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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Ex wants me to spend Father's Day with them

12 replies

Smooothietime · 17/06/2023 11:19

I've been separated from my ex for 9 months (mostly). We have tried working on things during periods throughout this time whilst living separately. It occurred to me a week ago that we are done. That he has not changed and does not want to change after he did something that upset me. I cancelled our relationship counsellor and told him that we had made zero progress and that I need to now focus on myself and my own life. I am emotionally drained.

This week however, he has stayed at the house twice (in the spare room) to help with the children as our autistic child is struggling with change and would not stay at his Dad's house on his nights. Yet he wanted to see his Dad. He is going through big changes at school too so we decided not to push it with him and my ex stayed to just help with him and see our children. Nothing emotionally happened between us.

He has this morning suggested that we do something together for father's day. I feel guilty saying no because he's been so helpful whilst staying here the last 2 days. However I am struggling emotionally now that I know our relationship is definitely dead. I feel stressed about it because I don't want to spoil his father's day but I already feel uncomfortable about the last 2 days he's spent here with us. But he will see it as me using him for help and then spoiling his father's day by saying I won't spend time with him and the children which I do understand.

I've asked him exactly what he wants us to do together as a family and he just says "I don't know" and this stresses me out too because I don't even know what he's expecting us to do for the day. I see myself getting frustrated with him and I don't want to do that on father's day either.

What do I do?

Also, I didn't expect him to spend mothers day with me! I spent it with my mum!

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 17/06/2023 11:23

Is he your father?
No
He can spend it with his kids yes,park some place his place
Lots of visual schedules for ds get himusedto going with dad to his place

cestlavielife · 17/06/2023 11:24

Keep seeing a counsellor for you on your own

ArtixLynx · 17/06/2023 11:27

i did do it the first year, for all it was difficult. I ended up paying for us to have lunch together, that way i could concentrate on the kids (i also have an autistic child, he would have been 10 at the time) rather than on being overly sociable with him.

After that, i made the point of facilitating his time with them, but not involving myself more than i needed to.

Now (6yrs on) i make the point of going over with them for a couple of hours so they can see him, give him cards/presents, and then i will leave him some money to buy himself dinner as a gift from me.

For all we are no longer together and in the middle of our divorce (finally) he is still their dad, and we have to co-parent, so i do show him my appreciation for him in that small way.

MagpiePi · 17/06/2023 11:30

Seeing as he doesn’t have any plans is he expecting you to come up with something to do and organise it for him? Was that how it worked when you were together?

Tell him to sort his own day out, and as a PP said, get your son used to going to his place.

averythinline · 17/06/2023 11:30

Why would you feel guilty? He was at yours to help his child…. Not help you if your dc didn’t need help he would have been at ex dh place ..

he needs to realise it’s over … you need to keep reinforcing your boundaries …

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 17/06/2023 11:33

Was in a similar position a few years ago. I suggested we all went for brunch together. It worked out well and then I disappeared to meet a friend for the day.

hattyhathat · 17/06/2023 11:35

I'd make the kids available for him to take out on fathers day but no, you shouldn't be expected to organise it or attend.

PaigeMatthews · 17/06/2023 11:35

No. You have plans. He will have to learn to manage without you.

but that is the same for you. Him staying on his nights isnt a long-term option for you so it cannot happen. you cannot create that routine with your child. Would more on the lines of 50/50 be better for your particular child? Set days at each house in blocks of longer time?

daisychain01 · 17/06/2023 11:40

Please start now to teach your son about boundaries. Buckling and letting your ex stay at your house because your son can't cope with change is kicking the can down the road and delays the inevitable reality that you and your ex are no longer together.

difficult though it is, now is the time to explain to your son that his father doesn't live with you anymore, but that he doesn't stop being his father, he is loved by you both and that he can see him where he lives. That gets your son immeasurably closer to the new normal of your split, and helps him cope with the change.

pizzaHeart · 17/06/2023 11:48

It looks like he’s not sure how to deal with it in the new circumstances ( without you organising everything for him) Considering that he stayed to help I would help him with ideas what to do with kids, just this time as a compromise. However after helping a bit with organising I would pack kids and wave them good buy, it’s Father’s Day not Parents’ day so they don’t need you.

Smooothietime · 17/06/2023 13:11

Yes I think that's why I'm so stressed... he's wanting me to organise something 😩. I don't see why I should/feel resentful about it. He's the one who left us because he refuses to work on his issues.

OP posts:
Smooothietime · 17/06/2023 13:12

Also, last year, he spent father's day doing what he wanted (his hobby) rather than spending it with the children..I almost feel like father's day is a pressure for him because he's supposed to spend time with his kids and I think there are other things he'd rather be doing. His Dad is alive still so I don't understand why he isn't spending it with him.

OP posts:
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