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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:
totallyliterally · 14/08/2018 14:36

Not sticking up for the other child... but it is probably utterly shit for him too. Having to share a bedroom with 3 kids frequently.

No excuse for bullying but I guess he hopes they'll stop coming.

totallyliterally · 14/08/2018 14:37

It is also a classic example of the adult (exH) putting himself and relationship before his children.

And I say that as someone whose been in that situation of blended family and putting my child first in it all

girlywhirly · 14/08/2018 14:39

Your last post makes me even more certain that your DC should not stay overnight or even go to his home with their stepmother and step siblings. They are very unhappy there, they have been for a long time. They just want to see their dad. Usually they would have got used to the situation, but four years on and not a lot has changed at his home, and some things are worse.

I doubt very much a judge would award overnights if EX went to court. They would send a social worker to assess the home and it’s suitability for that number of DC sleeping there, and a report filed. Coupled with the bullying issues and (if you choose to raise it) the historical abuse from the stepmother, he would likely get days out only.

And maybe it would be better for the step siblings, who could well be stressed and may be one of the reasons why the boy is bullying.

Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 14:43

If I sent the DC with money, I still don’t think he would take them out. The issue is he will not take them anywhere without his DP and her DC too. Wherever they go (and it’s rare they do go anywhere), it HAS to be a ‘family’ occasion. Because her car isn’t big enough to seat five children, they use public transport which is fine but can wind up being expensive depending on where they’re going. I’d say half of the times he has taken them somewhere it is just into the city centre to browse around shops which any parent will know, children find boring as sin. The other half were swimming and cinema trips for someone’s birthday (usually her DC, not ours).

I appreciate I probably sound bitter as hell but I do think xH believes because I put so much effort into the DC, he doesn’t have to.

I agree totally and have said it before. I feel sorry for him. He’s never known his real dad and has had two ‘step dads’. The first one (his sister’s dad) moved out and my xH moved in about a fortnight later then obviously three other children are visiting and he’s having to share his bedroom.

OP posts:
Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 14:48

DP and I have agreed in the past it would be far better for them not to go to his house all together and just have days out. This is what our DC want too but for whatever reason, xH feels unable to do anything without his DP in tow. His DP wouldn’t be an issue as such but her DS definitely is.

OP posts:
girlywhirly · 14/08/2018 15:06

He’s afraid to assert his own wishes with the DP so he goes along with what she wants for an easy life, where he doesn’t have to make any decisions or put himself out to do any parenting.

When you move I can see contact becoming less and less.

LeighaJ · 14/08/2018 15:19

He should be in charge of picking up and dropping off his own children, especially since he's shown zero gratitude to you all for dropping them off.

Aren't there rules about providing age/gender appropriate bedrooms for children sleeping over?

The stuff about her kids getting more presents and the holiday aren't really your business nor is it your business what the ex does with his money as long as he is paying the child maintenance. I don't think it's the end of the world for your child to share a birthday party with the other girl either.

Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 15:36

No rules regarding children sleeping over but definitely a rule about the siblings living there full time so they should be in a three bedroom house.

Their finances are none of my business but it pisses me off that our DC don’t have beds there or go anywhere with him because he ‘can’t afford it’ yet he can afford numerous other unnecessary things. Mostly things that benefit her DC and not his own. The inequality bugs me.

OP posts:
Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 15:37

I definitely agree contact will dwindle when we move and in ways, I’m glad for the DC’s sake. It will make them happier without doubt.

OP posts:
Isawthelight · 14/08/2018 15:42

DP and I have agreed in the past it would be far better for them not to go to his house all together and just have days out. This is what our DC want too but for whatever reason, xH feels unable to do anything without his DP in tow

I'm sorry but I said upthread about you catering to your exs feelings...you're still doing it. So you and your DP 'agreed' that it was better for kids not to stay over...well, why is it still happening? Why are you putting your exs wants before your own DCs? Your kids have 2 parents who are ignoring their wishes.

