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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stop ex husband seeing children

112 replies

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:30

I don't want to and will probably get flamed but I'm sick with stress and not sure what to do . Kicked husband of 15 years out for infidelity and drugs , he was doing cocaine and sleeping around for 2 years without my knowledge. Since he moved out he's only seen the children here in the family home , it's supposed to be 3 times a week but he isn't consistent and hasnt seen them at a weekend for over 6 weeks . I wouldn't trust him to have them on his own and he never had them on his own when we were together (he isn't asking for more contact either ) , one child has additional needs that he doesn't cope well with . I feel like he's spiralling with drink and drugs - I've had 5 plus people tell me recently that they think he's a problem and they wouldn't have him around the kids. This is people that have seen him out or what he's been posting online (I'm not on social media thankfully)
I find him reckless and irresponsible, also a bit frightening. He has threatened to top himself when he's not got his own way- he has also been aggressive and threatening towards me in the past , I logged one incident with the police after he'd left but played it down as I felt guilty for calling them - looking back it was in some ways an emotionally abusive relationship towards the end .
I've been on hold for 3 hours to 101 to update them and try to get some advice but just got cut off . My problem now is it makes me feel uneasy when he's here , the man he is now isn't someone I would chose to have around the children , he's unstable , unpredictable and can be very intimidating. He's fallen asleep during contact and got very agitated when I've woken him and threatened to not come and see them again - upsetting for them ! He's not a good dad or a good role model and if he is in fact getting more involved with drink and drugs then I don't want the kids around him . I just don't know what to do , do I wait until he slips up while he's here ? Do I tell him he should stay away until he's sorted himself out ? I would never know if he was on something - and all I really have to go on is hearsay / rumours . Any advice or signposting would be greatly appreciated, my friend said call children's services see what they say . We are not in court over contact or anything , it's just what we initially agreed . I don't feel like I can just say he can't see them anymore , but I'm not happy about him being here . There's no family that could facilitate contact and I don't have any suggestions for how he could see them that doesn't involve coming here . I don't know 😵‍💫 he's really not that fussed about them - but I don't want to be the woman that stops a father seeing his kids . Sorry this is a bit rambled I'm rushing coz need to get kids in bed . Thanks in advance anyway x

OP posts:
Santaischeckinglists · 17/11/2021 20:34

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sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:36

@Santaischeckinglists well of course I do - that's why I'm so stressed with it . I haven't been in this situation before . But thanks

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sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:37

@Santaischeckinglists
and the whole point of my post is asking how to do that

OP posts:
Queenie6655 · 17/11/2021 20:40

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LaTomatina · 17/11/2021 20:42

Contact Womens' Aid to discuss your options?

Santaischeckinglists · 17/11/2021 20:42

But she is doing so! Keep him out of your house.. Let him seel legal advice and see if a judge deems him suitable..

magicstars · 17/11/2021 20:42

As I understand it, you can stop visits/ contact but only if you consider him to be putting the dc at risk. It does sound like he is tbh.
You could ask a family solicitor for advice- pricey but worth it imho. Or try the Citizen's advice bureau. Also notify school incase he tries to collect them once circumstances have changed.
Good luck

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:44

It's a sticky one because he's not done anything while he's been here-he's fine with the kids , and doesn't stay much more than half an hour. It's his lifestyle now and I see him as a liability

OP posts:
sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:45

@Santaischeckinglists I think you're out of order saying I'm putting them in harms way . I have said he can only see them here under my supervision - no trips , no overnights , no alone time

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sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:46

The whole reason I'm asking for advice is because he is 'apparently' spiralling with drink and drugs and I don't want him around the children !

OP posts:
sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:49

But with no evidence of this behaviour I don't know how to go about it

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GrandmasCat · 17/11/2021 20:49

Frankly, he doesn’t look like a person you need to fight against to protect your children, he doesn’t want more contact and he is not bothered about keeping the one he has.

I bet that if you agreed to let him have the kids on his own he would get bored and disappear after a few weeks. But ai also doubt he would agree to have the children over.

Insist on contact to take place at your house but specify for how long, he may disagree but I bet he won’t take you to court.

NellieBertram · 17/11/2021 20:52

I'd tell him he can't come to your house any more, and he needs to stop taking drugs and get a safe, suitable place to live before he sees them again.

If he disagrees he can take it to court.

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:53

Honestly I would never agree for him to have them on his own , and as it stands I am already insisting on contact taking place here .

OP posts:
thenewduchessofhastings · 17/11/2021 20:54

@sal1223

I'd say you'd need to self refer to social services and discuss your concerns about contact with their father in regards to alcohol/drugs/inability to cope.

They may arrange for supervised contact in a centre supervised by a staff member there so you don't have to see him.

He'd have to stick to a day,time and a certain length of time eg an hour.

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:56

@thenewduchessofhastings thanks and yes this is why I thought I'd call them , but without anything being in court who has any authority with things like this ? Social services ?

OP posts:
sal1223 · 17/11/2021 20:57

And don't forget - no proof of anything 😕

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Starlightstarbright1 · 17/11/2021 20:58

If i am reading right it has been 6 weeks.

Does he contact you ?
Not turn up?
Document each time he fails to turn up.
Don't contact him let him not bother as long as he wants. You can go back to discussing it then.

If he is spending all his money on drugs highly unlikely to take you to court.

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 21:00

He has seen them in the week after work but been too busy at the weekends . Our house sale about to be finalised so he'll have a lot of money to play with in a minute

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sal1223 · 17/11/2021 21:00

I'm keeping a diary , and yes I've stopped chasing him to see them . He'll txt and say is it ok to pop over

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Redruby2020 · 17/11/2021 21:01

@Queenie6655 But that's what the other poster was saying? As OP said she doesn't want to be the mother who stops the children seeing their father, hence why that poster replied about does she not want to keep them safe. Meaning why put them at risk by seeing their father.

Cherrysoup · 17/11/2021 21:02

If he wants contact, tell him to go to court.

sal1223 · 17/11/2021 21:03

@Redruby2020 I am looking for advice here on keeping them safe , I have been on hold to the police for 3 hours and I'm calling children's services tomorrow

OP posts:
sal1223 · 17/11/2021 21:04

I don't know why I'm being questioned if I want to keep my own children safe

OP posts:
Redruby2020 · 17/11/2021 21:05

[quote sal1223]@Redruby2020 I am looking for advice here on keeping them safe , I have been on hold to the police for 3 hours and I'm calling children's services tomorrow [/quote]
Yes I know. I was responding mainly to another poster.

I think you are doing everything you should be, and are following things in the right direction.