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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stop fighting for xH to have access after his outburst?

94 replies

Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 15:30

Huge backstory but will try to be as succinct as possible without risk of dripfeeding.

Three DC aged 6, 7 and 8. Separated from xH coming up to four years ago. Have been with DP close to three years, introduced to DC 2.5 years ago and he has lived with us for the past year. I’m six months pregnant and we’ve just bought a bigger house in a much better town that’s a 40 minute drive away. It will be a far better place for us all to live in and the DC have a place in a much better school. DP and DC are extremely close and DP and his family have put a huge effort into making them feel included, accepted and cared for- it’s lovely.

XH moved in with his DP about a month after we separated and introduced to DC straight away. His DP has two DC aged 6 and 10. They live in a very cramped two bedroom house which obviously means when our DC stay there’s five under 10s in a small bedroom and our DC sleep on a blow up mattress on the floor. I don’t feel particularly comfortable about the ten year old boy sharing with our DD’S and have raised this as an issue with xh numerous times. Excuses as to why they can’t move have been endless, the most recent is that they’re in major rent arrears with the HA.

Her DS has bullied our DC for years varying from ordering them about, pushing them around, physical fights with my DS etc to threatening to murder them and also me. All of this has been mentioned to xH multiple times but nothing seems to change.

XH also doesn’t take the DC anywhere, he has taken them out approx ten times in four years. They just sit around in his house or play in the front garden. He says this is because he is broke but her DC have every piece of expensive technology imaginable, they have the full Sky TV package and also are going on an expensive holiday abroad in a couple of weeks which our DC haven’t been invited to.

They find it boring, really don’t like his DP’s DS and don’t like sleeping on the floor. Every week they beg not to go, sometimes I have to send them kicking and screaming and it breaks my heart. I make them go because I feel guilty not (although equally feel guilty sending them). I have asked xH if it’s possible for him to just take the DC out on his own instead of them going to his house but he says he is too broke for this.

He claims to work Monday-Saturday 9-5:30 and also one Sunday a month so as a result only sees DC three days a month. He doesn’t drive and has been ‘booking driving lessons soon’ for about a decade in all honesty, it never materialises. DP and I do drive so we drop the DC at his on a Saturday evening when he finishes work but ask he drops them back on the Sunday.

It was DD’s birthday on Saturday and we had a lovely day out. Went to drop them off usual time with XH (6:15pm when he gets home from work) but there was no sign of him. Called him and he said he’d missed the bus so his DP was setting off to collect him. She’d ignored us when we knocked on their door Confused, we saw her leave with her DC to collect him. It’s a 15 minute drive to his work so we figured we’d be waiting half an hour. 40 minutes passed (45 since we arrived there) and still no sign. We had nagging bored children in the back of the car who were tired after a long day and also needed the toilet so we gave him another ten minutes then set off. When I arrived home xH called me and started shouting down the phone. DP took the phone off me and told him not to speak to me like that. We explained how long we’d waited, asked why his DP didn’t just collect him after work or he didn’t get a taxi to be there on time for his DD’s birthday but he didn’t have a good response. He got a taxi to collect the DC and blanked us.

Yesterday I received a colossal text ranting and raving, some of it was entirely incongruous. He was essentially having a go at us for driving off, said we had no right to ‘dictate how he parents’ Confused and that if it continued, he would be contacting his solicitor to have a written agreement r.e access. In ways he was trying to claim we were preventing access in some way which is clearly nonsense since we make every effort for it to continue despite it making the DC unhappy... I didn’t bother replying to the text.

Asked DD what they did for her birthday and she had to share it on the Sunday with his DP’s DD which happens every year. They shared a birthday cake, his DP’s DD got lots more presents than DD including a tablet and they didn’t go anywhere for the birthday Hmm.

DP has worked really hard to try and build bridges with xH. They’ve been out for coffee a couple of times to try and iron out issues with the DC. Yet in this text, xH really painted DP out to be the bad guy and we’ve both had enough. We had agreed to drop the DC on a Saturday evening when we move house to save xH the rigmarole of getting the train and the cost, despite the fact it will cost us a fair amount in fuel. After this outburst we just can’t be bothered bending over backwards for him anymore. Would we be unreasonable to refuse to drop them when we move? The DC don’t even want to go...

