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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

I have had enough of feeling like a bitch.

24 replies

NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 20:38

Longish story, but will try and condense:

Ds's dad lives in another city, but comes up to visit ds every 2 months for four days at a time.
I am finding this increasingly difficult for many reasons.

We were never in a serious relationship (was about 8 months) and ds was unplanned (and a very unlikely conception so a shock to me).

I broke off the "relationship" when I was pregant, much to his dad's releif.

At the time he was a one-time journalist and but hadn't worked properly in years, and spent a lot of time smoking weed and sitting on his arse.

He was depressed, and put a lot of mental effort into examining his navel.
I never planned to have a child with a man like this!

Anyway, after ds was born Ex would visit him a couple of times a week, but was no actual help, so I had to move near my folks as I was terrified of getting ill and having no-one to look after ds.

When Ex first began to visit, he would literally sit on the sofa and expect me to do all the tidying, cooking, shopping etc and would never even offer to chip in.
I had to point out again and again why this would not work for me, and over the years (ds is 5) he slowly began to pitch in more. Very slowly.

His excuse for being so useless was always "I'm Ill."
Yeah, well, I had PND, but I had to just get on with it.
He contributed zero financially for the first 2 years, and then I went on IS for a while and they started taking 5 a week from him, which he moaned about.
(He gets sickness benefit, and has always done bits of frelance work on the side so is not that poor)

Although he has improved, and has recently started giving us £9 a week (woo-hoo) The last few years have seen me become very bitter and angry towards him, and I find it hard to have him stay here.

On the one hand, It means I now get a bit of help every 8 weeks, can have a bit of a lie in etc, but on the other the fact that he still considers himself too ill to work, even though he is not too ill to go on holiday or down the pub, makes me crazy.

I had a really bad year last year, lost my job and have struggled to find another.
I am applying for literally anything (shit jobs) and he thinks this is a good idea. For me. He would never stoop to stacking shelves obviously.

As you all know, most P/T jobs are evening and weekends, which I cant do, and so I have managed to get some freelance stuff going on, while still hunting for a p/t job. I need full time money coming in.
I am worried all the time about the bills, and the rent being late and feel like shit that I can't afford to do much with ds this holiday. Even bus fares are a struggle.
Ex lives on more than we do put together.

Ds's school at the moment is a really long walk away and I dont think that he could manage with me working f/t yet as it would be an insanely long day for him.

The upshot is, that I have no respect at all for ds's dad, and I know that I pull him up on things he says and does a lot, and this can't be good for ds. He has a good relationship with his dad, but part of me feels like his dad just doesn't deserve this.

I do all the work, have all the responsibilty and no social life.

My brother had a go at me earlier for arguing with Ex and picking on him, and so now Ex thinks he is vindicated and I feel like a hard faced harridan who hates everybody.

What should I do?
Sorry-so long!

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SilentSinger · 12/02/2012 20:43

I don't know what you should do long term but I think that as of now DS's Dad should stay in a B&B or hotel when he comes to visit. Do not let him stay at your house. It can't help you to have him in your space and it will keep building up your resentment. It sounds like he can afford it.

NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 20:52

The thing is, he can't afford it Silent.

I know he has a bit more than us, but that's not saying much!

I suppose I feel like saying he has to get a fucking job, but he just won't.

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SilentSinger · 12/02/2012 21:01

Ok, so not so simple. It sounds like you don't want to prevent your DS's contact with his dad but what would happen if you had a relationship, lived with a partner/husband and it wasn't possible for your ex to stay?

It sounds like for your sanity you need to detach but that is going to be hard when he's in your home for four days every two months.

PinkCarBlueCar · 12/02/2012 21:03

I get the anger and resentment - I'm starting to work through my own towards my ex. It's so many things over time - each is a small (ish) thing, but they build and build.

So currently your 5 yr old DS sees his Dad at your place for four days every other month.

How far away is your ex, and what transport options are there?

I'm aiming towards that perhaps it would be better for ex to have DS at his place for the four days. Anything to stop him having four days at your place, as that's helping no-one, except your ex when he wants to make you look bad.

NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:08

I know-I have thought about this too, and have even asked Ex what he thinks would happen if I was living with a partner. I told him he is really lucky that it has all been set up to be so easy for him.

I also wonder if this potential problem has actually subconciously prevented me from betting into anything serious with a man.
I would love to have another child (when I am more financially secure) but don't know how this would work.

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NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:08

Sorry Pink-x-post, that was to Silent

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NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:17

PinkCar-
We live 250 miles apart.
Even if it was nearer he wouldnt be able to have ds at his place. For one thing its just a studio flat with a shared bathroom (gross) and is fucking filthy.

We were in town once visiting my old friends and I said I would bring ds for lunch.
When we got there after travelling for an hour and a half on tubes etc, he hadn't actually made anything.
He said "Oh, I think theres some cheese", but he had forgotten to get bread and had to go to the shop while ds had a 3 year old meltdown out of hunger.

