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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worried grandma, son meeting up with new gf, leaving behind his 3 y/o dd for up to 5 days at a time. Sole custody. Other end of country.

63 replies

Starpigeon · 04/11/2025 18:19

So my adult son has a 3 y/o daughter who he has sole custody for. Mother walked out deciding she didn’t want to be mum and has gone no contact with child. Very sad for all involved. He was evicted from his home as had to give up work to care for her alone. Had to stay in hotels in a different town for around 6 months then moved to a parent and child shelter in home town before finally being accepted for social housing. So granddaughter especially has had very unsettled time this last year. He has now been in new house for around 4 months, he’s messy, won’t let anyone in so knows he has an issue but won’t do what he needs to do. I understand he’s probably overwhelmed. I myself raised 3 children in my 20’s alone after suffering dv from their dad. And am raising another 3 as a 40 something 2 teens (1 with significant special needs,)and a 9 y/o. I help where I can mostly but sometimes it feels like it’s expected of me regardless of how I feel. My son has started to date a lady down the other side of the country he met online. The first time he met her he took gd with him. I had a pop at him and said if I did that to meet a man off the internet with a baby with me there would be uproar and there’s nothing different in regards to risk because he didn’t at that point know for certain who he would be meeting. So the next time he went (3 days) I had grand daughter, he came home a day late after dropping her to mine with minimal belongings and clothes, I went shopping and spent £300+ on clothes and essentials for her. No thanks off dad for that. Then he wanted to go again a month later I said no as I’d already had a convocation with him regarding him demanding for me to look after her while he worked, he wanted me to have her overnight during the week for the whole week, so essentially I look after her for 5 days a week full time and he will pop by before work and have her on the weekends. I did have her a few nights a week at the start of summer hols but had already booked a week away camping with my own children so told him I couldn’t do those weeks, I got the feeling he was expecting me to take her but I said no. That was planned for my own children. He started having his dad look after her, which in itself is a real concern as the man was very violent with me when we were together and had been on and off drugs (anphetamines) for at least 20 years so has periods of psychosis, we have been split up for 20+ years but he tries his hardest to find out where I live. Has told my kids he’s got trackers on my car ect over the course of the last 18 months yet my son deams him suitable to leave granddaughter with him while he goes off for between 4 and 7 days at a time. I’m at my wits end and honestly scared for my granddaughters overall wellbeing. It’s getting to the point I feel like social services should be involved but I don’t want to be the one to make that call. I don’t know what else to do. I have said all of this to him but he doesn’t seem to see the issues. I’ve even had a frank conversation with him about the fact he doesn’t seem to with his actions be a father and told him as much as it would break all of us if that’s what it is he needs to do what’s in her best interest. He cried but nothing improves. I just don’t know what to do anymore.

OP posts:
2GreatFatSquirrels · 05/11/2025 09:16

He also didn’t have to give up work he could have paid for childcare like single mums up and down the nation do

Dontbeme · 05/11/2025 09:52

Make that phonecall OP, before your son decides to move to the far end of the country to live with some woman you (and he) doesn't know and then you have no way of knowing how your GC is being treated. This is a matter of urgency. Protect that child.

VinylRecycle · 05/11/2025 10:14

Can you suggest that this child goes to a local nursery, then there will be some routine & external people involved.

However, I agree that some concerns should be raised to social services. They can offer some extra support & guidance.

Pices · 05/11/2025 10:21

You need to call SS not wait OP. If he makes good on his word they will have no further involvement but realistically this little girl is in danger from all sorts and being raised by a man who can’t safeguard her wellbeing.

butterdish93 · 05/11/2025 10:25

I think you either need to take her on as your own or if that’s not possible, cal social. As a matter of urgency. I’m sorry this is happening. Poor girl.

Starpigeon · 05/11/2025 17:24

VinylRecycle · 05/11/2025 10:14

Can you suggest that this child goes to a local nursery, then there will be some routine & external people involved.

However, I agree that some concerns should be raised to social services. They can offer some extra support & guidance.

She goes to Nursary and honestly that was a relief for me knowing she has structure and socialisation but her hours have been reduced as his current work is as and when they want him to work so the affordability is a factor. His gf is supposed to be moving to him but so far hasn’t visited. It’s been him going to her. IMO it doesn’t bode well for a happy and successful relationship when he’s chasing her there from my point of view doesn’t much seem to be any give and take. And I’ve said all this to him, she tells him she wants to take daughter on but other than speaking on the phone she has no relationship with her. He’s trying to run before he can walk so to speak but won’t listen

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 05/11/2025 17:26

If you dont want to take responsibility for the child and neither parent will step up I can't see any alternative but foster care.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 05/11/2025 18:36

Sworkmum · 04/11/2025 21:52

You need to call social care or NSPCC. Unless when they visit things are very bad they won’t run in and scoop her away (really depends on how bad the house is etc). Even if they do that, he will get an opportunity to make changes and sort things out. If he won’t listen to you. Maybe he will listen to them when he realises that it is a real problem.

he will get offered support and a reality check, both of which it sounds like he needs.

Is there any other family who can step in to care for her? Older siblings or even family friends?

NSPCC just pass everything onto social care

Sworkmum · 06/11/2025 11:32

@Wedonttalkaboutboris

i know they do but you can report stuff online or anonymously more easily so sometimes people prefer to use this route than a direct call to social care.

Wayk · 06/11/2025 18:36

Personally I would have brought her on holiday and helped with childcare rather than going to her grandfather. Sit down with your son and come up with a decent plan re childcare

YellowCrayola · 06/11/2025 21:03

Wayk · 06/11/2025 18:36

Personally I would have brought her on holiday and helped with childcare rather than going to her grandfather. Sit down with your son and come up with a decent plan re childcare

Why should she? She has 3 other children <18 of her own, one of whom is disabled. Why should she take on childcare of her grandchild as well? Her discussion around childcare should involve her telling him to get his act together and parent his daughter (it’s not like he has work to go to!) or seriously risk losing her to foster care/adoption, as nobody else in the family is able to look after her.

TomatoSandwiches · 06/11/2025 21:26

Your responsibility is to your infant grandchildren op, your son is an adult making dangerous and poor choices, if she stays with him he needs intervention ASAP, you need to advocate for her.

JeminaTheGiantBear · 06/11/2025 21:40

How will you know if he does not follow through? If she is neglected, badly cared for, exposed to risky behaviour? Is that fair? To kind of ‘suck it and see’ (I hope that is not a rude term), when all the indications to date are that what is seen will be danger to a child?

It sounds as though the potential cost of the experiment in seeing whether he pulls himself together will be borne by your GD. It could be a very, very severe failure, & a very high cost in suffering to an innocent child.

If SS get involved however they will support & monitor him in seeing whether he can indeed be a parent to GD. This will be a safety net for her. I think despite what he has said you urgently need to contact them. She after all has no one else to speak up for her- just you.

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