OP posts:
DonkeyHotei · 13/08/2018 16:38

geekone why would I be the ex's DP? Am I not allowed to be the ex H myself? Grin

Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 16:39

If you are xH donkey, you should be at work 😏.

OP posts:
DonkeyHotei · 13/08/2018 16:40

Perhaps I'm YOUR analytical skills geekone Grin

IceCreamFace · 13/08/2018 16:41

DonkeyHotei

You do seem absolutely determined to see the OP as the bad person for no obvious reason so it makes sense to assume you're in a similar situation to OP's ex or DP (most likely his partner because this is mumsnet and 99% of posters are women).

A lot of the OP's story is purely factual and not open to interpretation - he leaves the kids waiting outside his house for ages, he doesn't have enough space for the kids in his home and the kids don't want to go there because they say they're being bullied.

DonkeyHotei · 13/08/2018 16:45

A lot of the OP's story is purely factual and not open to interpretation

I should have left when I said I would.

Cittadineve · 13/08/2018 16:48

I should have left when I said I would

Yep, or maybe a bit sooner Smile

hungryhippo90 · 13/08/2018 17:05

Hmm, ok.

So they are bullied by their step siblings, they don’t have beds to sleep on and all five share a room.

So how about you see if you can meet with exH and his partner to discuss these issues?

Maybe discuss with them a way that the kids can have a bed- trundle beds maybe? Or sofas in the living room?
Can you offer to write a letter to them CCd to the council, saying that the children stay with ex on nights of contact and that you think he needs a bedroom for the children... also enquire as to how long it’ll take for them to pay off arrears, as you are concerned about the bedroom situation.

Tell them that your children feel left out- or your daughter on her birthday.

Tell them your children feel bullied.

See what happens. If a month passes and you see him making no changes, obviously the HA will take longer, but other than that, I would say go to a solicitor, set out terms and have concerns noted.

Continue this way, you’ll have proof of long standing concerns and an attempt to do what’s best for DC in keeping contact open.

It does sound like your ex is struggling financially, so maybe he could take the kids to the park when he has them? There’s no reason to not do things with the kids, there are plenty of free things to do

I also want to ask, how did his partner ignore you when she had to walk/ drive past you?

myusernameblewaway · 13/08/2018 17:06

Courts can, and do, place conditions on contact to be away from the non-resident parents home; my DP was ordered to have "contact in the community" with his DS because his DS decided one day at the age of 8 that he no longer wanted to spend any time in our home. DP chose not to take it to court, leaving an open invitation for DS to see him when he wanted, but DSs mum did, as she wanted a regular contact schedule that didn't involve DS spending time in our family home, and the court awarded it.

The court didn't care that DP had no job, and couldn't afford to be a "McDonalds Dad" every other weekend.

DP and DS have walked every public footpath within 5 miles of DSs home, have visited every free attraction/activity, know the inside of all the libraries and have attended every fire station open day for years. Confused

Bibidy · 13/08/2018 17:08

Tbh I think you would be unreasonable to stop contact for these reasons.

Unfortunately your exH's home is his home, and if he wants to only see the kids there then there's not much you can do. I think you've been doing the right thing to encourage your kids to go round, even if they don't love the set-up there.

The bullying is another issue and it's worrying that your ex hasn't sorted that out, but it may be that your DC have exaggerated for effect since they don't like spending time at the house. I'd try again to raise specific examples with your ex, he may act on it even if he wants to portray to you that he's not interested.

Financially, I don't think it's really your place to speculate as we can never know what's actually going on behind the scenes. Perhaps his DP has saved for months to buy her DD that tablet or got contributions from other family members, perhaps that holiday has been paid for by his DP's parents?

You sound like you and your DP are good parents and your kids have happy lives, I wouldn't let 3 not-so-great days a month with their dad make you worry too much.

