Ex going back on his word and I feel bad

[alwaysguilty12]

So long story short - ex and I split 7 years ago and have a wonderful 9 year old son. As a husband he was a bit useless and as a father generally very hands off- his only contribution was financial and very much saw housework/ childcare etc as below him. Fast forward 7 years and we are divorced and things are reasonably amicable - I am re married and he has a new partner ( lovely but very young and happily stays at home whilst he lives his best life) anyway he asked a few years ago if he and partner could take our son on holiday once a year for October half term. I was very happy with this and son was overjoyed at spending a whole week with his dad. First year he did this with no issues, me and husband booked a nice break away too and everything was great. Last year I booked a holiday early in anticipation of this but he reneged at the last minute due to apparent work commitments and poor son spent a week watching his dad wfh. Ex also text me 2 days before I was due home telling me he has childcare issues and asking if I could get a flight back sooner. I was endlessly guilty and it really spoiled the holiday. Me and husband have taken son on holiday twice in the last 12 months and as Ex promised he’d do something special with son this year, again I arranged a week away just me and my husband and again my ex has done nothing and poor son is in the uk. I feel endlessly guilty for being away without him but my ex who barely sees his son anyway just doesn’t seem to care at all. His justification for not taking him anywhere again is that he just ran out of time to arrange it. AIBU to expect him to do better for his son? He has him eow usually and my son so looks forward to this time with him- I feel like I have to justify the fact I am on holiday without my son but ex just does what he wants and nobody questions it. Son is texting me daily saying he’s bored etc - Am I wrong for booking a break for the 3 of us next year and not giving my ex another chance to ruin all of our weeks?

Argh that's so difficult.
Could you book something where you can add ds to it/or cancel him where it's no a disaster?

I actually think you're both a bit to blame for this. He may have 'promised' to book something but I'm not sure I would have trusted that after the last holiday disaster. I definitely wouldn't have booked anything this year until he'd confirmed with you that it's definitely happening. I'd try to add your son to the existing booking so he doesn't miss out again. In the future, I'd be asking the ex to book time off work for that week so, even if he doesn't organise a holiday, they can still spend the week together.

I just assume my ex won't bother with anything he promises and do what I want with the kids (we go away every easter holidays to France for instance).

Unfortunately for your son, I think you need to do the same - does your ex want him for half-term? If you book something will you get in trouble with a court order (I was very careful not to have any specifics on mine for exactly this reason)