Kids are supposed to go to their dads for half term. He’s already shortened the days they are going and hasn’t arsed himself to call me yet despite them supposed to be leaving at 12 today. He’s not answering the phone, he’s probably shagging the lass he cheated on me with that lives locally.
They are giving me absolute hell as they don’t want to go, he basically dumps them on his parents in a shit tiny house there with no toys, who swiftly plug them into their iPads and they end up just fighting, crying and calling me all day anyway. He prioritises “work”, yet that work seems to take 24 hours a day and doesn’t actually earn him anything to pay me, hasn’t for 5 years now.
I maintain a very high level career while paying for everything and still balancing their needs, try to use as little additional childcare as I can do they can be in their home with me where they want to be.
I feel selfish because I’m the one fighting for them to have a relationship, but also I’m tired, so fucking tired. Honestly I send them only every 5-7 weeks so I can have a tiny bit of personal and mental space to re-charge. I HAVE to work but at least I get the morning/night to just sleep or clean or read a book when they are there.
I need this break but feel so guilty, like I shouldn’t need it. He doesn’t love them but just cannot prioritise them, the absolute Disney dad, buys them the odd big gift, says he misses them, FaceTimes and calls that parenting.
I am so tempted to just tell him not to fucking bother until he can actually spend some time with them. I’ll just try and book a holiday club or something and stay on the damn treadmill forever.
Don’t get me wrong we do have a good life, I do have happiness but the odd break just recharges me as 3 kids alone and working isn’t easy.
What he would prefer is to come over every few weeks and spend a couple of “fun” hours with them then go again. I feel like saying if he can’t do the slog then he doesn’t get that either, it makes me too angry and why should he get to swoop in every now and again for the fun times. He won’t even put them to bed, just comes, goes somewhere fun then leaves me with 3 overtired kids to get to sleep before school and work again.
ARGH sorry general rant.