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kids sharing bedroom with Dad during contact

42 replies

Mylado · 26/08/2019 22:51

I have separated from my husband 5 years ago.Since then, he has lived with his parents in their house. Our 11 year old daughter and 9 year old son have alternative weekends and Tuesday overnight contact with him which they spend at this house. My concern is that the kids sleep on bunk beds in the same bedroom as their Dad. My daughter is 11 and starting secondary school next week. She will most probably be hitting puberty quite soon. What can I do about this? Does CAFCAS have any guidance and rules on this subject? I'm also scared that if her new school peers get to know about it, they'll make her life hell!

OP posts:
Graphista · 27/08/2019 08:40

It's not appropriate if she's at all uncomfortable given her age, and it's going to become even less appropriate as she gets older.

At the very least he and her brother could share with uncle when the kids are there, should be possible in the fathers room as it sounds like 3 beds in there and daughter be in uncles room?

Her privacy and dignity is important.

And that's without the possibility of anything untoward occurring! Those of you giving it "but he's her dad" come on! We know most abusers are family members! Absolutely not saying that's the case here but to claim it's completely ok because they're related is ridiculous!

sandyfoot · 27/08/2019 08:51

Graphista...

"anything untoward happening" That is an outrageous thing to say about a man who probably doesn't know he's even being discussed on the internet. Not being in the financial/whatever place in life to give your kids separate bedrooms for every 2nd weekend is one thing but we can not jump straight to an insinuation of child abuse. If there was any worry about that at all I am sure OP wouldn't be sending her DC there at all, never mind which room they slept in. I feel very sorry that a man who we have no reason to believe is anything other than innocent is having that said about him. Can you imagine if it was you?

Graphista · 27/08/2019 10:06

Imagine if what was me?

Me being the parent in that situation? I'd not need told, I'd have realised my child needs their privacy and dignity and organised something better than the current arrangement, whether that be sharing with my sister or sleeping on the sofa when the kids were visiting.

As a child, I actually am a survivor of csa by my father, it's far from uncommon.

I didn't accuse the op's ex of anything, I said what everyone else was tiptoeing around and mentioned that such things sadly do happen, what exactly is wrong with that?!

It's NOT talking about these things that leads to more children becoming victims.

And as I SAID I was talking even WITHOUT that factor it's still inappropriate.

His actions don't take proper account of his daughters feelings and needs as a girl on the verge of puberty (indeed she may already be experiencing the onset of puberty even if she hasn't started having periods) that's poor parenting on his behalf regardless of anything else.

Oceanbliss · 27/08/2019 23:50

Well said Graphista.

Oceanbliss · 28/08/2019 00:08

www.safekids.co.uk/should-children-opposite-sex-share-bedroom.html

Mylado here's a link to an article that you might find helpful.

Oceanbliss · 28/08/2019 00:17

Mylado Here's another link that might be helpful, about puberty which for girls starts from the age of 8 and boys from the age of 9.

kidshealth.org/en/parents/understanding-puberty.html

StinkyWizleteets · 28/08/2019 00:23

This is ridiculous on so many levels. Some people can not afford a spare room for their pubertal daughters on a whim from the ex wife, this sounds like just that kind of situation. Has she said there are problems other than her gossipy pal? Is she forced to change in front of her dad and brother or only sleep in the same room? Unless her dad and brother are in some way sexually inappropriate in her company then what’s the issue here? That her pals have no manners?
What if they were slagging off her having only Dunlop trainers instead of yeezy’s would you be demanding she gets better trainers to appease the neighbourhood gossips?

Mum56347 · 28/08/2019 01:40

Your ex has done nothing wrong.

tryingtobebetterallthetime · 28/08/2019 02:53

This thread makes me very sad. In the absence of any evidence whatsoever, the father is being, essentially, accused of potentially being a threat to his daughter.

At that age, friends frequently compare living and family situations. In my experience most of their nonsense has to do with money. I suspect that your daughter's friends comments were in that vein. It seems to me unlikely it was based on any suggestion Dad was an an abuser.

The fact that your children's father spends so much with them is a bonus that will serve them well throughout life. It would be a terrible shame to ruin that relationship over this issue.

