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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Daughters dad- am I going crazy?

23 replies

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 11:23

I’ve never posted on here but I genuinely think I’m going insane and would appreciate some outside perspective on this. Thank you.

For some quick context- I separated with my daughters father 2 months before she was born. He was over half an hour late to a private scan that I paid for myself (her last scan before she was born) and it was the nail in the coffin for me. At this point, he’d moved 4 hours away from me (while I was pregnant) and due to him moving into work accommodation I was told I wasn’t allowed to come visit, while seeing the people he lived with on social media (both male and female) have people round to visit and stay.

Fast forward to my daughter being born, which he wasn’t even sure he’d make. She came a week early and with her being breach I was rushed in for a C-section. This was traumatic for me, but seeing my daughter for the first time made it all worth it. She truly is my whole world.

From the get go I’ve done it myself. After surgery he was allowed to stay over in the hospital room, and I was grateful until I asked him at 3am to get me a glass of water because I physically couldn’t move and he said no. This should’ve been the first and last time I let him treat me like this.

I can’t say how a natural birth is, but for anyone that’s had a C-section you’ll know you can’t really move much. I had to, every single nappy change, every cry, every lap around the house rocking her to sleep. I done it all myself while he sat there.

I live with my parents, and they let him stay 5 weeks for free to give him the chance get to know his daughter.

A week into her being born, I hadn’t slept, was in constant pain (which turned out to be the first of a few times of having Mastitis before I gave up breast feeding) and he tried to sleep with me. I said no, so to put it short, he sexually relieved himself in my bed with our daughter in her little cot next to me. I cried, half delirious and not quite believing it was actually happening, listening for her to wake up.

I understand everyone will have different views on this, but for me this isn’t normal. I don’t feel like a child of any age should be in the same room as either of their parents when anything of a sexual nature is happening, and for him to pleasure himself after I said no to sleeping with him shows me he lacks self restraint.

My only wish is that I’d been stronger, that I’d kicked up a fuss and not just sat there frozen listening for my daughter.

Over the past 18 months he moved jobs to one an hour away from where myself and daughter live, he’s never had her to stay on his own, and had her a handful of times outside of my house when his mum has came down to visit. She has been to stay twice at his parents, as it was the only way I felt even remotely comfortable with the situation, which was already an argument to start with. They live 3 hours away from me, and on both occasions I had to drive her up, pay for a hotel so that I could be near incase of emergencies and pick her back up.

I organised and paid for her 1st birthday myself, inviting all his family as well as mine. The majority of his left after they got a picture with her at the ballon arch. While packing up the hall myself, because he left early, I noticed some of the presents from my side were missing. I called around, just incase someone had accidentally put a few bags and boxes in the bin, and had multiple accounts of people seeing my daughters dad walking in and out with presents towards the end. Over text he denied it, saying he was too busy to reply. So I called saying that he needed to bring them back tonight. He informed me he couldn’t as he had went from his daughters first birthday party into town, leaving his car in the middle of a busy area over night with her presents in it and taking the train so he could drink. The presents were brought back on her birthday, and I think he done it so that he could walk in with more than what he’d actually got her.

My daughter has been let down countless times, and it’s breaking my heart to see. She’s getting to the point she understands that he’s meant to be coming over (even if it is an hour once a week at best, despite me offering him two days a week and every 3rd Saturday starting from a weekend of his choosing) and when I say anything I’m made out to be this jealous, over controlling bitch despite having countless screen shots of every time he’s meant to be over and just doesn’t show up.

My daughters dad has now moved 4 hours away (near his parents) to the exact same job but at a different place. The first time I heard about this was from his mum, who phoned to say that my daughters dad will be having her to stay one weekend every month.

I’m at a loss. I won’t be allowing her to stay with him when he still can’t change a pooy nappy, gets an unreasonable amount of soap in her eyes and up her nose when he does try and bathe her, and clips the tops of her arms into the high chair then denies it despite the marks it leaves.

The whole situation is tearing me apart; I feel like I have no control over the well being of my daughter, and when I try to explain the situation to any of his side they’ve been “warned” that I might try and twist his reputation. My family know, they’ve seen it all happen.

I’m scared to take this in anyway legal. While I have screenshots of our conversation about him relieving himself with my daughter in the room and how it was wrong, I’m worried that wouldn’t be enough and that by taking it legal I’d give him the right to have her over night that one weekend a month.

I could write a novel with the amount he’s lied to me; about where or who he’s with, both while I was pregnant and after. Honestly I’m just looking for a bit of advice. The way I’m doing it just now isn’t working. For example, he just walks into my house without chapping, despite being told not to, and it’s got to the point I need to lock my doors when I know he’s coming so that he has to wait for someone to answer.

