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Child Sick and soon to be ex-wife behaving unreasonably

39 replies

MK42 · 13/07/2021 22:34

My wife and I are divorcing. We are still in the same house with our two beautiful children (girl 10, boy 8). We normally split child sick days between us (as we should). My wife is self employed. Over the past couple of months she keeps saying that she will leave our 10 year old daughter unattended when she is off sick to either go to work, or other appointments for hours at a time. I have said that this cannot, and will not, happen. She says that she needs to work, she says it is perfectly legal and that our daughter has a phone if she needs to call. I have then taken the day off when she has said she would do this- I do not believe that this is anything more than abandoning a vulnerable child. She says I am ‘mad’ and shouts at me when I object. I have always remained calm- but have said that I now need to phone her school to inform them of this. I have kept her texts saying she is going to do this, with my responses. I have also texted myself a record of the day of other aggressive and, frankly, crazy behaviour. I am terrified that when we split, she is going to try to go for sole custody.

OP posts:
Woeismethischristmas · 13/07/2021 22:38

That’s tricky I have a ten year old and tbh I’d expect them to be capable of being left. They will be in high school next year and be expected to be independent. What’s wrong with your add that she’s having so many sick days?

Cooldryplace · 13/07/2021 22:41

I'd leave a 10yo at home for a couple of hours in normal circumstances, but not one sick enough to be off school.

But, yes, why so many sick days that this is an issue?

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 13/07/2021 22:41

It depends on the illness. If it's vomiting bug, even though it's minor I probably wouldn't want to leave a 10yo because vomiting is very distressing.
If it's a serious cold flu covod symptoms then I probably would leave a 10yo.

What is your daughter's illness?

AddsVsGeorgs · 13/07/2021 22:44

I wouldnt leave a 10 year old alone, even if they were well, let alone sick

Theunamedcat · 13/07/2021 22:46

Your really....dramatic in your speech she is trying to work self employed so one wage supporting the household she cannot afford in future to be taking days off if she is to be running a house on one income if your going to be doing the same you will soon find out its not as easy running a house full of bills on one wage as it is with two

Halo1234 · 13/07/2021 22:47

I dont think a sick child of 10 should be left alone. Yanbu. Sick days should be split 50 50.

bullyingadvice2017 · 13/07/2021 22:47

It depends.

Before you split, and were on the same team, what would have happened in this situation?

HeddaGarbled · 13/07/2021 22:50

Is the issue that, as she is self-employed, she doesn’t get paid for taking time off, but as you are employed, you do?

Howcanthisbe123 · 13/07/2021 22:56

If she is self employed she will not be paid for time off, you would, so really I can see why she needs to go, especially if she has to financially provide.

A 10 year old is fine left for a while, but I don’t know about when sick, maybe you can pay for a carer/nanny to come in so your ex can work?

She isn’t being crazy, she is being forced into a situation.....it’s different.

Howcanthisbe123 · 13/07/2021 22:59

Don’t call the school, you will sound awful, trust me! They will think more negatively of you than your ex.

Gooseberrypies · 13/07/2021 23:01

There is no law against this, it's down to the carer at the time and whether they think the child is responsible enough to be left alone. You may disagree but she clearly thinks your daughter is fine. Stop trying to find reasons to criticise her and help a bit more if she needs it maybe?

BusyLizzie61 · 13/07/2021 23:02

Year 5 or year 6 10 year old?

What sort of ill?

Fwiw you sound as though you are trying to discredit her as a mother and she's playing you at your own game, so you stay home.

Gane playing like this is never in the best interests of the children.

If you want shared residency, ve upfront.

MK42 · 13/07/2021 23:03

I have always offered to take days off- she is ill and feverish right now. When we split- I will continue to do so. I just think 10 is too young. If something happens, my wife would be at least 45 minutes away.

