Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I being selfish/unreasonable

8 replies

Inmyhouse · 17/10/2025 21:52

I'm not sure how to share my previous post, but please do have a read - it will help.

Ex and I have been spilt for 2 years, the main reason we spilt was because he was a selfish man, he drank a lot, the drinking started during COVID and gradually increased.

He started to make more of an effort over the last week since we had an incident 2 weeks ago, he was supposed to see our son tomorrow (the first time since the incident, see last post) he was going to come on his own and spend 2 hours with him focusing on rebuilding their relationship.

My ex called me on Monday night but my phone charger wasn't working, so my phone was off. I managed to buy a new one early Tuesday morning and when I switched it on there was 3 missed calls from him between 8-9 at night. I didn't think anything of it, until he called Tuesday morning, firstly asking to see our son and then throwing in that he needed a place to stay for a few nights. He lives with his gf and her DC so I knew something had happened, I said no and told him to go to his mother's. I didn't hear from him again until Tuesday afternoon when he called and said he would see our son on Saturday and never mentioned anything about somewhere to stay and I never said anything back.
However he did say that he was drinking alot and he was going to go to AA meetings, I've heard this all before and never took any notice, he never sobered up for me and our son so I doubt he will do so for his gf and her children. However I put 2and2 together and realised this is why he was asking for somewhere to stay as she has obviously given him ultimation (they've been together a year)

Anyway he facetimed our son on Wednesday night told him he would be seeing him Saturday afternoon, and he was coming on his own without the gf (our son is still saying he doesn't want to see her after the incident)

Today, I got a call at 4.30 from my ex saying "I've got a meeting with AA tomorrow at 5, so I can't come now, but can you reschedule your plans tomorrow or Sunday so I can see him"
I said no, we are at the zoo until 3 tomorrow then we were going to meet you at 4 and on Sunday he's at a birthday party, you knew our plans.
He's currently not working, he got let go 2 weeks ago and is finding it hard to find another job. I did say to him "you have been off all week, couldn't you do the meeting during the week, or I'm sure there's meetings every day, can't you refused this one and take the next"
He said no, and "I should be happy for him as he's trying to get himself sorted"

As great as that is, I don't believe that he's actually doing it for himself, I think he's doing it to keep a roof over his head, and I know as soon as he goes back to work and gets back in swing of it all, the drinking will recommence.
I know I should be positive but I've seen it all before.

My issue is my son is so sad that daddy has let him down again, he continuously does this to him over and over.
Even when he does work, he doesn't pay - my son will as recently diagnosed with ASD and hasn't paid any interest in attending appointments.

Am I being unreasonable to think he should honour his first commitment to his son tomorrow or am I being selfish for my son?

OP posts:
nomas · 17/10/2025 22:02

You 💯 did the right thing. DS may be disappointed but he needs you to keep the boundaries in place for him.

Stay detached from your ex, don’t discuss his alcoholism with ex.

Is there any risk that he would drink and drive?

Inmyhouse · 17/10/2025 22:08

@nomas my son doesn't know that he asked to stay, I wouldn't tell him that.

My son is very sad that daddy isn't coming to see him tomorrow, like he said he would - called him a liar! This is the 4th time he's let him down since the beginning of September.

No chance he hasn't got a licence!

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 17/10/2025 22:17

Surely your son is not at the birthday party all day Sunday. Can't your ex take him? Or have him an hour before of after?

Yes your ex is an idiot but your son should be heartbroken if it can be prevented.

Inmyhouse · 17/10/2025 22:23

@vivainsomnia yeah we will be there all day, my parents are Italian and it's a huge family gathering/birthday - leaving here at 11 and I won't be home until 5.
Ex lives an hour away from us

OP posts:
vivainsomnia · 17/10/2025 22:45

So offer an hour for before 11am or after 5pm.

Inmyhouse · 17/10/2025 22:55

@vivainsomnia my ex lives an hour away from us, he can't even turn up at 12 on time, always late - he isn't going to turn up at 10.00 or 9.30 on a Sunday morning via public transport.
He won't do after 5.30 either, he goes gym in the evenings and he won't give that up

OP posts:
Inmyhouse · 17/10/2025 22:59

@vivainsomnia this is why he wanted me to rearrange plans for Sunday. I've rearranged, moved time slots around for him in the past, then he doesn't turn up, no call or message either.

I've had 2 years of this, and I'm drained.
Offered medation x 4
He's refused to take me to court
I feel so sad for my son

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page