Thank you, all advice and different points of views are appreciated.

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 03/07/2024 11:32

He's been abusive to you from the beginning and now you are letting him start to abuse her. Contact Women's Aid for some support on getting away from him properly.

Stop letting him see her until he gets a court order. He will have to pay to start the process, not you. Stop responding to his phone calls or texts. Block the rest of his family and friends. Only respond to court documents from now on.

Did you put him on the birth certificate?
Does he pay CMS at all?

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 11:48

Thank you for replying to my post, I seriously appreciate the straight forward honesty. I feel like I've been doubting myself and seeing even one person say this has made me realise I'm not overreacting.

Stupidly, he is on the birth cert. He pays child support sporadically, and didn't pay at all for the first 5 months of her life.

OP posts:
WeeOrcadian · 03/07/2024 12:11

OP, I'm so sorry, what an absolutely piece of shit excuse for a human

Get a claim logged with CMS
Don't have telephone conversations with him - try to stick to one method of communication and block the rest
I'd personally be refusing all contact with him - your duty is to your child and she doesn't need to be exposed to this

Are you able to speak to someone IRL, like Women's aid or similar?

Staringatthewalljustmeagain · 03/07/2024 12:26

Honestly? He’s abusive as fuck. And a shit dad to boot. Stop him seeing her, because sure as anything, that useless cunt will never bother himself to take you to court. Ever.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 03/07/2024 12:31

Get a claim logged with CMS.

Write all of this down and write down everything that he does subsequently.

Get help from Women's Aid or counselling if you can. What he did in bed is sexual assault: yes, couples can and do have sexual activity when their babies are asleep next to them in the cot (otherwise number 2 would never be conceived!) but the critical thing is that this is CONSENSUAL activity. What happened to you was not.

Get Yale locks put on your door and keep your doors locked.

Tell him he's not getting her for the weekend ever again and wait for him to take you to court.

Fuck this shit, take control. You can do it.

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 03/07/2024 12:33

And stop trying to explain to anyone who isn't your family or friends. That'll only drive you mad.

Masturbating beside you non-consensually isn't in itself something a judge would say makes him an unfit father (it makes him an abusive prick, but that's a different thing) so focus on keeping factual records of things like inability to change nappy, irregular contact, only able to have her when his parents are there, etc.

magnoliablooms · 03/07/2024 12:37

That sounds horrendous I'm so sorry. Please call womens aid

Molone · 03/07/2024 12:38

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 03/07/2024 12:31

Get a claim logged with CMS.

Write all of this down and write down everything that he does subsequently.

Get help from Women's Aid or counselling if you can. What he did in bed is sexual assault: yes, couples can and do have sexual activity when their babies are asleep next to them in the cot (otherwise number 2 would never be conceived!) but the critical thing is that this is CONSENSUAL activity. What happened to you was not.

Get Yale locks put on your door and keep your doors locked.

Tell him he's not getting her for the weekend ever again and wait for him to take you to court.

Fuck this shit, take control. You can do it.

I agree with most of what you said, but what happened in the bedroom was not assault. It was a nasty thing for him to do that while she was there but not an assault.

OP go via all official channels and that will help protect both you and your daughter.

LittleGreenDragons · 03/07/2024 12:53

Thank you for replying to my post, I seriously appreciate the straight forward honesty.

Ooops sorry, I didn't mean to come across so bluntly.

Time to get everything official as he has proved he (and his family) can no longer be trusted. I would message him with a separate email and state all communication needs to be done via that email only, then block him on every thing including sm, same for his family. Do not accept phone calls as you need everything documented from now on.

He needs to go to court for access. I think you can ask the court for supervised contact/contact centre due to his sporadic/long distance visits and her young age.

Contact Women's Aid. Contact CMS. If he sends court papers (not just solicitor letter) then find a solicitor for a one off consultation to decide if you want to self represent or not, and what's involved. I highly doubt it will get as far as court but I do suspect he will threaten, or get a solicitor to threaten, you.

Trust your instincts Flowers

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 13:50

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply. I appreciate everyone's advice, my main and only goal in life is to keep my daughter safe. She's my whole world and I'm beyond proud of every little mile stone she's accomplished in her 18 months of life.

I will be contacting Woman's Aid as suggested, and I agree that it's the best course of action to let him make the move of starting court (I'm in half a mind if he'll bother to do that due to it having the chance of ruining his reputation)

I've just spoken to my mum about this; as I live with my parents still they've seen the majority of this happen and how it's effected me and my daughter. I'd seriously be lost without the support of my family, she is offering to meet with him in place of me if he wants to see her in a public setting from now on instead of at my house.

Does anyone have any experience or advice with this? Would this help the situation or make it worse? Should this been fully avoided?

