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argghhh!! why did i ever believe him?

7 replies

IAmBooyhoo · 06/05/2012 15:21

i'm so stupid and it's hurting my children as a result.

their dad has never had them overnight. he is forces and stayed with his parents when he was on leave. him and his partner bought a house and got the keys at the start of april. ex texted at this time telling me that he had leave for the whole of may and would like to have the dcs overnight. i said great just let me know what dates in advance (he constantly turns up on my doorstep without any notice asking to take the dcs- i have never refused even if it has meant cancelling our plans) he said he would.

so he phoned to talk to dcs last friday and didn't mention contact or having them stay overnight so i asked. he said he would be home this weekend so would probably be having them to stay over and told me he would need clothes for them both as he had none and asked if he could borrow my stairgate. in preparation i took the dcs to pick out new pjs, slippers and a little overnight bag each to take to daddy's as i wanted them to have them for their first stay.

i hadn't heard anything by wednesday and texted him asking if he was definitely having them this weekend and what nights. he said he hadn't got beds sorted yet so couldn't have them. fine, i broke it to the dcs, they were gutted. they had been really looking forward to it.

they went for their normal contact with ex's parents yesterday and exp left them home. i asked him how long he was home for, he said the whole of may and so i asked if he would be having the boys as they were really looking forward to it. they boys were standing right beside me. he said that he was getting their beds today so it all depended how long it took him to get them put together (he is an engineer so i would imagine this is not beyond his capabilities). he asked if he could have the dcs on monday as school is closed for bank holiday. i said yes no problem why dont you have them sunday night as you will have the beds then. he said he would let me know as he was getting the beds from his partner's family. i said fine, i need to know by lunchtime as we are going to see my dad for his birthday and would need to pack their bags before we go (there is no way i was going to get them all excited by packing bags for him to text later and say it wasn't happening).

so it get's to 1.30 this afternoon and i haven't heard from him. i text asking what is happening and he just replies saying "sorry, havent got beds yet" i asked what had stopped him getting them as the boys were looking forward to going. he said he couldn't just go and take them from someone else's house. fair enough. so i suggested he get an airbed from argos (he is loaded and argos is 5 minutes from his house) because the boys really wanted to go. he didn't reply. i left it half an hour and then asked again what he had decided to do. he said. "gimme a minute to get something sorted" i left it an hour and still no answer so i text again and he replied saying he couldn't do it as the house wasn't ready, and he didn't know why i was giving him jip because he cant have them sleeping in a room with no floor! this is the first time he has mentioned teh house not being ready and not having any bloody floors down!! why couldn't he have said that during the week or even yesterday when i asked if tehy could stay?

why do i ever believe he wont let them down? my poor dcs dont know what's going on from one day to the next when he is here. i'm so sick of having to let them down and make up some excuse as to why daddy hasn't turned up or cant take them. he has said he will take them when the house is sorted. no clue when that will be but i'm so reluctant to even tell my dcs the next time he offeres to take them incase he lets them down again. i just dont believe him at all now no matter what he says.

sorry. that was really long. just venting. i'm so annoyed.

OP posts:
SoftKittyWarmKitty · 06/05/2012 16:44

How old are your DCs? Are they old enough for their dad to tell them himself why he won't/can't have them? He's the one playing with their emotions so he should be the one breaking the news to them imo. An forces or no forces, if you've already made plans don't let him take them. He has to learn to make plans and stick to them, otherwise he'll be taking the piss until they're 18.

IAmBooyhoo · 06/05/2012 17:33

they are 6 and 2. 6 year old would be old enough to understand. do you think i should make him ring them in future to tell them himself? he always just texts me (or not if he can't be bothered) and then i have to tell them. i know you are right about not letting him take them but i can't bring myself to tell my dcs no they can't go with their dad who is standing right there infront of them. because they dont see him regularly it is a real novelty for them when they do see him and i would hate to be the one stopping them from seeing him. i tell him time and time again to ring me in advance but he does his own thing.

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Dee03 · 06/05/2012 20:02

Sorry but I would state to him that you need at least 48 hours notice in advance if he wants to see his dc's...he cannot just turn up on your doorstep and expect to have contact.
Men like this really get my goat...it's all about the control Angry

IAmBooyhoo · 06/05/2012 20:13

i have done. i do it every time he turns up unannounced. he says "oh yeah, sorry, i forgot" like yesterday when the dcs were due back at 4. still no sign at half four so i texted. he got ds to ring me and say they were staying with him for a few more hours. i asked to speak to EXP and told him that he needs to let me know if they aren't coming back at expected time as i panic when they dont turn up. he got all huffy and said he just forgot.

OP posts:
butterflybee · 07/05/2012 08:11

It sounds like the most hurtful thing is the kids' expectations being disappointed. Is it possible to have these conversations away from them so they don't know staying over is possible unless it's confirmed?

It's not a great dynamic if you have to pester him about all contact. I find my ex gets really defiant (like a 2 yo :) when he feels like he's been told what to do. What would happen if you left it alone completely until he got himself sorted out? It might take him a while, but his ego might be happier doing it alone and the kids wouldn't be disappointed in the meantime.

Finallygotaroundtoit · 07/05/2012 08:26

New Rules - 48 hrs notice for 'quick visits' (don't tell DC in advance and if you have plans for before or after contact, stick to them)

He tells them about sleepovers and he tells them if they're not happening and why

IAmBooyhoo · 07/05/2012 09:53

yes i think you are bith right. i'm not going to ask him anymore about it. if it's going to happen he can tell them and if he;s letting them down he can tell them that aswell.

i dont think he'll stick to the 48 hour rule or having them back on time. he'll agree at the time and then 'forget'. he always does and i dont know how to get round it without looking like a big meanie with my children.

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