he grows up, your son is going to feel very misplaced in his father's family unit, especially if there are more children born into it. That could happen. That would be extremely confusing to a young child - and cause emotional and mental damage to them. If, as you say, you've had issues with the stepmother, too... then she's going to really resent having to care for your baby with her partner. I'm sorry, because it really is a horrible situation, and unless you're prepared for this man to yo-yo between the two of you (what happens if they have a row, would you let him back into your bed...? Then you row, and she lets him back into hers...?) and make your child confused, less-than, unwanted and all the things we try to avoid exposing our babies and children to, as mothers, you need to understand that you need to either accept the one day a week and stop pushing for further contact - because you're actually allowing this man's ego to inflate, because you are chasing him... albeit, in your mind, on behalf of your son - or stop contact altogether.

If he takes you to court, and they insist on a weeknight, calls during the week, and so on... they cannot enforce that. So chances are, you'll be worse off. Your baby will feed off your stress, and there may even be some abandonment issues already lurking.

Make friends with other single parents. Support is out there, from people who're also left holding the baby. This is hard, and upsetting - but very doable.

Advocate for your baby.

They, and you, deserve so much fucking better than this sorry excuse of a man/father. Maybe set your bar a little higher, too, next time.

But stop giving him the ego boosts, because regardless of your feelings for your baby's father... he really isn't interested in either you, or your baby. Daffodil

Harry12345 · 06/03/2024 18:21

I would not be allowing my child to stay overnight with this arsehole, the damage that it will cause him if he feels his brother is favoured over him, I’ve had experience of this and the son is now late 30s struggling with his mh, he does not deserve to be in your child’s life with the attitude he has, tosser!

Toomuchgoingon79 · 06/03/2024 18:36

When me and ds24 dad split we had 50:50
Contact. When I split with ds19 dad he visited everyday until he went to university. When he's homes he still visits every day.

StealthMama · 06/03/2024 19:01

At this stage and given he's not on the birth certificate I'd be cutting contact and applying for CMS.

If he wants to take you to court he has to go through DNA testing first and I suspect he wouldn't have the bother to go through with it.

One night a week and no other contact won't be healthy for your baby. He will struggle to know who this man is.

I'm all for dads being proactively involved but honestly sometimes what a waste of space they are. Over complicating life for you both,intentionally sometimes.

Emmz1510 · 06/03/2024 19:16

I wouldn’t want to push for my child to have more contact with someone who doesn’t want to have more contact. I wouldn’t want my child to grow up feeling resented, like an annoyance. Plus if you tried to force the issue he’d only be unreliable, cancelling all the time etc and that’s no good either.
So, much as means that you are unfairly left to raise your child largely on your own, I’m not sure what the alternative is.
I can bet you anything that what he is paying you is less than what CMS would deem reasonable. Put in a claim. I’m not sure how childcare costs are factored into the equation, or even if they are at all. It’s spectacularly unfair, I know. Keep telling yourself that at the end of the day it’s his loss and he is depriving himself of a closer more involved relationship with his wonderful child.

Emmz1510 · 06/03/2024 19:17

Oh and I meant to say, please correct him every time he says he is babysitting. Remind him he is not a babysitter, he is a parent with responsibilities.

LD233 · 06/03/2024 19:47

contrary13 · 06/03/2024 13:27

"He's not on the BC for many reasons and threats he made when I was pregnant and newly postpartum."

@LD233 - unfortunately, this alone should have been what told you how this situation was going to pan out. I know it's hard, especially with a young baby and you feel like the other parent isn't doing their fair share (I'm a single mother, too). But any 'father' who threatens the mother of his child whilst she's pregnant or newly given birth, ie, when you were literally at your most vulnerable... is not a decent man, never mind a potentially fantastic role-model for your baby.

If he doesn't contact you, how is contact arranged? Does he just turn up on the doorstep unannounced and uninvited? Because surely that could be construed as harassment...? What would happen if you just stopped answering the door if you know it's him on the other side? Could you invest in a Ring doorbell, if you don't already have one?

He's not interested. Your baby is too young to tell you if they are being neglected or passed off onto their 'stepmother' for care (which... I'd say is 99.9% recurring, likely to be happening, I'm afraid). Your child deserves better than this.