When I managed to put together some lunch we couldnt sit at the table because it was covered with crap.
He actually said "Oh, you can;t sit there. Theres a load of crap on the chair."
Er. Move it?
Then he had a go at me for "huffing and puffing " (Well I was amazed that the first time ds ever went to his place this was the best he could muster)

I sound obstructive, I know. I think I just needed a rant!
I think I might try going to stay at my mums for some of the time next time though. Leaving no food in the house so he has to buy some.
Or maybe ds will just starve.

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ovenchips · 12/02/2012 21:17

You do not sound at all like a harridan. You sound like you are doing a great job in bloody difficult circumstances.

Is there any chance when he is here for you to stay away overnight ( at friend's/family)? Give yourself a break and make him have to do more as he's on his own.

Or is there any work you could do in this block of time when he is around for childcare that could top you up? Some sort of agency night shift work?

I think it's dreadful that he is not contributing more financially. I think the thing to make his stays more bearable are for you to get some direct benefit out of it (night away/chance to earn money) otherwise it will really eat you up.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/02/2012 21:25

God, he sounds like a nightmare! I can't believe he knew you were visiting his flat at lunchtime and hadn't organised something for his son to eat, or even a place for him to sit. In my opinion you need to speak to him VERY firmly and say "Do you realise that if DS were living with you in such conditions then you would probably be under regular visits from social workers to check that he wasn't being neglected?"

I mean, really....he needs a wake-up call, and quickly.

PinkCarBlueCar · 12/02/2012 21:28

I bet he thinks he's doing you a favour by coming to see his son for four days too, huh?

Someone mentioned on a thread about PR being revoked in Canada if CM hadn't been paid for a year. Oh, to have revokable (sp?) PR and thus be able to say, there you go, that's how much of a waste of skin you are.

Anyway. Back to practical suggestions. I think your own suggestion - stay at Mum's & leave only bare essentials in the house is good. I like ovenchips' idea of doing some work in that time - agency night shift, takeaway delivery, babysitting for friends and relations, anything so that you gain some benefit.

If you go down the leave only bare essentials in your house route, then I would forewarn him the month before, fortnight before, week before, and maybe one day before too that he will need to bring food both for himself and for DS as you will no longer subsidise his time with DS any more than you already do.

SilentSinger · 12/02/2012 21:36

I agree he needs a wake up call. The reality of the situation is that because of the distances between him and you, he has been able to take advantage of your love for your son to make life easier for himself.

If you can't get him to stay elsewhere then definitely make plans for you to be elsewhere. He can then concentrate on spending time with his son - by that I mean all the time where he has to arrange meals, the day to day reality of parenting and the responsibility of having someone dependant on you, not just the 'quality' fun time. Hopefully if you can shift the balance in this way, you will be able to have a proper break while he spends time with his son and you may not feel so resentful.

NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:38

I like your style curly! And you have him down already, as yes, I would need to remind and remind and remind.

Flashback to the day of my father's funeral.

I was was getting ready to go in the taxi (following 6 weeks of exhausting back and forth from the hospital and the unexpected death of my dad at 61).

Ex, who had stayed an extra day to look after ds while I was at said funeral, asked me what there was in the house to eat.

He still to this day does not understand why a string of expletives flew out of my mouth, ending with "go to the fucking shop if there is nothing in!"

He pointed at ds and said, "what, with 'im?"

Er. Yes. Like I do. With the pushchair.

This is quite cathartic!Grin

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NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:39

Pinkcar I mean! (your style is lovely too curly!)

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NorthernWreck · 12/02/2012 21:41

Good idea ovenchips-thankyou!

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PinkCarBlueCar · 12/02/2012 23:33

You could throw in a whole "mess this up, and you're looking at dealing with a child who's old enough to realise when an adult has screwed up, and more than that, future contact will be at a contact centre at a mid point between us due to the state of your home." threat / promise.

Or if you prefer the positive approach, tell him this is his opportunity to show both you and DS that he can do everything that Mummy does.

NorthernWreck · 13/02/2012 09:43

I remember talking to ds' dad about what would happen if I died, and that it would be best if my sister had ds, because she could cope.

He looked a bit sad, and then said "well obviously, I would look after him when I am able" or some such shite.
I thought-really? When will that be? And if I do die, what are you going to tell ds about why he can't live with you?

When I mention the state of his flat, and the fact the ds could never stay there, he just shrugs, like, why would he have to live somewhere decent.

What makes me doubly nuts is that when I left my (small but lovely) flat in London, not far from where he lives, I offered it to him.

It was cheaper than his place and had amazing landlords, but he said "no thanks, I wouldnt want to live in that area" even after I pointed out that my flat was a much better place for ds to stay.

Its funny because if I even point out that the fact that he sees ds even though he doesnt pay for him is down to my generosity, he just snorts and goes "don't be so ridiculous".

