Crazy religious ex husband

[Lavenderfarmcottage]

To give context - I am a single Mum & currently have as hashimotos & an infection. I’m exhausted and tired and have a DS 8 turning 9. My Dad has died, my Mum is fragile & erratic after loss of my sister and our family has always been fractured and small. I feel very unsupported and alone. The other mums are nice but everyone has busy lives and are at maximum capacity.

My DS aged 8 turning 9 refused to visit his Dad lately. My ex husband is increasingly religious, this has always been the case. I was raised Catholic but he has taken it to new levels. He insists on only going to Latin mass as this is traditional which means driving 30 minutes each way to church. He observes holy Friday’s as per an apparition which said to go to mass each Friday. This means he wishes or tried to take my son out of school.

This evening I agreed to go to football training with my ex husband and son, mainly because my child would get anxious if it was just my ex husband at pick up if he hadn’t planned. Football training went over time and we all agreed to drive to DS 8 favourite dinner place spontaneously and at his request. It’s a 20 minute drive and ex husband asked for all pray the rosary for 20 minutes agreeing I didn’t have to join in. I was happy to pray but requested that we do 10 minutes as DS is 8. I politely requested this as I said 20 after school is a bit much for a little kid. Ex husband said find you don’t have to sulking but insisted son remain praying. He then continued praying without me in a high pitch semi crying sulking voice.

Trying to build their relationship and encourage a balanced and middle ground as I really need the support.

would appreciate advice,

Your ex is absolutely adamant that he and only he is able to decide what is best for your son. He also absolutely loathes you and completely disagrees with your parenting style.

Can't you see what he will do and say to your ds if he has enough time alone with him? He'll brainwash the poor child into thinking that you are the devil incarnate and only his dad knows what's best for him.

And to a pp who said that Mumsnet hates religion - a lot of us on this thread are practicing Christians. No doubt there are posters of other faiths too (and none) and all of us are saying the same thing. The man is a dangerous nutter and the OP needs to protect her child. At the end of the day, this is not a religious issue.

I strongly dispute that the craic is better in Knock (after too many childhood parish pilgrimages there in a minibus full of feral altarboys), but there is, of course a useful small airport which was originally intended to facilitate pilgrimages, but whose summer destinations, as well as Lourdes and Fatima, include Malaga, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Alicante.

I wouldn't expect any of my dc to pray the Rosary. Fastest route to making them hate it. They have decade bracelets. They know about it. That's it.

Beg him to stop and get him to talk to ds and say its just something he loves so much and he wants to share it with him but he's sorry if he's made it too big a deal.

Your ds has to find his own way to faith. Your ex attitude is very damaging.

I think he has scrupulosity type ocd and maybe you shouldn’t collude with it. He needs some cbt.