I agree entirely that pre teens need privacy, to change clothes, to look after their personal hygiene and to just chill out a bit. The situation at Dad's is not ideal of course.

But, unless there is evidence of something untoward, I do not think the Father is doing anything wrong. Families sleep in the same room all over the world. When traveling even affluent families share sleeping quarters.

I of course don't know how you relationship with your ex goes, but I would suggest now is a good time to get together and collaborate talk about how you are going to jointly parent your children as pre teens and teens. It is hard but worth it for your kids. You can do this for your children.

It is also the most important time for you and you ex not to speak ill of each other and to present a united front. Otherwise, "splitting" will be rampant.

Good luck.

MoaningMinnie1 · 28/08/2019 03:08

I don't think it's a big deal, I certainly would have trusted my husband to sleep in the same room as my child. Your 11 year old daughter will speak for herself if and when she is no longer happy with the arrangement but they're only sleeping so where's the harm?

CheeseChipsMayo · 28/08/2019 04:44

YANBU
Urgh my Dd12 would hate to have to share with dad&bro..the inevitable puberty issues of periods/boobs/changing clothes&needing privacy are reasons even the Housing Benefit award separate rooms to girls &boys above a certain age..she shouldnt have to deal with issues her dad has created ie losing job&still living at homeHmm-you'd think he'd be prioritising his DC needs-

HollyBollyBooBoo · 28/08/2019 05:02

I personally wouldn't see it as a big deal. My DD sleeps with me often at home, it's a comfort thing for her. We also all sleep in a caravan for 5 holidays a year so no different really.

If she's truly bothered by it could she ask to sleep in the lounge? On the sofa or an air bed?

Other than that if he can't afford to move out I'm not sure what he can do. Would you prefer the kids didn't stay with him?

Answerthequestion · 28/08/2019 17:21

@tryingtobebetterallthetime at last some plain common sense

Jesse70 · 28/08/2019 19:11

I think for a few months it would have been fine but for 5 years it's gone on long enough
I don't know how to resolve it tho other than all the boys share and she gets her own bedroom at the weekend
If he's not working he can't pay for a hotel etc
How far away does he live?
Could they not come back home and stay at night ?
Also she's at that age where she's going to want to spend time with her friends she's almost a teen she's not going to want to stay with the waltons every weekend

Mylado · 31/08/2019 11:24

Jesse70
I feel the same. 5 years is enough time for anyone to get themselves sorted in my opinion. In that time he has driven a brand new Merc, a Year old BMW and now a Landrover Discovery.
The relationship between us is as best very strained. Since our separation he has been very abusive of me- stalking me, using the courts at any opportunity as a weapon of choice, texting abusive messages calling me a "slut", "idiot", "cunt" to name just a few. He is unable to correspond in a civil manner. Even a normal text has 5 exclamations at the end! Sends abusive and threatening messages if I'm late with the kids, but then again doesn't even turn up at times leaving the kids waiting for him. My son sat outside last Friday on a chair, for a whole hour, waiting for him. An hour later I got an abusive text calling me an Idiot and threatening court ( for what reason- your guess is as good as mine)
Since we separated he was sacked for bullying clients and fraud.
He then moved in with his uncle and part took in bullying his aunt during their separation by dragging her furniture out of her co-owned house! He bragged to anyone that would listen that he was taking me to the cleaners and buying out the aunty's share! He has a building plot and was awarded £100000 of my money during the divorce but most of that was probably swallowed up by his legal team. He would go to court with a barrister and solicitor when he knew I was self representing!
All this and he still claims to be the victim! I'm knackered and really wish he would get his act together.

OP posts:
NoBaggyPants · 31/08/2019 11:34

You're clearly letting your own issues with your ex cloud your judgment. Stop it. None of your latest post is relevant to the situation, other than showing your bias. Your problems as a couple should not be taken out on the children.

As for the sleeping arrangements, the problem is with the bully friend, not the arrangements.

NoBaggyPants · 31/08/2019 11:36

the inevitable puberty issues of periods/boobs/changing clothes&needing privacy are reasons even the Housing Benefit award separate rooms to girls &boys above a certain age.

Just to point out this does not apply to non resident parents. They get no allowance for having children stay with them, which is why many find them in this situation.

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