Posted here for traffic.
Desperate for some help to do with a co-parenting matter.
Child is 2 years old.
I left his dad at the beginning of the year. He's father and I agreed that he could pick him up at 5.30pm and return him at 7.30pm twice a week.
However, I told him right from the start that he had to cut his overtime as soon as he could so he could pick him up and return him earlier as i felt this was too late for our child to be out.
All this year its been one excuse after the other. People are off with covid, he has to cover. Holidays etc etc. He's actually work hours mean he starts early and finishes early but he chooses to do overtime.
We had mediation a few months ago and even she agreed with me and he was told he had a week to sort something out. This was a couple of months ago and he's done nothing about it and ignored my 2 requests on another conversation about it.
The nights are now dark and cold.
Bit of backstory, he was emotionally abusive and still is. I have written a statement, I am seeking help bit it's all been a long process.
He laughs at me when I say I am his primary carer and in charge of his daily routine. He has parental responsibility the same as me so thinks it's his right to have his son when he wants. Regardless of how it doesn't work.
I took it upon myself to finally write to him to say I was suggesting he now picks him up at 4.30pm and returns him at 6.30pm.
He wrote back saying the best he could do is 5pm till 7pm until after Christmas.
He also has him at the weekends so this isn't his only time with him but im so angry cos he's not thinking about our child at all.
But I can't argue with him. I'm scared to death of him and I know if I just say that's it, child is not leaving the house that late so you can't see him unless yo sort something out, he will flip and I'm in the process of trying to get a non-molestation order so at the moment there is nothing to protect me from his abuse.
He's just gone off with him this evening and he was already so tired and just wanted to stay in and cuddle. He's usually in bed asleep by 7.15pm other evenings and he has phased out of his naps.
But when he comes back at 7.30pm he is cold, and overtired and wired and it throws him out of his routine. He won't go to bed till 9pm and then he's tired the next day and ratty.
I've even resorted to ringing nspcc because I don't know where I stand but this is about the welfare of our child. He's so little still and it's not fair on him.
I'm waiting for a call back from them.
Child arrangements could take months to sort and by then it will be getting warmer again. Meaning my poor little one has to go all winter with these arrangements.
Any advice please.