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He wont let them keep their xmas presents (sigh)

53 replies

lucie19 · 27/12/2010 12:08

Hi all I need some advice. I have got used to being undermined ridiculed etc by my ex and dont let it bother me now. When the children go to his house he makes them change out of their clothes the minute they arrive and into his designer clothes. The children have top of the range toys at his house and the implication is that I dont give them good enough stuff so when they get to his house they change into what is acceptable to him. I dont really care personally about this it used to really upset me but ultimately I am the one who looks after them loves them etc and I know they know this.
However they have just come home from boxing day at dads full of we got this and that etc but they are really upset they are not allowed to bring the new toys home to play with. They only see him once a fortnight so now have to wait two weeks to play with their new toys again. I am tempted to ring him and ask him why he is doing this but cant be dealing with another row. Any ideas I just want the kids to be happy and feel that he makes it impossible for them.

OP posts:
purpleandpink · 25/01/2011 10:50

Hmmmmm, the toy thing I totally understand - DC's need toys and things at both houses so to keeps yours with you and his with him makes sense, and saves the children from having to cart things back and forth each time they change houses. I do this with my DC's and their Dad, but they are allowed to take smaller things like cars, barbies etc as they have tomns at both houses so it's no biggie if they get left behind for a couple of weeks.

The clothes thing is odd though, but it's not the first time I've heard of it - some parents seem to get a bit crazy when they separate. My step kids have this - if they take a single thing from ours to their Mums she will throw it in the bin. She has thrown away pants, bras, lipgloss, travel mugs, socks, a cardigan, a lego set......even party bags they have taken home with them. When challenged (by them) she says it's because she doesn't want her house to smell like ours Confused This is also the reason she makes them get straight in the bath too. It doesn't bother me in the slightest but I feel sad for the kids. My stepson spent his pocket money on a cool lego kit recently and desperately wanted to take it home so he could take it to school for show and tell but he said he couldn't risk his Mum finding it and chucking it.

I have no explanation, other than she has a screw loose and from the clothes situation op I think your ex does too. Sadly, it seems really common that one (or both!) parents will behave like this. I don't get it at all - it only upsets the kids and makes the parent in question appear mentally unstable!

No advice really except don't rise to it - a reaction from you will make him think it gets to you, so he'll keep doing it.

cestlavielife · 25/01/2011 10:55

"there is no way that I would allow him to make my kids change their clothes "

you cant stop him/her - you cant control what the ex does when the children are in their care. and they cannot control what you do with the DC. not this day to day stuff anyway.

if they make the Dc change / have a bath / eat crisps - so be it.

until the DC stand up and say no.

makeminearose · 23/07/2012 18:52

Im sorry to jump on this post but i have done this with dc, my now ex as soon as we split got a pet and i am allergic so the dc go out from my house in clothes i provide but then my xp will get the dc changed out of respect for my allergy i find that v respectful and not point scoring.. just thought i would add its not all cheap shots and point scoring there r other reasons i guess or maybe im just the lucky (ish) one to have a half considerate ex??

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