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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want him to be assessed by SS?

19 replies

OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 01:22

Hi,

Name changed for this. I don't think I'm being unreasonable but just want abit of advice.

I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant, have been permanently split from baby's dad since the very early stages of . The relationship was what you would call brief and very unhealthy. Ex is a compulsive liar, has substance and alcohol issues, misuses his own medication as what I see a manipulation tactic, is pretty narcissistic and likes to gaslight.

I've had very brief contact with him since the split generally just asking for medical information, exchanging belongings, and scan dates, for which he has only turned up to 1. His responses are usually a mixture of lovebombing, false promises or borderline abuse. I do not want him involved in my pregnancy at all but I feel terrible guilt of depriving a child from their father. I'm also being called every name under the sun.

However, I am now at a point where I have called social services to explain the issues and said that I do not want him involved unless he is assessed and undertaken tests to prove he is a safe, adequate person to parent a child, aswell as to prove he's not under the influence and still hiding the substance abuse. They've agreed to contact him and see if he will engage in any assessments/work etc.

Ex however is furious about this states I'm selfish, playing God with a child and trying to blackmail him with ultimatums to be a dad. He is adamant he will at no point engage with ss or even take their calls. He's also claiming I'm committing a crime passing his information on without consent ha. He then switches to wanting to discuss names, prams, etc which I'm resisting and stating clearly from now any involvement and updates will only go through ss until they have provided an outcome to his safety.

Am I unreasonable to want this and for my only nvolvement with him to be through professionals? I plan to block any form of personal contact with him but part of me feels that what I'm doing is wrong, maybe that's just because his poison is still in my head.

OP posts:
OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 01:23

That was longer than expected, sorry. I just didn't want to drip feed or miss anything out.

Thank you to anyone who reads it and manages to respond x

OP posts:
Wibblywobblylikejelly · 06/04/2024 01:25

I would say that you will communicate with him after the SS assessment.

He can apply for court after the baby is born, but you should absolutly fully disclose everything with every professional you come into contact with.
You need documentation.
Chase SS for support and also speak to your Midwife and HV.

OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 08:55

Yeah I have always been up front about the relationship, my concerns and his miss match attitude. I am just struggling with knowing how to deal with it all and what the actual right thing to do is.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 06/04/2024 08:58

Just block him.

Maybe give him an email address that you check every now and then.

You don't need to put up with the hassle.

dentydown · 06/04/2024 09:08

Keep a diary now of everything. Good and bad. Record if he turns up to scans, record if he doesn’t. Keep Print-outs of texts/communications etc. record that in the diary.

try to keep communicating over WhatsApp or messages so it’s in writing. Any phone calls, briefly summarise what’s going on.

this can be used as evidence

jeaux90 · 06/04/2024 09:13

Don't put him on the birth certificate either, honestly it will be the pain of your life if you do.

OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 09:27

Yeah I really don't plan to invite him to any further appointments or even the birth unless I really have to or professionals insist, which I doubt they will.

It's very clear that his role will be Disney dad, he's already showing signs of that in forcefully insisting he has copies of scan pictures, picks names, prams etc. He doesn't even ask about development or test results.

I just have this small fear in me that he is going to be one of those dad's that hurts or uses the child just to try and get at me. He's already threatened to burn and smash possessions that are from our relationship simply because I told him I'd contacted ss with his contact information.

OP posts:
Nevermindtheteacaps · 06/04/2024 09:29

100 percent do not put him on birth certificate.

Deadbeats like him won't have the resources or brains to take you to court to get on the certificate.

Bridgertonned · 06/04/2024 09:53

SS aren't likely to do much if anything. You've already decided he's a risk and you're not wanting him around the baby. The baby isn't at risk if you're recognising and dealing with that risk. They'll advise him to seek access via the court (privately, at this cost) should he want it. They might signpost him to dad's groups or courses but it doesn't sound like he's interested.

Notalazysoso · 06/04/2024 10:01

I'm surprised SS have said as they have. Usually the expectation is that if you have concerns you withhold contact and he needs to take it to court where court will decide what needs to be done, not assessments based on one parent's word to SS. Even if they do assessments, they would need court to intervene for any contact and whilst baby is with you, they wouldn't be deemed at risk to justify SS meddling.

DragonGypsyDoris · 06/04/2024 10:11

"undertaken tests to prove he is a safe, adequate person to parent a child"
The last couple of months basically comprised relevant tests. He totally failed, so just don't engage. And SS can't mediate every exchange between you - it's not their role to pass messages between two people who are in conflict.

Dacadactyl · 06/04/2024 10:12

This is not the role of SS.

WinterDeWinter · 06/04/2024 10:15

Why on earth would you feel guilty about depriving your child of a relationship with an abusive, unstable man?!

HelloMiss · 06/04/2024 10:20

Dacadactyl · 06/04/2024 10:12

This is not the role of SS.

That's what I thought

They are too busy with children already here

Universalsnail · 06/04/2024 10:22

I would stop communicating with him all together. You haven't had the baby yet. Do not put him on the birth certificate. Seek legal advice if he continues to hassle you.

OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 10:23

I don't mean for them to exchange/relay communication back and forwards. I just meant that if they were to become involved for assessments etc then only information provided by them (I.e baby has been born, or is doing well, whatever) to him would be the only be the only information he would actually get moving forward, as I wouldn't be reaching out to him to disclose anything, so unless they choose or need to disclose those stages then that is likely the only way he will know anything moving forward.

I'm also not sure how reliable the ss will be in moving forward with any involvement or what they will do. They just said that they would make contact at some point and see if he will engage with them and then they may be able to complete assessments, etc should they then deem it necessary. For all i know they could just contact him to notify him of a report being made and thats it. I am aware they can't just take my word for it but I am happy that they are taking it seriously enough to make contact of some form.

OP posts:
HelloMiss · 06/04/2024 10:27

I thought they only did 'assessments' if court ordered. Cafcass for contact?

OneTwoThreeMine · 06/04/2024 10:32

WinterDeWinter · 06/04/2024 10:15

Why on earth would you feel guilty about depriving your child of a relationship with an abusive, unstable man?!

I guess the guilt comes from the general views that families/children need fathers. Also you always end up reading that regardless of relationship abuse, it doesn't mean they can't be a good father and would likely be granted visitation of some form from courts etc anyways. Aswell as the names I'm constantly being called and verbal abuse I'm facing for these decisions, I'm just questioning myself that maybe I can't just take a full part of a child away without looking at all routes of safety and risk first.

I suppose I really just want to do what's right for my child. My main priority is safety but deprivation of part of someone's identity has a small part of a self persuasive argument.

OP posts:
Iwonderifitsso · 06/04/2024 10:33

Even if he was assessed by social services, it's not going to give him a personality transplant or get him to change his behaviour, he will just ride it out until the baby is born then BOOM back to Mr abusive

Do not put him on the birth certificate. Any guilt you feel over baby "not having a dad" will be worth it for not having him mess your child around and abuse you through the child

I left my childrens father when they were 2 and 8 months due to DV and mental abuse. He was found guilty in court and court ordered him not to contact or communicate with me or the children

I've not been with him for 7 years now, moved areas when I left him...... yet he STILL messages my family abusive messages/ making up lies about me.... despite not seeing me all this time!

They dont change and you'll be a fool if you let him into your and your babies life. Just setting you both up to be hurt and miserable in the future

Very occasionally my son asks about having a dad and it hurts explaining to him ( in a child friendly manner ) but when we breed with shit men we have to make a choice, do we let the abuse trickle down to our kids because of morals or do we just save our kids learning toxic abusive behaviour

Keep him away from your baby and keep you both safe

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