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Terrible relationship with XP and DS behaviour

10 replies

PintandChips · 23/02/2011 22:39

in need of advice!

I have been separated from 4yo DS father for 2 years. Our relationship has deteriorated more and more, we are incapable of constructive communication. For me this is because i see him as being incapable of sticking to the plans we have agreed, for him it's because he sees me as being inflexible and controlling.

I have tried to get him to agree that we do not discuss anything in front of our son so as not to upset him, but XP seems to find it difficult to stop himself from showing his anger towards me. For example this evening i was pissed off that he decided to give our DS his tea 5 minutes before i arrived to collect him - because of course i had to wait outside for 15 mins while he ate and got ready. The pick up time has been the same for two years, so it was not a surprise that i turned up at that time. I also texted and called to say i was on the way. XP is then cross with me for not being 'flexible' about the arrangement and thinks i am being 'controlling', so shouts at me and slams the car door when doing the handover.

DS is very upset and difficult at bed time, refusing to put his PJ's on and do his teeth, and i am struggling with how strict to be because i think he is upset about seeing his parents be mean to each other, and i feel guilty. But i also think it's important for him to have his usual rules and boundaries so that things don't feel out of control for him (rules in this case mean: if you don't put pj's on, do wee and brush teeth, then you don't have story).

I don't know how to manage this. I can't control XP's displays of anger in front of DS. But I don't want him to suffer as a result of it, because he behaves badly because he is upset. Nursery and XP have complained in last few weeks that DS is being 'difficult'. He is usually fine with me though. I don't know what to do.

I really need some advice.

OP posts:
boxingHelena · 23/02/2011 22:48

I know nothing about share parenting / handovers and stuff so if you do not mind I only give my 2 penny worth about the child routine
Yes routine is good but should be pleasurable too, not a source of constant box ticking and blackmail if that makes sense

gillybean2 · 23/02/2011 23:10

Did he respond to your text saying they were running late and to give them an extra 15 mins? How long does it take you to get there? Is this a one off thing?

I don't think it's unreasonable to occassionally be running a little late. Sometimes time runs away with you. But if he didn't tell you when you texted him and simply expected you to wait on the doorstep that isn't on.

Would you have been more annoyed if he handed ds over without having had his tea first, or a little late?
If you don't live far away he could easily have had his dinner at home instead couldn't he...?

I think you need to have a little bit of flexibility. Otherwise you are going to be stressed and upset and ds will pick up on it. 15 minutes, if he warned you, as an occassional thing isn't that awful is it? Or will it mean you miss your bus/train or something like that?

balia · 23/02/2011 23:16

Congratulations for getting this far! Firstly, 4 year olds can be difficult for no reason (mine tonight has refused PJ's entirely - think he must be a natural naturist). Arrangements have to be reviewed and updated - children change on a week by week basis sometimes and other times stay the same for a year and then zoom through the next 3 phases with no warning!

Secondly, agree completely that issues that may be contentious should not be discussed at handover - but for that to work, there must be an alternative agreed way/time to discuss the issues. Late tea is not a biggie - tea is supposed to be on the table at 6pm in our routine but not always managed - sounds like ex feels he is under pressure.

Have you tried mediation? A parenting plan, maybe? Has anything changed in the last few weeks? Would a morning pick up be better than an evening one? If the plans aren't working then it might be better to discuss changes rather than insist on sticking to them rigidly.

PintandChips · 24/02/2011 20:01

Thanks for the feedback.

It's not the fact that he's giving him a late tea that bothers me - i was pissed off because what actually happened was: i emailed and said i'd pick up at 5.15 as usual, will he be at home (is sometimes at a friend's), he said not sure, call and check where we are, i said fine, i'll call when i get off the train about five past. i called at five past 5 and said i'll be there in 5 mins, he said OK. I turned up five mins later and called to say i'm here, can you bring DS out and he said - actually, i'm just going to give him his tea.

bearing in mind they'd been at home all afternoon, and bearing in mind that we're not getting on at all at the moment, i think it is really provocative of him to have done that. He would have just said, when i called, sorry, i haven't given his tea yet, we'll be 20 mins. i could have gone off to do shopping and come back. fine. no problem. I think what he did was asking for a fight.

He is ALWAYS late for everything. This is a fact about him. i generally allow for half an hour lateness if he is picking up/dropping off and i don't stress about it. i wouldn't have minded this time if he could take responsibility for it and have had the courtesy to let me know so that i don't have to sit outside the house in the car for 15 mins.

This is on the back of last week's pick up being a nightmare because he didn't tell me to come at 6pm, he let me come at the usual time (i texted to remind him as i always do!) and he had kids over for tea, which had only just started. so i had to sit and wait with them all, it was very uncomfortable for the adults because everyone knows we are not getting on (the next day he emailed to tell me it had been 'inappropriate' of me to be there - as if i'd known about it!)

I don't know he can't just either stick to our plans, or let me know that things have changed. In my view that would stop a lot or arguments. In his view i should chill out.

Seriously, it's like he is a bit mental.

I have now said if he can't stick to our agreed plans we will have to go to mediation and agree to rigid times and a routine that we both have to stick to. At the moment the weekends are very flexible, which is his choice, not what i'd like, but i try and work with it. It means constant negotiation, which we don't do well together, and he gets pissed off if i don't agree to everything he suggests, and says i'm being controlling.

Gillybean, he could have had his dinner at home. i live 20 mins away.

He just doesn't communicate and after two years of it, i am at a loss as to know how to make this work. He can't seem to see that just letting me know what is going on would save so many arguments.

DS behaviour i am keeping an eye on - it's difficult because in general he is very good with me.

I really appreciate all the support.

OP posts:
PintandChips · 24/02/2011 21:05

GOD! sorry so long. really ranting.

OP posts:
blackeyedsusan · 27/02/2011 17:18

It seems like he is trying to wind you up. (ex)

Re the "bad" behviour when ds came home. IF it has been a difficult day perhaps you can jolly ds along a bit and help him into his pjs. then you get what you want, ds ready for bed and ds get's what he wants, a story. You could remind him of the rules in a nice wat, eg, "Come on lets get ready because we don't want to miss out on your story do we?" (difficult I know when you are stressed too.)

4 is very young to be handling all those emotions re door banging. It is probably very hard for ds to concentrate on what he is doing.

mamas12 · 28/02/2011 11:00

Sounds like going to mediation is the right way to go.
Your ex is pulling all your strings.

Get it all doen in stone and stop letting him rule it all.

SparklePrincess · 02/03/2011 16:42

He sounds like a complete cock like my ex. Angry Mediation doesn't work with these people as they promise the earth at the session when they have an audience then default 100% on everything that was agreed, so its a pointless exercise. Sad You have my sympathies. x x

POWDERPUFF2 · 30/03/2011 15:01

your right mediation is a waste of time and money. what is your ex defaulting on ?

AdamJSusan · 30/03/2011 15:22

Whose car were you waiting in? Seems you were 5 minutes early if you phoned at 5.05 and arrived 5 minutes later?

Is it ok for you to be running early but not for him to be running late?

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