Weekend activities that NRP won't take the children too

[evolucy7]

I am interested in experiences of a NRP who won't take the children to activities that they want to do on the weekends when the children are with the NRP.
My ex has recently moved to the same town as myself and the 2 DC, but has said that it is inconvenient to take them to a lesson on a Saturday in the town. Contact is alternate weekends but there are already soe issues surrounding this.
Thoughts please?

"And if you think your partner, male of female, won't be capable of looking after children I'd suggest not having children with them. "

Well if I'd realised 11yrs ago that my exH was going to turn into a tosser then I wouldn't even have married him let alone have children with him. Unfortunately I didn't have a crystal ball - I doubt there are that many parents who set out to have children with crap fathers....

whiteandnerdy....that really is not my intention to be trying to find out if he is a committed parent, I already know the answer to that!

mjloves...In my case, in my view he is not a decent NRP! He very rarely does anything with them, they have complained how boring it is, this has been part of the reason they have not been wanting to go. He does not want any more time with them, despite being offered more at the start. He used to take them for tea in the week and then decided this was too much. In actual fact I believe, and yes it is just my view, it would benefit their relationship if he showed some interest in their lives and what they say they would like to do, not just take them away and stay so removed from their everyday lives.

As an example, the DC have expressed many times that they would like him to take them or collect from school. He complained to me in January 2010 that I had not given him the opportunity to take the eldest to her first day at the Nursery of the School she would be going to, we were moving 20 minutes down the road and I when I tried to discuss schools he said he

had 'reservations' but refused to say anymore, so oddly enough when the term started I just took her, or she could have stayed at home and waited to go to school until he decided he wanted to talk about it! He told the DC how upset he was about this, that he really wanted to take them, so when the DD2 started in September he told them he would like to take them. He asked me what time they started school, I said 8:45 and he said 'Oh I can't make that sort of time'. Anyway so for over a year he has told the children how much he wants to take them or collect them, and he did tell them directly that it was my fault he did not take DD1 So despite now living in the same town and telling the children he will do something, they just see that it never happens, good parenting? Or a lazy selfish arse! By the way this really has nothing to do with his work commitments, he tried to make out to the CSA that he earnt £88 per week, hardly a full time demanding job! I have since had a successful variation done by the CSA, but he does now work for himself.

Sorry gone on a bit there...

Just - please, do name ONE country where it is the 'norm' for children of separated parents to spend 50% of their time with each parent? I would love to know where it is. In ten years working with contact/ residence issues I have never heard of such paradise.

And I do look forward to my complimentary crystal ball in the post so if I ever find another partner I will be granted the ability to look ten years into the future and see exactly what he turns into.

We are not talking about people who are dangerous to their children, who are incapable of 'looking after' them - but rather parents who are selfish and inconsiderate.