AriadnePersephoneCloud · 13/08/2018 17:16

I feel for you as my eldest biological father is very like this. Always reasons as to why he can't and won't... Eldest birthday was a month ago and he has still not given him so much as a card. In fact he's now ignoring him and, if usual form is anything to go by, will continue to do so until he has given DS a card and a present (he literally cannot face him!)... Anyway despite this sort of behaviour the ex always blames me and my husband. When DS didn't want to visit him when he lived abroad, that was my fault (tried to explain DS was scared of flying but it was probably just a phase). When I personally took DS on the eurostar to visit ex to get around this, ex said DS was dressed badly (he was 13 and had odd socks) and he wasn't happy... The list goes on really. Oh and for Christmas DS got a second hand tablet while his younger brother (aged 5!!!!) on his dad's side got the newest ipad. Awful. But if DS cuts him off he will lose contact with his brother and DS really does not want that to happen. Anyway enough ranting. Just wanted to say you are not alone!

Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 17:18

DP has met with xH to discuss the issues a couple of times and I have discussed it with xH lots too. We did try to arrange a meeting with his DP too but she refused. She has always completely stonewalled me, refuses to communicate with me in any way for no real reason other than me being her DP’s ex? Not sure.

We knocked on the door twice, no answer so we got back into the car and I called xH who explained the situation then his DP left the house with her two DC and just drove off past us. It was really weird but come to think of it, we’ve never been able to leave the Dc with her.

That’s a good idea with regards to the council. I was sure they always had to separate siblings of different sexes once one reached a certain age anyway but I’m not sure. If I’m being completely honest, I think they like living in that area as it is close to her DC’s school and her work (xH did mention this as a reason to DP once).

DC have given examples that don’t sound as though they are exaggerating. When I tell xH he doesn’t attempt to ever deny it has happened so he is aware of it and apparently the DS is also bullying someone at school so they have multiple issues with him bullying by the sounds of it...

OP posts:
Figlessfig · 13/08/2018 17:20

Two ideas:

  1. Tell him the following:

He can see them on Sundays if he or his DP picks them up in the morning after breakfast.

You’ll then pick them up from his house on Sundays after dinner/supper/tea (depending on where in the country you live).

They can’t stay overnight because 5 children sharing a room is unacceptable overcrowding, and the bed provided to your DC is inadequate.

Would that be fair?

  1. Another answer would be buy him a decent sofabed. A proper one with a spring mattress. Cost maybe £1000 to £1500. Then he and his DP could sleep in the sitting room when your DCs are there, and the the DC could sleep in his bed.

Would he agree to that? Are you in a position to pay for the sofabed?

Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 17:21

With the finances I think the issue is that instead of saving for tablets/games consoles/holidays etc, they could be saving for adequate beds for the DC or they could be spending that money on days out. Tablets and games consoles aren’t necessary, somewhere to sleep is.

I have mentioned the park, museums, art galleries etc (free things I regularly do with my DC) but he still doesn’t do it.

OP posts:
Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 17:28

I’m shifting to maternity leave at the end of the summer holidays (teacher) so finances will become tighter. We have just bought the DC new beds and ourselves one as well as baby things so we’re not really in a position to buy xH a sofabed.

I think them just going on the Sunday would be the best option and I can see that will end up happening when we move.

OP posts:
Bibidy · 13/08/2018 17:29

With the finances I think the issue is that instead of saving for tablets/games consoles/holidays etc, they could be saving for adequate beds for the DC or they could be spending that money on days out. Tablets and games consoles aren’t necessary, somewhere to sleep is.

I appreciate that as their mum you're not happy with the sleeping situation there and I can see it's not ideal, but if they're in a 2-bed house and already have two children living there I'm guessing there isn't anywhere they could put permanent (or even fold up) beds for your DC? They probably think that a blow-up bed is a reasonable solution if it's only 3 nights a month that they stay.

Also, again, unfortunately it's not really for you to decide what your ex does with them. All you can do is deliver the best for your kids when they're with you, which it sounds like you very much are. Three days a month sitting around the house or in the garden isn't the worst thing, even though you may think he should do better.

Losingthewill1 · 13/08/2018 17:32

Her father sounds incompetent and I think you’d be better off with your current partner adopting your kid.

