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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that if a man doesnt see his child for a period of 14 days (bar exceptional circumstances/agreed holidays/court agreed schedules) then they should lose parental responsibility?

135 replies

hotmumshit · 16/07/2026 18:59

Saw a woman online who cant take her 4 kids on holiday as their dad refuses to give permission, despite him not seeing the kids or paying maintenance

'Equality for dads' has really served to oppress women further

OP posts:
Cevita · 16/07/2026 22:29

Theunamedcat · 16/07/2026 22:24

Probably because she's discussing someone else's situation not her own its not always relevant

Yes “someone else”
supposedly

ClayPotaLot · 16/07/2026 23:18

I sort of agree, op, though don’t think I’d put the limit at 14 days.

I think it should be much easier to get parental responsibility downgraded (maybe not removed entirely, but a voice that is officially minority) for fathers who don’t turn up to contact, who won’t go to hospital appointments, do homework with their kids, etc. And much more automatic authority (like being able to take them abroad for holidays, choose the school, move, etc.) when contact is, at the father’s choice, less than once a month.

But it probably does need to be ratified by a court of some sort.

rbe78 · 17/07/2026 10:46

Well, after months and months of mediation with two different mediators, the absolute most my DH's ex would allow him to see his children was every third weekend (no back story of violence, abuse etc.) - this might blow your mind OP, but not every dad is a deadbeat twat who doesn't want to see his children and not every mother is a put-upon saint happily facilitating contact.

usererror99 · 18/07/2026 14:19

@hotmumshit
I personally think he brings nothing to their lives. At the moment he does 3 hours per month but eldest refuse to see him. I’d rather he was dead and just left me to it TBH

millymollymoomoo · 18/07/2026 14:55

its common for mums to block access. All you need to do is not be there as arranged. This is allowed to go on for ages before any interventions. Even if it does get to court all that happens is a schedule is put together . Then mum simply isn’t there again. It can literally go on for years and years and courts are very reluctant to put mums in jail for this or remove the child from
their care so in reality yes a dad can go to court for access but in reality it costs a fortune , mum is never penalised and child is alienated.

ApiratesaysYarrr · 18/07/2026 15:02

This is a slippery slope though - how about if you are a mum who wants to take your kids away for 3 weeks, or even 2 weeks that includes the weekends - the dad could then take the mum to court to try to stop her preventing the access - is this really a good situation for parents to be dragging each other to court more than they have to do already?

Crap dads will be crap whatever mitigations or punishments are put in place.

Someone in my family was married to a guy who I personally think is a plank - however he paid his maintenance on time, and turned up 3 times a week to pick the kids up for 15 years until the youngest was 18 (also took them on holiday as well). Personally I don't like him, but I admire that he didn't shirk his responsibilities.

Cobrakainerd · 19/07/2026 17:18

millymollymoomoo · 18/07/2026 14:55

its common for mums to block access. All you need to do is not be there as arranged. This is allowed to go on for ages before any interventions. Even if it does get to court all that happens is a schedule is put together . Then mum simply isn’t there again. It can literally go on for years and years and courts are very reluctant to put mums in jail for this or remove the child from
their care so in reality yes a dad can go to court for access but in reality it costs a fortune , mum is never penalised and child is alienated.

This...and they don't get help to get somewhere big enough to have their kids if they are low waged. Can't have kids in some grotty HMO and thats another obstruction. Yes, complete deadbeats deserve a harder time than they get. Those who don't want to be deadbeat need a little help to make it work regardless of the relationship with ex.

SpiritAdder · Yesterday 16:24

hotmumshit · 16/07/2026 19:39

Going camping for two weeks is an agreed holiday isnt it

Should i decide to go camping for two weeks and not bother about my dd, she'd be left alone and she'd be taken off me! As she bloody well should!

It’s not agreed on unless both partners agree. As in, if he unilaterally goes off camping and leaves the mum fed up with the DC yet again.

Again, the DC aren’t left alone dumbass, they’re left with mum or dad.

Boomer55 · Yesterday 16:26

hotmumshit · 16/07/2026 18:59

Saw a woman online who cant take her 4 kids on holiday as their dad refuses to give permission, despite him not seeing the kids or paying maintenance

'Equality for dads' has really served to oppress women further

No, it depends on the circumstances.

Sinkysocks · Yesterday 16:31

No because the taxpayer doesn’t want to pay to enforce this and it would lead to a huge surge in the courts.

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