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Dadsnet

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Advice for Separated Father

6 replies

Popsdad14 · 22/05/2019 12:10

Hello,
I am a father of a 3 year old girl and have never been in a relationship with the mother. From birth it was a constant battle to try and see my daughter and till about 18 months it would be twice a week for a couple of hours if the mother could be bothered to let me in. This resulted on me taking further action and ended up with a court order in which I see my daughter 3 times a week after work or at weekends. We did not push for a set daday routine as we both have other things we must deal with so it is better that we can comprise. Since that my relationship with the mother has improved dramatically and no there is no battle and if anything she is very keen on me spending time with our daughter. I think the mother has realised I care a lot for my daughter and I want to be a positive impact in her life . The problem I am asking for advice is my daughter herself. With the mother onside it is now my daughter who has become difficult. It feels as though she does not trust me and doesn't see me as a care giver but more as a toy who just comes to see her and play with her. I continue to visit her at her mother's as she refuses to leave with me to visit say my house or a park with me. Obviously this is frustrating for me but I have a lot of patience and I do not want to rush or upset my daughter so I want her to move at her own pace. The only thing i am worried about is that she'll never 'come round' to the idea of me being a caregiver. I'd love to take her out to places and do things with her but more than that I want to do every day things with her, even just making her brush her teeth or wash her face. I dont want to be a dad who takes her out for a day everytime I see her, I want to be a dad who teaches her right from wrong even if at the time she doesn't agree with me. I was just looking to see if anyone has experienced this and if so is there anything I can do to help my daughter start to trust me or if she ever will trust me.
Any replies would be much appreciated
Thank

OP posts:
Notabedofroses · 22/05/2019 12:20

Why not speak to dd's mother and start to have your dd overnight?

I would try having dd for the whole weekend, then you are responsible for looking after dd, making dinner together and bed time stories. In time you will be around to help with homework. You could have your own routine that is special just for her and you.

I do think it will be just a stage, she clearly sees you as fun Dad, which is not a bad thing, and as she gets older she may lean on you far more for your advice, help, practical assistance with things. You need to keep your door firmly open, and let the stages of childhood come and go without worrying about them.

If you provide constant love, support and guidance, your little girl will always love you deeply.

Try a weekend together, or a short holiday somewhere of her choosing. And hopefully this will make all the difference.

GonzoFlyingProducts · 25/05/2019 22:32

Feel for you mate - been there. The good news is you give a shit and you're trying to get it right - which means you very probably will.

Heartily agree with the above advice. I'm surprised the court order didn't give you "overnights" at least every other weekend (which you can then be flexible about with the Mother). I would start by explaining your concerns to the Mother and asking her to agree to overnights on Friday or Saturday and if she says no just leave it and bring it up again in a few weeks. If she's really stubborn after a couple of months I'd go back to court. Notabedofroses is right when he talks about building routines, making dinner etc - it shows that you are an everyday Dad who does everyday Dad stuff and not just fun Dad who's great for trips to the park but not the serious stuff - and the serious stuff kicks in pretty quickly. He's also right about "door firmly open" and "stages of childhood". There will (there definitely will) come a day when, after a row or a refusal, she comes running to you claiming she has the worse Mother in the world and can she stay with you, live with you, never go home... There will be times when she wants to talk to you and not Mum about things in her life. There will be times when you are the go-to-guy. Trust me.

At age three kids can be pretty random and I don't think you've got anything to worry about. You've got probably fifty or sixty years of being Dad ahead of you ! Also, kids are hard work and I would be surprised if Mum wasn't keen on some time off - it's a just a question of trust and confidence and if you've never been in a relationship with the Mother then that can be hard to assume / establish / build. Time is everything. People chill out and calm down over time and it will all click into place. You have to be constant, reliable, honest, available, ready to be flexible and it can be (is) frustrating when progress seems slow but just keep on keeping on. It is though vitally important that you establish yourself in your daughters eyes as DAD in every real wy, especially in the Mother starts a new relationship which you have to be ready for. I would say overnight stays are absolutely key - maybe not this week but sooner rather than later.

Keep the Mother sweet, do the constant love, support and guidance bit and look forward to the relationship with your daughter deepening as she gets older. Always tell her she has two homes, two places of safety and as she starts nursery and then school make sure you are also listed as a contact and get all the notices and letters home (this is really important) and that you are also listed as an emergency contact.

I split with my ex when our son was five months old and it was all very nasty. At four years he was staying for weekends and by the time he started school the ex and I were doing parents evening together and he was coming away with me on foreign holidays.

You sound like a good bloke and the Mother will recognise it. Suggest some overnights (don't push too hard) but keep at it. It will work for everyday Dad stuff and it will help your daughter understand that your home is slam her home.

Good luck : )

GonzoFlyingProducts · 25/05/2019 22:33

*worst

GonzoFlyingProducts · 25/05/2019 22:35

*also her home

Bloody American software auto correct...

BIWI · 25/05/2019 22:43

She's only 3! Just keep seeing her and spending time with her. What she needs and wants is more important than what you want.

Tavannach · 25/05/2019 22:44

The above advice sounds excellent.

3 year olds can be quite contrary. Try reading a library book to her every time you go. Google for the best books for 3 year olds. Include books that are about children and fathers, especially single fathers. The children's librarian should be able to recommend some. Change the books every visit. Then see if she'd like to come to the library next time to choose her own book. Take her to the fruit shop on the way back to choose her own apple, or whatever.

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