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Is there anything I can do re:ex husband and access arrangements

39 replies

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 18:12

I was hoping somebody could help or at least sympathise. I’m so frustrated with the situation with my ex and our sons. We split up 2 years ago and are now divorced. He sees them on average 9 nights a month but we don’t have a routine in place for him to see the boys due to his job. From when we were married, I know that he has no shift patterns in place at all but has to do a lot of weekends and night shifts. He seemed to have his shifts a lot further in advance when we were together (6 weeks - 2 months in advance). Every month since we’ve had this arrangement, I’ve had to chase and beg him to let me know when he wants to have the boys the following month. As of today, 27th November, I don’t know when wants to have them beyond this weekend. He decides when he is going to have them based on his work pattern so he never has to arrange childcare; I have to use the school’s wraparound care which has to be booked a week in advance. I suppose I’m asking if anything can be done. I’ve tried repeatedly to ask if he can ask his employers to give him some sort of regularity or more warning about his shifts, he says there’s no way. I really don’t want to get to a point where I’m refusing him access to the boys as they have a good relationship with their dad. I don’t care how often he sees them – even if he only had them once a week on a fixed day it would be better than this. It’s making me so anxious as every month rolls around and I have to chase him for dates again. Is there anything legally I can do? I just feel like I’m living under his control even though we aren’t married anymore.

OP posts:
PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 27/11/2025 18:13

Apart from refusing contact when it's not convenient there's nothing you can do. Is there no regularity at all? It's frustrating but you may have to just suck it up.

pedropascalslittlefinger · 27/11/2025 18:23

I can totally sympathise as I have a similar situation with my ex. Separated for year and half, divorce very nearly finalised (just waiting out my notice period and then awaiting my decree)

he completely point blank refuses to agree to any plan. Hides behind shift patterns etc. he wants it all completely on his terms 🤷‍♀️ my lawyer told me the only way to force his hand is to withhold access completely and force him to the negotiating table. I’ve been unwilling to do that because the kids want to see him.

so what I do is, I make plans that suit me that don’t include him. If and when he pops up asking to see his kids…..IF they are free AND it suits me or whoever I’ve already lined up to babysit, then he gets to see them. If it doesn’t suit me and my/kids existing plans then he doesn’t get to see them.

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 18:27

Thanks for your replies.
Pumpkin - no none at all.
Pedro - I do try and make plans for me and the boys and have refused him a couple of times when it’s been too short notice. Hiding behind shift patterns is the perfect way to put it!

I hope it doesn’t sound selfish but it’s also because there are things I want to plan in for me and it would be nice to know if I need a babysitter (I have no local family or anyone who helps with the boys) and I also need to book and pay for childcare in advance.

OP posts:

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pedropascalslittlefinger · 27/11/2025 18:34

It’s super frustrating @ThatsNotEvenAWord

the best thing you can do is adjust your expectations and stop letting him get to you (easier said than done I know). But he is trying to control you via the children. So you either cut off contact completely until he agrees to a plan (but even then you have very little power to ensure he sticks to that 🤷‍♀️)

or you continue as is, but take back some control by being very busy and then when he asks to see them it doesn’t suit. He might learn to plan more in advance

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 18:36

You’re right. I’ve seen quotes that say (more or less) you can’t expect someone to be a good ex husband if they were a crap husband! I was used to doing everything by myself before I left him. It just gets to me every now and then. Thanks for the kind comments.

OP posts:
Anxietyspiral · 27/11/2025 18:41

I've just been to mediation for this reason. To agree a set contact schedule and all contact through a parenting app (because hes a bullying twat). Maybe you could set one up and get an agreement in place that he must make his access request as soon as he receives his schedule? Mediation is nothing more than a gentleman's agreement legally but it will prove you have made the effort should it go to court.

pedropascalslittlefinger · 27/11/2025 18:41

No I totally get it. I have my days where I wail at the injustice of it all too 😭 he gets to walk off and live his best life (holidays/ weekends/nights out with his new girlfriend without a thought 🤷‍♀️)

pedropascalslittlefinger · 27/11/2025 18:42

Just remember that they lose out eventually when the kids grow up and remember who was REALLY there for them ❤️

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 18:43

pedropascalslittlefinger · 27/11/2025 18:42

Just remember that they lose out eventually when the kids grow up and remember who was REALLY there for them ❤️

Thank you for this. You’re right.

ExH has moved in with his new gf and her kids, whereas I fit my new boyfriend into 9 nights a month 🙃 it’ll be worth it in the end!

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 18:53

It is a hard one but I really would be inclined to get it court ordered that you get sight of his availability 6 weeks in advance. Its not fair on the kids or you not knowing one week to the next whats going on.

Put it in writing initially and say if he doesnt adhere youll be requesting a CAO via court.

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 27/11/2025 19:01

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 18:53

It is a hard one but I really would be inclined to get it court ordered that you get sight of his availability 6 weeks in advance. Its not fair on the kids or you not knowing one week to the next whats going on.

Put it in writing initially and say if he doesnt adhere youll be requesting a CAO via court.

