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At my wits end!

10 replies

Muddledmotherhood · 03/02/2019 00:00

Hiya, I desperately need some advice and I apologise now for the long post.

To cut a long story short me and my ex split up, after the constant lies he told, the failure to commit as a boyfriend or a dad properly (he thought buying things was more acceptable than being around!) breaking promises etc. Now he lives an hour and a half away and I tried to be nice after we split, said let’s be amicable for LOs sake and said he could stay at our house rather than a hotel ( LO is 2 and is too small to stay at his when it’s so far away and his house is currently just unliveable, it’s a shambles) he agreed but since she was 1 years old, he’s constantly let her down, not turned up when he said he would, hasn’t even messaged me to say he isn’t coming or when he does it’s at an unreasonable hour like 10/11 at night! He hasn’t ever bothered to give her a call, it was always me asking him to call her as she missed him. Then he would promise to ring the next day, only to use the sand excise every time, that he forgot or slept in (this is at 11 in the morning, alright for some people who don’t have responsibilities!) he’s also a shambles when paying maintenance, we set it up through the CSA after he constantly failed to pay on time, we did it via a family arrangement but even that he takes the pee with, so now I’m having to call them up and arrange the collect and pay service on Monday! When he does pay, he acts like he is god and that he is a fantastic father which seriously irritates me. This Friday just gone he had said he would be down in the early afternoon. It got to 6pm and there was no sign of him, I messaged his dad to ask where he is but as always he covered for him and tried to make an excuse up which I knew was a lie. He then read my Facebook message and ignored me. So I messaged him saying he was rude for not turning up, wasting my day and making me stay in waiting when we could of gone out and for upsetting my little girl once again by not being here, he had also failed to pay again so I called him out on it, telling him I don’t get to pick and choose when I support my child so why do the rules not apply for him. All I got back was, well what are your bank details. Not a sorry for not turning up, not a sorry for wasting our day and not a damn sorry for breaking yet another promise to my little girl! He still hasn’t apologise and yet he sits there and plays the victim to his family saying I’m a terrible person and I don’t let him see her! I’m so terrible that I’m raising our daughter single handedly whilst he goes out with his mates every weekend and doesn’t even support his child!

I’ve told him he isn’t seeing her as I’m sick of watching her get upset that he isn’t coming, she’s two and already he’s effing up her life!

I just want to know where do I stand on stopping him seeing her as he has had so many chances for the last 2 years and he has blown every one of them, I just want him away from my daughter forever because he is ruining her life and still messing with mine too! Also if I stop him seeing her will child maintenance also stop too?

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 03/02/2019 00:22

What would happen if you just stopped calling him? Would he contact you?

Muddledmotherhood · 03/02/2019 07:53

Well he hasn’t bothered to message back yet is online on messenger all the time so he’s not bothering. I get so irritated though as he’s not bothered and he’s ignored seeing her then the next minute I get a message ms saying he’s going to take me to court to have her ! He’s done that on several occasions now. Yet I’ve worked out on nearly 30 occasions in her 2 years he’s let her down already!

OP posts:
eve34 · 03/02/2019 08:18

Stop facilitating him. He likes to mess you around.

You tell him he can visit every Saturday. If he hasn't turned up by 10.30 you will get on with your day.

Stop trying to make him into a good dad. It is up to him. You can't force him to step up.

Get cms to sort money. I know it is hard. You are judging him by your standards. But he does not hold your daughter in the same regard.

babbi · 03/02/2019 08:24

Exactly what Eve says ... fixed arrangement day time ...
CMS - get it started - do not under any circumstances or pathetic please cancel and make private agreements with him .

Don’t enable him in any way - the above is the only arrangements on offer to him .

Other than that get on with your life and enjoy bringing up your daughter ... don’t expect or hope for anything from him ..
He has shown time and again that he’s not interested or responsible- don’t waste any more of your life wishing for things to be different ... this is how it is ...

Good luck

mayathebeealldaylong · 03/02/2019 08:24

You are expecting him to be better than when you were together, you know what he's like so asking him to to XYZ isn't going to happen.
Right now you did does need to additional visit or promises, so stop telling her. Give him what the PP said aha leave it.
He may well in time behave or act like a dad, but what can't happen is for you to get so worked up emotional involved in this and then stop forever.
Because it isn't your choice.
Best advice I ever got... Act indifferent.

babbi · 03/02/2019 08:25
  • pathetic pleas ( from him )
Starlight456 · 03/02/2019 08:48

Firstly he uses court as a threat. He isn’t going to take you to court as it would cost him a few hundred pounds even if he self represents.

Stop trying . You have an arrangement in place tell him unless he is there by .... you will be continuing with your day.

Don’t chase him. If he is truly interested he will up his game if not nothing you can do about it

Do document every time he fails to turn up and reason if he gives one

Muddledmotherhood · 03/02/2019 15:25

Thank you everyone for your advice, I’ve given him the choice of seeing her on the Saturdays every week or if he doesn’t want to come here then I’ve said by all means go the the contact centre like he keeps going on about. So far all messages have been read and ignored so I’m not even bothering anymore. Am I right in thinking if I set up a collect and pay I won’t have to deal with him regarding the child support? Do the csa go directly through him to take the money and is it even guaranteed, or should I just take it from now on that he won’t be financially supporting his child either ? X

OP posts:
eve34 · 03/02/2019 16:21

@Muddledmotherhood

It takes a while to get sorted. But would go for cms collecting the money. He has had his chance but has messed you about.

I would e mail him now and say that you don't want to keep having to chase him for money or contact. It isn't fair on any of you.

He is welcome to come and collect dd Saturday 10.00. You will wait until 10.30. Then will get on with your day. If for any reason he would like a different day you want 24 hours notice. You and dd have your own plans and won't just sit around waiting.

And that cms will now collect maintenance. This will cost him a further 20% of the amount he has to pay you. This way you are no longer having to chase him. Again your dd needs things and it is not fair that you are left struggling to provide

I'm still waiting for money. I started the process in October. I have been told that they will make a deduction from his wages this month. I am not hold my breath. But I'm stuffed if it doesn't start coming through soon. I'm owed £1000's.

Good luck and stay strong. You and your dd deserve better.

Muddledmotherhood · 03/02/2019 18:17

Thank you, will write up an email tonight and get it sent over. I hate having to also rely on his money, the only reason I desperately need it is that my dd has a multiple allergies so buying the foods cost an arm and a leg! Then when you total up extras like nappies, wipes, clothes, shoes etc it’s not cheap! Ah okay so if they collect, there is a chance they might not chase them up. The ex has a full time job and is earning more than enough, so I will be livid if he doesn’t pay for her!

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