OP posts:
ChatterMonkey · 13/07/2021 23:05

If this was posted from the point of view of a mum, whos ex was leaving a 10yr old alone all day, she would be getting hundreds of messages telling her to stip access and let him go through court to fight it. Makes me laugh how different it is because its a man who dares question the judgement of the mother.

MK42 · 13/07/2021 23:05

Year 5. How exactly am I playing games? I am offering to look after my child. I am worried about her safety.

OP posts:
Shelddd · 13/07/2021 23:09

Why do you want your wife to do half? It's better for you now to do as much caring for them as possible if you want to be in the best position come custody time (regardless of what you decide you want). Just make sure you have evidence of that.

MK42 · 13/07/2021 23:09

Help more? I have taken 9 days off for both children in the past 12 months- as I should do, I’m not asking for a medal. It’s my job as a parent.

OP posts:
KingdomScrolls · 13/07/2021 23:09

That's too young for me to be left at all really, maybe if you're quickly popping to the local shop. I definitely wouldn't leave an unwell child that age. The thing is it's not always fair to take days off work equally. Years ago DH was self employed so if he didn't work he didn't get paid, my work address very flexible and I have generous parental and sick leave. We didn't have DC then but if we did it would've made more sense for me to take the time. On the other hand there were periods in between jobs (film industry) where he would've been around anyway. Now we both work in the public sector and both have the same T's&C's pretty much so we bar it on whose for things that day that can more easily be rearranged.

Saidtoomuch · 13/07/2021 23:11

Once the children are senior school age then they are fine to be home alone when they are unwell, as long as they are checked on regularly.
At 10 I agree she is slightly too young; okay for a couple of hours perhaps, but I wouldn't have been comfortable leaving her all day.
This is something you need to work out between you, with out the hysteria and evidence keeping.

AliMonkey · 13/07/2021 23:12

I'm surprised at many of the responses here. I agree with you that leaving a 10 year old for any length of time is inappropriate (possibly leave them for up to an hour or so if well, depending on maturity of child, access to phone/neighbour etc) and if sick enough to be off school (other than for eg 48 hour D&V rule but been fine for last 24 hours) then not appropriate to leave them for more than a few minutes.

I think "reporting to school" might be going too far - but perhaps asking for their advice or that of NSPCC or a health visitor might be appropriate - if you can get it in writing then that might help your case. www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone is clear that it's unlikely to be appropriate.

I understand your wife's wish to not take time off when it means a financial hit but it's just something you have to do as a parent and 50:50 is in my view completely fair - with maybe a bit of give and take if really hard for one parent to take time off on a particular day but on understanding favour may need repaying at some point.

AliMonkey · 13/07/2021 23:14

And I agree with @ChatterMonkey - I think there'd be a very different reaction if a woman had posted this about her ex-husband.

Velvian · 13/07/2021 23:17

It seems like there may be more to this. What is the underlying issue that caused this argument? Are either of you able to work from home?

MK42 · 13/07/2021 23:21

But- I always have taken time off. I just get continually shouted at (in front of the kids, upsetting them) for even questioning my wife’s decision. I will also not be paid from now on as I have taken up all child care days- but I will continue to take them if I need to as my children come first. If I left my child at home to go work and my school found out…

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 13/07/2021 23:27

YANBU I agree that 10 years old in Year 5 is too young to leave for an extended period.

It would be fine to nip to the shop, walk the dog etc

However that is a lot of sick days in one year - don't you have grandparents or a friend ski could help?

I also agree you would get different responses if you were female.

Bbq1 · 13/07/2021 23:38

@ChatterMonkey

If this was posted from the point of view of a mum, whos ex was leaving a 10yr old alone all day, she would be getting hundreds of messages telling her to stip access and let him go through court to fight it. Makes me laugh how different it is because its a man who dares question the judgement of the mother.
Yep. This Wrong place to seek advice I'm afraid Op, as on here many women dislike men in general and will side with the female regardless of the situation.
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