I literally want to punch him in the face.
But I can see from some of your responses that I am not being ridiculous at all, so thanks.

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PinkCarBlueCar · 13/02/2012 10:29

Well, him seeing DS and paying such minimal CM is beside the point, as legally those two things are separate. So (grudgingly), he does kind of have a point. Put it this way, although you could bring the lack of CM up at court, it wouldn't go anywhere.

What isn't beside the point, is that he only gets to see DS so easily because you generously allow him to stay at your place and provide food and entertainment for him to do so, which needs to be better dealt with, but that's been gone over as above.

There's times I've wanted to punch my ex in the face too (which is very wrong and I would never do such a thing), but I wouldn't as I wouldn't lower myself to her level, I wouldn't want to touch her and it would give her such ammunition against me. Martial arts have been a good outlet for me. As is knowing what a miserable mess of an existence her life is - there's very little I can do to make it worse, so there's no need for me to do so.

It might be an idea to move future communication to text / email - that way you can write the ranting frustrated angry reply, get it all out, wait a few mins, delete it, then send the mature, controlled, factual and unemotional response. I always found that speaking to the ex just became a massive irritation and frustration, and far too easily went off into old patterns and about old wounds instead of current situation and DD.

You're not ridiculous at all - you've been under a lot of pressure for over five years, and can see that it may last for some years to come. That's a lot to deal with for one person. The lack of support and appreciation from him should be breathtaking and for most normal people it is just that. Sadly though, it's fairly standard for a lot of NRP's to behave in the way he does. He needs a large and on-going dose of grow up with a supplementary dose of man up.

ovenchips · 13/02/2012 11:15

I agree with everything that's been said. Trouble is you cannot change him. You can try every approach including ripping him a new hole but unless he wants to change you are wasting time and energy. It really doesn't sound like he wants to help himself. If him turning down your flat doesn't prove it nothing will.

I would take the focus totally away from him and concentrate on improving things for you and DS. Forget about him and what he is or isn't. Use that time when he is staying with you to do things that make life better for you. Introduce house rules for when he's here, including who pays for what. Without negotiation. You're not asking him to change his life, you are simply saying this is what happens in this house when you stay. Emotionally disengage, as hard as it is.

And remember few things remain static. You and/or him will meet a new partner and things will shift and change. Or something else will change your current circumstances.

It would be great if he grew up and accepted his responsibilities as a dad but that unfortunately is something completely beyond your power.

PinkCarBlueCar · 13/02/2012 11:40

Yes yes yes - everything ovenchips just said.

NorthernWreck · 13/02/2012 11:41

I know. The thing is, these days I don't really bother trying to get thru to him, I just rant on MN!
He is better than he used to be I guess. He does pay for food a bit now, but I think I get so down because every change for the better has come about thru me being a total hardass, purely because I don't want to just accept the way he would like things to happen.
So in the process he feels totally put upon and like I am a nagging bitch.

I want ds to like his dad, and I also want him to have a decent male role model, and that is one of the things that upsets me I suppose.

But you are right, I can't change him. I don't even think I can make him see that he needs to , as you say, grow up and man up.

As for my brother having a go, he has never been able to deal with any kind of relationship, and has just dumped yet another great girlfriend, so I am taking what he thinks with a pinch of salt.
Thanks all.

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NorthernWreck · 13/02/2012 11:44

I did try boxing at the gym and I must say, I found it very theraputic!

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blackeyedsusan · 15/02/2012 15:48

they are really good at doing the I am so hard done by routine....

you should have bloody though about that before punching me in the head whilst diving the car.. with dd and ds in for god's sake.

oops sorry slight diversion.

some of them are so bloody pathetic and seem to think that asking them to do the basics is an outrage. (errm how do you imagine that the parent with care manages then?)

pinkcar. you are totally right. it is not worth being violent or threatening however much they make you feel like it. one has to be the mature person and find othe outlets for ones frustration.

betty419419 · 19/02/2012 09:43

I think he should pay to stay somewhere - if nothing else it will give him the incentive to get a job. I admire you allowing him to stay in your house but in the long term it's not doing him any favours as he is taking advantage of you and although you don't want to stop him seeing his child he needs to learn to grow a pair and until you throw him a reality check i don't think he will. I was in a similar situation last year - my ex lived over 150 miles away and I would let him stay at mine to see kids and I would decamp to my parents but it was awful - he didn't appreciate my kindness, still swore at me and was aggressive and I just had enough - my house and if he can't be respectful he can fuck off and now has to make his own arrangements to see the kids. Best decision I ever made as it sets boundaries and has also made him realise he has to put in effort to see kids. In fact we have no contact with each other as the aggression and verbal abuse were so bad I thought I was going to have a break down, luckily my father deals with all contact in relation to arranging visits to kids and it's been the making if me - good luck for whatever you decide to do xx

mjawch · 19/02/2012 20:39

do u have a garden? if so throw him a one man tent n a sleeping bag when he shows up next time lol xx

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