Co-parenting

[emaria]

Hi mums. Looking for some advice! I have a 2 year old boy and am separated from his dad. His dad has him for a total of 4/5 hours per week over a few days, never has him overnight and doesn’t have any clothes/nappies for him (I always have to provide). He is constantly letting my son down on plans like football sessions/ park trips etc. he hasn’t paid maintenance for weeks but goes out drinking every weekend. Never buys anything for our son (clothes, food, wipes, nappies etc). Am I being unreasonable in wanting to stop him having parental responsibility? I’m so scared my son is going to grow up constantly getting hurt because his dad lets him down and doesn’t put his needs as a priority. Thanks!

If he is on the birth certificate he has PR

if he is letting him down prioritise other things it sounds like the trash is taking itself out anyway so you don't need to do much

You can’t relinquish his parental responsibility. I can sympathise, believe me, but it’s just not how that works.

However, make sure he’s paying the appropriate amount of child support through the CMS, have a firm routine in place eg “Saturday 10-3.” Then give your ex half an hour to turn up, if he doesn’t make sure there’s something else nice for you and your son to do: park, bake a cake, another activity he enjoys. In theory I’d stop supplying nappies and stuff for him too but in practice I know it’s not always as easy as that.