Deep down, I think you suspect (and are probably right) that he was only filling in time with you, until he could talk his way back into his ex's bed/home/life. This isn't about the older child, or your baby. This is about him behaving appallingly to you - and to her. Like others have said, the ex won't be too thrilled that he's procreated elsewhere, because how is she meant to explain that yes, her son is four, and they live as a family with the father... but the baby/toddler's not hers, but some other woman's...? You were, and I am truly sorry about this, a protracted affair of sorts. If you're pushing for him to do more for your child by him - which you already know he's not interested in, so it simply isn't going to happen (which yes, is shit and horrible for your baby as they get older), how much of that is because on some level you're hoping that he'll leave the woman he went back to, for you? He won't. Because he's got what and who he wanted all along. Had his cake... and ate it, too.

Is this the sort of life that you want for your son? The example of what being a man and a father is all about? Because as he grows up, your son is going to feel very misplaced in his father's family unit, especially if there are more children born into it. That could happen. That would be extremely confusing to a young child - and cause emotional and mental damage to them. If, as you say, you've had issues with the stepmother, too... then she's going to really resent having to care for your baby with her partner. I'm sorry, because it really is a horrible situation, and unless you're prepared for this man to yo-yo between the two of you (what happens if they have a row, would you let him back into your bed...? Then you row, and she lets him back into hers...?) and make your child confused, less-than, unwanted and all the things we try to avoid exposing our babies and children to, as mothers, you need to understand that you need to either accept the one day a week and stop pushing for further contact - because you're actually allowing this man's ego to inflate, because you are chasing him... albeit, in your mind, on behalf of your son - or stop contact altogether.

If he takes you to court, and they insist on a weeknight, calls during the week, and so on... they cannot enforce that. So chances are, you'll be worse off. Your baby will feed off your stress, and there may even be some abandonment issues already lurking.

Make friends with other single parents. Support is out there, from people who're also left holding the baby. This is hard, and upsetting - but very doable.

Advocate for your baby.

They, and you, deserve so much fucking better than this sorry excuse of a man/father. Maybe set your bar a little higher, too, next time.

But stop giving him the ego boosts, because regardless of your feelings for your baby's father... he really isn't interested in either you, or your baby. Daffodil

Thank you. He turns up or texts the night before asking if he's having him. There is no way I'd ever go near him again even if he tried to do so but I highly doubt thar would happen. I unfortunately think you're right and I was just the bit on the side whilst his court case with his ex was happening. He isn't a good role model at all and I need to think going forwards

OP posts:
LD233 · 06/03/2024 19:48

Harry12345 · 06/03/2024 18:21

I would not be allowing my child to stay overnight with this arsehole, the damage that it will cause him if he feels his brother is favoured over him, I’ve had experience of this and the son is now late 30s struggling with his mh, he does not deserve to be in your child’s life with the attitude he has, tosser!

Exactly this. He is completely favouring his other son and it breaks my heart already to witness
Even though he claims he doesn't. He also has a step child (his gfs other son) that he sees more and spends more time with and money than on our baby.

OP posts:
Noseybookworm · 06/03/2024 20:04

LD233 · 06/03/2024 07:24

Basically I was with him and he was going through court for 2 years for Child contact with his ex as he said she stopped him seeing his other son for no reason. When I fell pregnant and as soon as their court case was over and he was seeing his son again he got back with her and cheated and left me for her. I've been through hell if I'm honest but still try to put my son first. He refuses to do anymore time or provide anything in his case or help towards childcare when I return ti work shortly. He pays maintenance yes but says if he provides anything he will take it off my maintenance. He also says to me 'you are a single mother stop acting entitled I don't owe you anything' that's all I ever hear. He's awful tbh but I try to let that go and him be a father ti our son. He is also taking 2 weeks off work in a few months for a family holiday with his gf and their other son I asked if he could take some time off in summer for our child to spend time with him he refuses.

It sounds like he is just not interested in being a father to his son. Sadly, you cannot make him feel something he doesn't feel. Concentrate on making a good life for you and your son. You will only make yourself miserable wishing for something that will not happen. Hopefully you will meet someone else who will be a decent man and a loving influence in your son's life.