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Just found DS1's father on internet - should I get in touch?

7 replies

flightattendant · 16/04/2007 15:20

I've not heard from DS1's dad since over two years ago when he finally ditched the visits and left us alone. I've called him several times since then, managed to get him on mobile about twice, but it must be a year or more since we last spoke. I leave messages from time to time, always friendly, asking him to get in touch as DS is asking about him and wants to meet him.
I googled his name today and for the first time, actually found a hit - it is a business advert and states his address (which I knew, roughly) and mobile number (the same one I've left messages on) and also a home number, which I shakily tried to call, and found it was 'unrecognised'. (This is a bit typical for him as he was always hard to pin down).
I have mixed feelings about him seeing DS. DS is almost four and has expressed sadness at not having a father. I've told him I hope we can find him one day. It breaks my heart to know his dad just abandoned him.
But when his dad was in touch, he would be late, unreliable, lie to me, not give me his home number, and make a fuss about my not letting him take DS away without me, even though I hadn't got his address, or phone number, and I knew full well about his alcoholism and drink driving with his older children - he used to tell me when he was doing that every single day and nobody knew.
Maybe I was being unreasonable, he does have aspects which make him a good father and I used to love him very much - despite the fact he used me for a long time whilst married to someone else, then when he left her, also left me and DS for someone with three more kids! (He told me one time that he's had treatment for the drinking, whether this is true I have no idea...and made promises to see DS again when he was 'settled' - I found out he got married last summer. So he is settled.)
I just didn't feel happy handing over my child to an effective 'stranger' when he was only a year old. So the man decided he'd rather just duck out completely.
What do you think I should do, should I actually go round to his house (inaccessible by foot though only 2 miles away, I've no car) and try my hardest to get him involved, or let it go as he seems uninterested and might hurt DS more than be a good dad? He's so unreliable.
I'm so confused about what is best for DS. To add to the mix, I'm 32 wks pregnant with another child by another man, who turned out to be a tw*t, and DS is totally unclear about his new brother having a father, when he doesn't. We aren't in contact with the latest one at the moment but I suspect soon will be as he's shown an interest in the baby.
Help!

OP posts:
ScottishThistle · 16/04/2007 15:25

I'd leave it well alone if I were in your shoes, he sounds like a good for nothing fallanderer (sp) & is highly unlikely to ever be reliable or be a good father to your ds.

hitchcock · 16/04/2007 15:26

i grow up with a twat of mum and i am glad when she walked away and left me al one ,

i dont miss what i never had .

maybe your ds deserves one really good parent rather than 1 good parent and 1 totaly flakey parent who can never be relied on .

hope you understand what i mean

good luck

flightattendant · 16/04/2007 15:30

Thanks - nice to get some clarity, I find it hard to see it clearly, so many feelings involved! I'll leave it then. I guess if he wanted to know, he'd respond to my messages wouldn't he.
Poor DS . I do keep choosing the b*stards.

OP posts:
hitchcock · 16/04/2007 15:35

i think you just answered your own question on your last post.

a word to the wise stop getting invoved with naghty boys next time chooce a nice boy
xxx good luck

Tinkerbel5 · 17/04/2007 16:37

flightattendant its better to have no father at all than a father who comes and goes as he pleases and constantly lets a child down, its up to you but I wouldnt rock the boat, you cant force a grown man to see his own child, if he really wanted to see him he would walk over hot coals, best wishes to you and your child and nearly new born

Glassofwine · 17/04/2007 16:51

My father is/was a shit, although he and my Mum were married until I was 6, but after she chucked him out he was generally flaky. Most birthdays I'd wake up wondering if he'd be in touch, sometimes he would, but often he wouldn't. Months sometimes even a year would go by with no word and then he'd 'surprise' us by turning up on the doorstep. When we saw him he splashed money about like we'd never seen before as he didn't pay maintainence and my dm didn't have two pennies to rub together. My brother and I were upset and hurt. Needless to say I'm quite insecure and haven't spoken to my father for 13 years now, as an adult I could decide that I was not going to be hurt any longer. I wish he hadn't been around at all.

flightattendant · 17/04/2007 19:37

This is all really helpful stuff. I never heard it from the child's perspective, which is what I needed to know I suppose - so those of you who have been on the receiving end of bad parenting, are helping me a lot.
I guess DS confused me by asking about his dad and saying he wishes he had one...but I don't think he understands what that means, when the man is primed to let people down - it's all he's ever done and after trying to call him the other day, a lot of my old anger has resurfaced - I'd managed somehow to forget the immenses frustration I always used to feel , both when I was with him and after he left me. Hugely passive aggressive, he avoided conflict at all costs, yet would without fail be early, late, not show up, not call, change plans and cancel - with me, and then with DS.
So I think he will be staying firmly where he belongs - in the past as he can't do any more harm from there.
Thanks so much for all the help.

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