Shared custody - am I being unfair??

[Fralla]

I pulled my DCs out of school last Wednesday as one of them had a cough. It was nothing and they're both well now. I let their dad know and he said he'd rather not have them for a while which is fair enough.

DC1 came to me today saying she spoke to her dad and she can go there tomorrow. I said that's fine.

Then she tells me she's only going there until Friday, as her dad is going to his girlfriends for the weekend. And he had said that due to the lockdown you're not meant to mix households now so he can't take them with him. (Not that I'd want him to, but show he's fully aware of the lockdown!!)

But they can go back to their dads Monday again when he's back at his he had said.

The thing is - the girlfriend has DC's of her own, who have also got a dad elsewhere so I'm guessing they're going back and fourth.

Am I ok to say I'm not happy with this? I'm ok for them to go to their dads - but not if their dad spends his weekend mixing with other people! Hardly social distancing, is it?

But I also don't want to be the bitch that stops them from seeing their dad.

I don’t think you’re being unfair. He shouldn’t be going to his girlfriend’s, that’s what’s mixing households.
Nice that he’s putting seeing his girlfriend above seeing his children. 🙄

lockdown means he shouldnt be going to his girlfriends the guidance is v clear about that

The rules are children can move between separated parents but otherwise we remain in our own homes, only leaving for the listed essential reasons so your ex should not be seeing his girlfriend and definitely not staying with her and her DC

The rules (issued yesterday) are that couples who do not live together should either move in together for the lockdown or don't see each other until the lockdown is over.

Your ex should either move in with his partner or not see her.

I'd tell him the kids are isolating with me and he can FaceTime.

Thanks for backing me up here.

It's a bit touchy so I don't feel like I can tell him not to go see his girlfriend.

I will tell him I don't want him to have the DC's if he is though.

Family lawyer here. PPs are bang on.

The exception is children MAY move between households, not that they MUST.

If he is disobeying the rules then he is posing an additional risk and you can justifiably refuse to send the children. Explain why.

Here is the guidance given by the President of the Family Division:

www.judiciary.uk/announcements/covid-19-national-guidance-for-the-family-court-message-from-president-of-the-family-divison/

Thank you TooTrusting