Ex wont let our child change school

[Janierose]

Both ex and myself move 15 miles away from our daughter’s school last year.she is an only child and want to make new friends locally. Although her grades have gone down the ex insists she’s happy there
He was overheard promising her that she could go to the new school and now is going back on this -there’s a court hearing late September [terrible timing]where a decision will be made -he hates me and is using our daughter plus hounding me with threats -he only takes her to school once a week
my daughter has refused to go to the old school…so what can i do to avoid unecessary heart ache for her from start of school til September court hearing?

I don’t have any advice we haven’t been in this situation but wanted to pop on and give you a hug. The following is based on having thought I may go through this myself and also seeing numerous friends experience this so I am no expert but note no one else has responded yet.

When I was thinking about splitting from my DH my solicitor (we resolved things in the end) did say that the older the child was the more sway their opinion took about who they wanted to stay with etc so perhaps look into that and remind your soon to be ex-DH that he needs to have a conversation with his daughter on it.

It may seem difficult putting your DD in that position but if she has told you she needs to repeat it to her Dad. That is unless it is an abusive relationship. It won’t be the first time this will happen over the coming few years. It may also be something to do ‘in the round’ with all three of you there. It isn’t unheard of for children in these scenarios to tell one parent one thing and another a different one trying to please each as they don’t know the best way to proceed.

Wishing you all the best.