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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to lose it at ex over lack of help with autistic child?

11 replies

AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 20:28

I've just had a massive go and been quite nasty to my sons dad. For context, we still live together but we are separated, I'm waiting on a council house (which I've been provisionally offered) so me and DS can move out.

My DS is nearly 4, he's suspected ASD, non verbal, very limited understanding and his behaviour is atrocious.. I understand that it's not entirely his fault but I'm exhausted and I find his behaviour very triggering. It's non stop. He spends the whole day, kicking me, punching me, pulling hair, pinching etc, he's very aggressive. If he's not hitting me, he's flipping furniture, headbutting the walls, kicking the walls, purposely breaking things etc, I struggle to even take him out because he wont walk? He will try to sit in the road when crossing, run into the road, no sense of danger.

Anyway, my point being that his dad has always been a lazy dad when it comes to him, he's never even bathed him, he's four!!! He avoids helping me, won't even change his nappy (not potty trained, how do I when he doesn't know what I'm asking him to do?) he makes no effort with him whatsoever, if he gets in his face he will call him a dickhead, a spastic, all sorts...I always call him out on it but then he turns on me obviously. He just sits and watches him to do all these things. I admit I lose my shit frequently, I find my son's behaviour extremely triggering, coupled with his dad not helping, I get a full on rage and it's uncontrollable.

DS dad will mock me, alot. When I tell DS off, sometimes I sit in tears because I cannot cope with DS anymore. Tonight I've lost it when I've put DS to bed and told him he's a terrible person, I hate him and I think he's the worst dad in the world.

Now I'm sat here crying because I feel bad and terrible that I've said these things to him, but honestly.. what gives? DS dad thinks it's normal for him to behave that way?? Have I overreacted and do I need to apologise to him now??

Any advice or thoughts appreciated. I'm at the end of my tether.

OP posts:
ACatNamedRobin · 25/03/2026 20:34

Can you look into ABA therapy?
It's gotten a bad press but it seems like the only thing that would work with some kids.

mumrebranded · 25/03/2026 20:36

You sound exhausted which is understandable girl 🥺

But also - too accepting.

How long until you move?

You are a single mum - and when you move you wont see this man for dust imo. And even if you do, he will just get in your way.

Its time to accept your circumstances and work on what you can do on your own. Do you have any family? Does your ex have any family who can help?

Have you seen someone about special schools, are you on that pathway?

Have you seen the pediatrician for melatonin? Sorted speech therapy?

Its time to get organised. You can do this, one day at a time. But first, its getting your home sorted for the two of you, and doing so as a single mum x

AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 20:41

mumrebranded · 25/03/2026 20:36

You sound exhausted which is understandable girl 🥺

But also - too accepting.

How long until you move?

You are a single mum - and when you move you wont see this man for dust imo. And even if you do, he will just get in your way.

Its time to accept your circumstances and work on what you can do on your own. Do you have any family? Does your ex have any family who can help?

Have you seen someone about special schools, are you on that pathway?

Have you seen the pediatrician for melatonin? Sorted speech therapy?

Its time to get organised. You can do this, one day at a time. But first, its getting your home sorted for the two of you, and doing so as a single mum x

I know he won't make any effort at all. We are moving back toy hometown which is 50 miles away, so I know ds dad won't make the trip although he said he will have him every other weekend?? Even though he has an older son he has EVERY weekend who is neurotypical.

We are on the GDA pathway, been on the waiting list for over 18 months now. We have SALT, and being referred to OT as well. We have the Sen inclusion service who is supposed to help with education but failed in getting us the EHCP we needed for special school. DS does go nursery two afternoons a week.

I'm practically a single mum now, I know. It sounds horrible but I do worry, because I find ds so triggering, the anger I get is not a reasonable response and I feel like a horrible mother and person.

I will have my parents nearby when we move, but I can't see them helping much tbh, that can't cope with DS behaviour either. No one wants to.gelo me because of the way DS is.

OP posts:
AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 20:41

ACatNamedRobin · 25/03/2026 20:34

Can you look into ABA therapy?
It's gotten a bad press but it seems like the only thing that would work with some kids.

I will have a look at this, I've never heard of it.

OP posts:
mumrebranded · 25/03/2026 20:56

AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 20:41

I know he won't make any effort at all. We are moving back toy hometown which is 50 miles away, so I know ds dad won't make the trip although he said he will have him every other weekend?? Even though he has an older son he has EVERY weekend who is neurotypical.

We are on the GDA pathway, been on the waiting list for over 18 months now. We have SALT, and being referred to OT as well. We have the Sen inclusion service who is supposed to help with education but failed in getting us the EHCP we needed for special school. DS does go nursery two afternoons a week.