The other posters are not realising how little men do with regards to children once they have another woman with kids already

timeisnotaline · 13/08/2018 17:33

In general the op sounds reasonable given the dp won’t do free activities out of the home with them. But the onus to provide transport is usually and should be on the parent moving away, and the holiday is not that relevant. If they don’t have much money taking 5? 7? I forget - children on holiday is expensive. The ex’s dp might be paying. Ditto for the tablets. Don’t just make assumptions. Your ex’s attitude , the bullying, sleeping arrangements (less so) and how your dc feel about it are the issues.

myusernameblewaway · 13/08/2018 17:36

Her father sounds incompetent and I think you’d be better off with your current partner adopting your kid

Fortunately, courts consider what is best for the DCs, not the adults in these situations.

Do you have experience of the impact of adoption on DCs, Losingthewill1?

Pinkvoid · 13/08/2018 17:46

I just think if the boot were on the other foot and my DP had other children, if we took them abroad and left my DC at home with XH I would be a terrible parent. Likewise if I didn’t have beds for my DC, I think SS would be involved in some way. I appreciate it’s different because they are only there three nights a month but it’s not the point. He can afford so many other unnecessary things but can’t afford a bed for the DC. He’s never bought them clothes for his house either.

Between him and his DP, we have estimated they have a joint income of 40k. Their HA rent won’t be much in the area they are in and apparently they haven’t paid it recently anyway Hmm. They fritter money away on sky TV, holidays, a relatively new car and lots of technology for her DC but don’t have money for pretty much anything for my DC. The inequality just upsets me, on my DC’s behalf.

They are already realising it. They accept they have the technology and days out at home with me but it doesn’t stop them being upset when they go to their Dad’s and see his DP’s DC lavished with expensive gifts when they get a fraction in comparison. They go on holiday with DP and I but it doesn’t stop them being upset that they are being left out of xH’s ‘family’ holiday Sad.

OP posts:
SocialPiranha · 13/08/2018 18:03

Maybe ex having just in the day on Sunday would not only be better for the children but a relief for him and his DP. The sofa bed idea is a good one, however don’t buy one for them! As far as that goes it’s definitely not your problem.

As for at least one person doubting OP isn’t being honest, believe it or not some people do live like the ex. And lots of resident parents do bend over backwards trying to keep contact going between the children and their absent parent despite little effort from the other side.

Seniorschoolmum · 13/08/2018 18:21

Op, does your ex have parents close by. Could they see their dad at their grandparents house?

If not, the idea of avoiding overnight stays seems the best option. You may not recoup the maintenance but as it’s so few days, hopefully that won’t matter.
I’m with you, 5 children in one small bedroom is neither safe nor hygienic.

hungryhippo90 · 13/08/2018 18:35

I’m regards to the council thing, I think it’s once one child reaches 10 and they are opposite sex they need another room- not necessarily of their own, but with other children of the same sex is ok. At least that’s what I was told in this area- one of DDs friends was able to move house when they reached 10.
Sadly that is likely to be ignored by the Ha/council whilst there are significant arrears.

BTW the partners behaviour strikes me as odd, but then she is isn’t she, a lot of her behaviour seems off, if I took on a man with children there’s no way I’d be making one of their children share their birthday with my child and them have an unequal portion of presents... at least for the present opening!

Ugh, it’s not good.

And you are right, if your children didn’t have a bed SS would be involved: it’s down to the affect on the kids though, which is much much smaller given the time he spends with the kids- I feel for you and any other mother in a similar position cos you can bet your bottom dollar he will scream his parental rights in the next breath.

daffodillament · 13/08/2018 18:56

What an exciting post ! Grin

LouHotel · 13/08/2018 18:56

You need to get an end date for them sharing with their 10 year old step brother.

That's a boy nearly in puberty, it's bad enough he's sharing with his sister but three not biologically related younger girls?

Serious red flag, what happens when he wants to start experimenting...that would be a very real concern for me.

daffodillament · 13/08/2018 18:57

Oops..shit..posted on wrong thread....Sorry !