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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.

My ex husband and our kids mental health.

4 replies

sarah6543 · 26/01/2025 12:46

Hi,
So I was married to my ex for 10 years.we had two children now 9 & 7. 3 years ago I finally got strength to leave. He had alcohol and drug, as well mental health issues which came with a lot that I'm not sure if I'm ready to go into right now.
When I left with the two children I allowed him to see the children. He would see them here and there a few hours at a time nothing too much. We've since got into a pattern of the kids seeing their father a few hours a week. Over time he's been saying things to the kids like "your mum has shit on her face" I have eczema/acne on my face. "Your mum loves one child more so than the other","I'm going to get married again and you will have two mum's", "your mum left me because she had a boyfriend"etc. when iv spoken to him about to it, he denies it or says it's a joke and then says to the youngest who's only just turned 7 that you have to keep it a secret. The most recent one is my youngest has allergies but when she went to his flat. She had an allergic reaction where her eyes swelled up and her face. I get a call saying oh dd has had allergy. I assume he's given the antihistamine and is either bringing her back home or taking her to the hospital. When iv asked about the antihistamines he replied with "I don't have any".despite previously I had said keep antihistamines and calpol with you. He leaves them on their own and goes and gets the medicine then leaves them home with me. For the rest of the week no call or txt to say how is she. I feel like it's neglect. When questioned he gets defensive. I'm thinking now to stop contact or maybe keep it to once a month but it feels like I'm trying to leave all over again and that's scary. I'm not sure how he'd react or what to say to the children why daddy won't be seeing them? If you have any suggestions or advice please id really appreciate it.

OP posts:
MrTiddlesTheCat · 26/01/2025 16:59

Why on earth are you allowing this addict to abuse and neglect your children? You need to be protecting them from him, not facilitating it.

sarah6543 · 26/01/2025 18:12

MrTiddlesTheCat · 26/01/2025 16:59

Why on earth are you allowing this addict to abuse and neglect your children? You need to be protecting them from him, not facilitating it.

I thought some sort of relationship with their dad is better than nothing and if it's a few hours a week they're safe. The kids love him so much and I wasn't sure if I can just stop them from seeing him. It was hard enough getting out of the marriage.
The thing about abuse is that it's not all bad all the time if it was that black and white I wouldn't have spent 10years with him.the kind things wrap around the abuse and make it look pretty in a warped way.

I'm trying my best to stop him from seeing them. I have said to him I had to take kids out on play date this week and next iv already told him is my birthday so the weekend will be spent with me and the week after that the dc have childrens disco on so they won't be going. But after that I'm not sure what to tell the dc why won't they be seeing dad.

Maybe I'm doing this wrong and me posting on here means you can judge me but Im trying my best.

OP posts:
BookArt55 · 26/01/2025 20:27

Similar situation with the allergies. I would seek free legal advice.

Have you got proof (texts?) That no antihistamine was given/didn't have any/left kids at home alone? If you have concrete proof stop all contact. He would then have to take you to court.

If you do think this is neglect you can't just reduce the hours. He's either okay to have the kids or he isn't. You need to stop contact.

I would suggest documenting everything. Every text, child conversation, anything.

Cafcass would likely speak to yiur chokdren as they are older than mine, but I'm not sure to what extent.

It is so hard. I dread my kid's going to their dad's because I know he refuses to carry antihistamine and epi pens. He admitted in court documents and directly to the judge.

If you don't have proof, seek free legal advice. Then Document every single thing until you have proof/enough proof. Try to keep all communication over text/email/parenting app so it gives you more chance of getting the proof of his actions which are awful!

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 06/09/2025 01:38

Stop contact. I was worried about my kids reaction when I stopped contact too. When he went into his teens he said he was mad that I didn't leave sooner! I doubt you'll get in trouble with the courts either if there's a court order and you have a valid reason. I didn't anyway. By the things he was saying, he's definitely abusive

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