Non resident parent moving away

[R2MA]

Hi I’m after some input please. I’m currently mid court process with ex re child arrangement order. Cafcass are involved as ex was emotionally abusive and although they have called out ex’s volatility they believe there to be no safe guarding issues. 8mths into the court process and at the 11th hour ex has lobbed in that they have decided to move 3.5hrs away but is still demanding alternative weekends (previous issues have just been centred around kids not wanting what ex wants re contact and their fear of ex). Several issues

1. the kids haven’t settled at all with ex and do not want to stay 2 nights
2. both kids suffer with anxiety and will not travel
3. both kids have weekend clubs which they would have to give up if they didn’t attend weekly/regularly (neither want to do this) AIBU to think ex is being selfish? They are moving to be with new parter and their family. Anybody have similar experience and have insight into Cafcass take on this? Kids are 10/8. TIA

Following with interest because ex is apparently moving a similar distance away just as DS has finally settled into the EOW routine

for you. The court process is all so stressful and currently seems never ending!

I guess argue that it isn't in the DC interests that their weekend interests are established and there aren't mid week alternate.

That the DC are currently not wanting overnights and he needs to build up to this.

Propose phone calls, FaceTime? Every 2nd or 3rd weekend he takes them out for the day and build up to overnights in the school holidays?

All your arguments need to be DC centric what they want and need.

Thanks both. He currently has Sat/Sun with an overnight stay. Neither child is happy about this but “live with it”. I’m honestly not sure how we can build up to them travelling as currently neither has been more than a few miles in a car with him since the start of the year and even then that’s under duress. The issue has been acknowledged by Cafcass and 1 child is under CAMHS for their anxiety (stage2). Bottom line is I do support a relationship between them but I guess ex may have to be the one doing the travelling to see them locally and to enable them to maintain clubs which I believe are critical to their mental health