I'm practically a single mum now, I know. It sounds horrible but I do worry, because I find ds so triggering, the anger I get is not a reasonable response and I feel like a horrible mother and person.

I will have my parents nearby when we move, but I can't see them helping much tbh, that can't cope with DS behaviour either. No one wants to.gelo me because of the way DS is.

Edited

Okay that sounds bloody exhausting 🥺❤️

Do you drive?

Do you think that ds is safe with his dad, useless as he is?

If yes to both, maybe you could drop him off every second weekend and hope for the best? Or is it just a no?

Presumably he will be at nursery for another year until he gets a place at a special school. Can the inclusion team sort an ehcp as an emergency? Where are they with that?

Can you pester them again?

You could contact the social services to organise respite care as well. I would do that as a matter of urgency

I know its tough on your own. Its just me and autistic dd, although we haven't got the severe meltdowns that you have

xx

AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 21:03

mumrebranded · 25/03/2026 20:56

Okay that sounds bloody exhausting 🥺❤️

Do you drive?

Do you think that ds is safe with his dad, useless as he is?

If yes to both, maybe you could drop him off every second weekend and hope for the best? Or is it just a no?

Presumably he will be at nursery for another year until he gets a place at a special school. Can the inclusion team sort an ehcp as an emergency? Where are they with that?

Can you pester them again?

You could contact the social services to organise respite care as well. I would do that as a matter of urgency

I know its tough on your own. Its just me and autistic dd, although we haven't got the severe meltdowns that you have

xx

I do drive so I could drop him off and pick him up it's about an hour's drive. I don't know how I feel about especially as I know what DS dad is like, lazy and selfish and he's just not very good with DS and can't manage his behaviour (neither can I)

He is supposed to start school in September, I applied for his school place here in case we would be here (I didn't know how long I would be on the housing list for the move) said school has a SEN hub and it looked really promising, even though it's a mainstream school. Obviously with the move, he won't be attending, so now I have the hurdle when we move of either finding him a. Nursery space or a school place. Before sept. I suppose I could hold him back a year, because he is summer born.

We applied for the EHCP but they declined assesment because they said he didn't have a formal diagnosis, he wasn't known to the Sen inclusion service (he is) and the nursery were managing his behaviour. (They're not) I got so overwhelmed with it all, I can't appeal as the tim has passed. I tried to reapply but the online account wouldn't let me. So I really don't know. I'm finding it all so overwhelming.

Respite has been suggested to me but I just can't do it. He won't understand what's happening, I don't want to be without him, he's super attached to me as I am to him and I just personally really really don't want to do respite. He needs to be with me all the time. It sounds counterintuitive but he's still a baby really and I just couldn't do that to him.

OP posts:
Savvysix1984 · 25/03/2026 22:20

ACatNamedRobin · 25/03/2026 20:34

Can you look into ABA therapy?
It's gotten a bad press but it seems like the only thing that would work with some kids.

Please ignore this comment op. ABA is ethically unsound amongst other things.

Quitelikeit · 25/03/2026 22:30

Have you looked into getting him a little pop up tent? With sensory accessories to put inside?

A weighted blanket?

Sometimes when they lash out they are seeking reciprocal feedback so something hard to fulfil a sensory need (I’m not explaining that v well)

AlwaysAnxious32 · 25/03/2026 22:32

Quitelikeit · 25/03/2026 22:30

Have you looked into getting him a little pop up tent? With sensory accessories to put inside?

A weighted blanket?

Sometimes when they lash out they are seeking reciprocal feedback so something hard to fulfil a sensory need (I’m not explaining that v well)

Yes he is a sensory seeker. We have all sorts of sensory things, which he mostly destroys within seconds.

OP posts:
Birdsongisangry · 25/03/2026 23:06

ACatNamedRobin · 25/03/2026 20:34

Can you look into ABA therapy?
It's gotten a bad press but it seems like the only thing that would work with some kids.

Christ, his dad is abusive and you want the kid to be abused by a professional too??

OP I feel for you I really do. I think it will be very difficult to improve things while you're effectively parenting two children, given your ex is having temper tantrums like a child. You don't owe him an apology, just try and grey rock him until you can get out of there, and once you're in a new place focus on what support you can get to help manage your son's needs.

clareykb · 25/03/2026 23:16

Hi OP that does sound tough- I work for childrens services with disabled kids and am also have 2 of my own at home!- in terms over overnight short breaks (what used to be called respite) hes probably a bit young for most places as lots have minumum ages but you could ring and ask for an Early Help Asessment they might be able to help in terms of finding things he could access -like specialist social groups and give you a break or parenting support. They also would probably support with co ordinating proffesionals around his EHCP application- they would where I work. You should also have a local parent carer network- they should be able to assess you in your own right as a carer and offer support that way.

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