Hellywelly10 · 14/08/2018 17:01

Hi op I'm glad that you've made a decesion to stop overnight contact. I would be very concerned about the kids not wanting to go to his house. These problems are likely to escalate.

girlywhirly · 14/08/2018 17:12

I suggest you do nothing after you have moved and let EX make the first move about contact, because if you hear nothing you know he can’t be arsed. I would say to the DC that from now on they will not be going to EX house. Enough is enough now, I think they need you to make that decision for them. Soon you will have another baby and you can’t be running about driving the DC to contact that he may not show up for. He needs to demonstrate his commitment to his kids himself. Your DC will have enough to deal with getting used to having a new sibling.

violets17 · 14/08/2018 18:44

Having heard more about the XH DP I would be banning any visits where she has any contact with the DC at all. It sounds as if she and her DC do not want your DC around at all. You could tell XH he can see them whenever he wants but not at DP house.

Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 19:08

If you tell the DC they don’t have to sleep there at the weekend you are met with a chorus of “YESSSS!!!!”, they think it’s a real treat not having to go. They’re always happiest the weekend during the month when he doesn’t have them.

I will tell xH but I’m not looking forward to it after the angry text he sent and I’m expecting more threats of a non-existent solicitor (he’s broke so doubt he can afford one atm).

Oh and violets, I did ask for that last year after they stopped going for that month. He refused. Apparently spending time with the DC alone means he is ‘leading a double life’ Hmm. Unsure why he feels that way. Since meeting DP I still spend time with the DC alone, I don’t feel like I’m leading a double life. It’s all really weird. If I’m being honest, I don’t think his DP will ‘allow’ him to spend time with them alone. That’s how it comes across to me.

There’s also a small issue of hygiene in their house. It’s a very small house so very, very cluttered and untidy. I haven’t seen inside it but the part I’ve seen was piled high with clutter and there was no flooring put down, wallpaper torn off the walls etc. The DC tell me they don’t clean the cats litter tray out and it smells bad, apparently her DS stood in some cat poo at the weekend (it goes on the floor) 🤢.

OP posts:
Isawthelight · 14/08/2018 19:24

If I’m being honest, I don’t think his DP will ‘allow’ him to spend time with them alone. That’s how it comes across to me

Oh dear...my ex also wasn't 'allowed' to make decisions about our DC either without 'talking' to his DP in case it interfered with their nights out/holidays/weekends away/concerts(she was actually making every decision about our DC) When I told him that his DP was NOT going to dictate my life, he chose not to see the DC, life is much easier now.

girlywhirly · 14/08/2018 23:21

It sounds as though the DP doesn’t fully trust your EX if when he has your DC it has to be with her and her DC. Does she think he will be talking about you with them? She sounds very controlling and insecure.

The house sounds positively unsanitary. Of course the poor cat won’t use a filthy full litter tray. I wonder if it is properly de-flea’d and wormed, and treated kindly.

I think the threats of getting a solicitor are a bit empty, even if he got a free half hour of advice, he would still have to pay for a letter to be sent and any subsequent correspondence; and wouldn’t be any further forward as the DC wouldn’t be going, end of if he tries verbal abuse of you. The fact that the DC are so much happier when they don’t have to stay at their dads speaks volumes. He could choose to stop spending so much money on vaping and trainers, and spend it on solicitors or on travelling to see his kids after you’ve moved, but he won’t.

Hissy · 15/08/2018 08:01

Op, you are not getting it. Stop asking him permission to make the decisions to protect your kids!

Just stop!

Move and let him take the lead with contact and when he doesn’t, leave it there. As you say he’s broke so won’t take you to court

Listen to your kids and protect them from what sounds like an absolutely awful experience EOW.

RatherBeRiding · 15/08/2018 11:56

Have to agree with Hissy. Ex wants a relationship with his DC, but only on his (or rather his DP's) terms - which are not the terms the DC want. And their wishes really should be taken into account.

They will look back on this contact with their dad and question why their mother didn't do more to fight their corner and put their welfare and wishes ahead of the wishes of an adult (Ex) who actually has the power to change the situation but can't be arsed.

Yadda · 15/08/2018 12:20

This can't go on. I'd be inclined to talk to a solicitor about it, explaining the sleeping arrangements and the fact that the DC feel threatened by the SM and her DS when they stay over. Maybe have a chat with the NSPCC about the SDS's behaviour. On the back of that I'd put it in writing (doesn't have to be in a solicitors letter initially), that the DC would be available for day contact only and like a previous poster says he collects and you pick up at the end of the day.

I hope for you and your DC that contact naturally diminishes after you move.

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