Again, I just want the best for my daughter and I really am trying my best. Thank you

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 03/07/2024 13:57

I can’t see any downside to making this legal tbh. From his track record he’s unlikely to want the bother or expense of committing to regular weekends. It’s likely his mum is the one who wants it.

Do get advice obviously and I think it’s fine to let your ( lovely) mum supervise contact outside of your home. He doesn’t need to enter your safe space.

Definitely make a claim for CMS.

Summerhillsquare · 03/07/2024 14:05

There is a lot of (righteous) anger from posters here. But does it need to be escalated? From what youve written, it seems to be that he's so shit he wont even try when you dont faciltatate. Could you just stop replying to him? Quietly back away until he's totally lost interest.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 03/07/2024 14:28

@Artymum98 why the hell are you facilitating your baby seeing his family????? that is not for you to do! do not push him to take baby out and his family should only ever see your baby if he has her!!! they are all walking all over you! he has rights to see and have baby but his family have no such rights!!

HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf · 03/07/2024 15:20

Honestly, do nothing. Just quietly withdraw, don't make plans for your mum to facillitate visits, just do nothing. Put the ball in his court and see what he does next. You don't have to please everyone in your life.

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 15:51

I think doing nothing is the best course of action. I think this comes from me wanting my daughter to have a dad, but it's quite clear he's never going to be one in any way the counts. Thank you.

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 03/07/2024 16:29

It's fine to want your daughter to have a father in her life, i get that. But you need to understand that your wants and reality are totally different. The reality is he doesn't behave like a father, either emotionally, mentally or financially. Please remember a shit father is far far worse, and a lot more damaging, than an absent father. He's just an abusive male who provided sperm and providing sperm doesn't make him a father. Putting his child's needs first, does.

Don't facilitate anything. Your mother is lovely offering to meet him elsewhere but until it's court ordered he could just take the child off your mum and walk away. She would not be able to stop him, legally or physically., and I suspect he would do that as a power trip. Don't put that on your mother as it would break her having to stand back and watch. Let the court decide, and let him start the proceedings. Go quiet.

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 16:57

I've read everyone's comments over again- at the risk of sounding stupid, can I genuinely just ignore him? I've been in contact with my family lawyer and she's informed me on the Door Bell rule and thinks I should wait until he takes me to court, as he would then have to pay to start it off. Would ignoring him hurt my case if it did go to court?

Thank you all again

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 03/07/2024 17:08

What's the door bell rule?

If he wants contact he can go down the court ordered route. They will establish when he can have her, with times, and who does the travelling and who pays for it. Tell him no more visitations until a judge has decided. You should NEVER have paid for a hotel room or driven to pick his mother up, HE should have done that.

EDIT - follow your lawyers advice if they know about family law, otherwise get a one off consultation with one. Find out your rights.

Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 17:13

She explained it as he can come to the door but I'm in my legal right to ignore it or ask him to leave and he's not allowed to remove our daughter from the house as it's her primary/ only residence.

Another thing she mentioned was the fact I don't know exactly where he's now currently staying; if he's even got a permanent residence or if he's staying with a friend, or if he's even got a bed for her.

He's changed job and moved 4 times because of it (his job always comes with accommodation) in the space of 2 and half years and she mentioned that that suggests he doesn't have a stable residence set up for her.

OP posts:
Artymum98 · 03/07/2024 17:16

Again, I just want to thank everyone for taking the time to read my post and offer help. I feel much more positive about the whole situation now and I know I can do the right thing for my daughter, no matter who it upsets (including myself if it comes to that)

OP posts:
Choochoo21 · 03/07/2024 17:54

If you tell him that he’s not allowed to see his DD, it will likely drive him to pretend to be a good dad and make things difficult for you.

If you ignore him completely, then he may keep turning up.

I would have a set access arrangement in place.

How often is he wanting to see her?

Tell him it’s X amount of times a month and it’s going to be at your home/your mums/his mums.

I wouldn’t message him at all, until he messages you and then I would only reply the bare minimum.

BookArt · 03/07/2024 18:19

I did supervised contact in a public place with ex. My solicitor said it was a good thing to show I am supportive of contact if it went to court. However, when my ex was then physical with me I had to stop contact where I attended. So your lovely mum doing it is good, it might actually prevent him taking you to court. Being in a public space gives him less control, and more witnesses. Also means you mum can leave at any point.

Advice above is great. Block on everything except email or consider a parenting app. There are free ones, I pay for our family wizard. Nothing can be deleted so it's worked in my favour.

Toomanysquishmallows · 03/07/2024 18:31

I have a useless ex , he stopped bothering with dd1 , and hasn’t seen her for 20 years! I agree with other people, he will probably stop bothering with contact .

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