You can't just 'get contact arrangements court ordered'. Applying to court is not a simple process and not likely to achieve what the OP wants so suggesting it is really poor advice. Firstly she'd have to go to mediation first anyway and he doesn't sound like the sort of co parent who would respond well. Secondly court is slow, frustrating, adversarial, stressful and ultimately unenforceable if he decides to ignore such a court order anyway (even if the court were minded to make one, which seems unlikely)

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 20:15

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 27/11/2025 19:01

You can't just 'get contact arrangements court ordered'. Applying to court is not a simple process and not likely to achieve what the OP wants so suggesting it is really poor advice. Firstly she'd have to go to mediation first anyway and he doesn't sound like the sort of co parent who would respond well. Secondly court is slow, frustrating, adversarial, stressful and ultimately unenforceable if he decides to ignore such a court order anyway (even if the court were minded to make one, which seems unlikely)

Its an option.... and one that she can refuse contact on if its ignored. Dont tell me what's not good advice. Its gotta be a hell of a lot better than being constantly in limbo.

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 27/11/2025 20:19

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 20:15

Its an option.... and one that she can refuse contact on if its ignored. Dont tell me what's not good advice. Its gotta be a hell of a lot better than being constantly in limbo.

How much experience do you have of the family courts?
she's already got the option of refusing contact - she doesn't need a court order for that. She's going to be in limbo regardless. This man isn't going to provide her with a schedule whether there's a court order in place or not. The only power she has is to withhold contact and she has that already.

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 20:24

And then they will end up in court...... for a CAO 🤣 if he states he doesnt get his rota til 6 weeks before....a rational judge would dictate he sends his wanted availability 6 weeks before.

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 21:49

He claims he gives me his dates as soon as he gets each rota. I don’t know if I believe him though. I wondered if he was hanging on to get overtime shifts or something.

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 23:29

Just because im a petty arsehole, id be calling his HR and asking or putting in a FOI request asking when the rotas are published.

Him wanting overtime is not your concern. You are entitled to a life as well.

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 27/11/2025 23:42

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 23:29

Just because im a petty arsehole, id be calling his HR and asking or putting in a FOI request asking when the rotas are published.

Him wanting overtime is not your concern. You are entitled to a life as well.

FOI doesn't apply to other people's HR departments unfortunately

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 23:44

Hmm I think you may find it does. You are asking the company how far in advance it schedules.....not just for an individual.

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 28/11/2025 08:21

Still no dates given for December and I need to book wraparound care today. Do I message him this morning and say that if he doesn’t let me know today, he can’t see them next week? I’m not very good at being assertive, especially with ex h.

OP posts:
pedropascalslittlefinger · 28/11/2025 08:27

id just go ahead and book it.

pedropascalslittlefinger · 28/11/2025 08:27

Actions have consequences.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 28/11/2025 08:31

You can take control and send him dates each month where you will make the boys available to him. Up to him if he takes them or not.

If he doesn't like that he can take it to court, where the judge will order that you make the boys available on set days... so you still get what you want.

FuelledByRageAndHaribo · 28/11/2025 08:37

CombatBarbie · 27/11/2025 23:44

Hmm I think you may find it does. You are asking the company how far in advance it schedules.....not just for an individual.

FOI is for the public sector, not individuals or private companies.

Almostwelsh · 28/11/2025 08:40

My ex worked away a lot, including a couple of weeks at a time often. When we divorced I pointed out that the children needed stability and routine (this is actually true) and that flexibility to accommodate shift patterns is something a spouse does. As I was no longer his spouse I wouldn't do it (I also had to book and pay for childcare in advance).

So he got every other weekend and one evening in the week. This was arranged during mediation, but he knew he wouldn't get much more time If he took it to court, due to his working pattern.

If he couldn't do his slot, then he lost it, I refused to swap around. Funnily enough he has managed to arrange his life so he can do his slot and hasn't missed many weekends. So they can do it if they want.

It can be slightly restrictive because I gave yo stick to it as well, I can't swap weekends for convenience, but it's worth it to have the predictably.

Grumpynan · 28/11/2025 08:43

ThatsNotEvenAWord · 27/11/2025 18:27

Thanks for your replies.
Pumpkin - no none at all.
Pedro - I do try and make plans for me and the boys and have refused him a couple of times when it’s been too short notice. Hiding behind shift patterns is the perfect way to put it!

I hope it doesn’t sound selfish but it’s also because there are things I want to plan in for me and it would be nice to know if I need a babysitter (I have no local family or anyone who helps with the boys) and I also need to book and pay for childcare in advance.

My ex was like this, would never commit to dates times etc, would even say I’ll have them Saturday at some point, might turn up at 7am might be after lunch.

i had enough of being messed around and trying the keep the girls happy. In the end I said if It suits me and my plans and my daughters plans and they want to see you at that time - fine you can see them. If I’ve arranged childcare which has to be cancelled, he pays the cancellation fee even a cash in hand babysitter I would insist he paid her as it messed her plans too.

tbh it didn’t really change him, but made my and my daughters lives so much easier. It came to a head when he turned up the morning I was getting married and insisted it was the only day he could see them and I was with holding them from him. My dad intervened (good old dad) he stomped off and got a solicitor caused a difficult few months. Then decided they didn’t fit into his new life and that was it. The girls haven’t seen him for 25 years now,