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Inconsistent Dad to 8 month old... AIBU??

21 replies

firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 11:32

Mine and my daughters father are not in a relationship (there’s been no animosity, very civil overall) so I technically class myself as a single mother. She’s 8 months now, and I’ve noticed as time has gone on, he is being way more careless and inconsistent with how often he sees her, asks about her etc. We’ve had the same conversation multiple times over these initial 8 months- I.e, me telling him I’m sick of his lack of support and inconsistency and reminding him how stressful single parenthood is, especially when she technically has two parents. Each time we have the conversation he acts like he understands, but weeks later we’re going over the same thing again. Plus he makes me feel irrational or overly emotional when I express how he’s affecting us. He’s not on the birth certificate ( he couldn’t make it to the appointment and hasn’t been arsed to book another) and he sees her literally once a week for a few hours (if that). He used to come in the week too, but that has randomly stopped out of nowhere. When he would come round, he was extremely rude and acted as if this is his house. He’d expect dinner, sexual favours and even open my cupboards looking for food without asking, which in my eyes is ridiculous since we are not in a relationship and we have both established that we won’t be. He barely texts me anymore to ask how she is, and never lets me know in advance prior to taking her on Sunday. Sometimes I text him with important stuff about her and he ignores me and never responds. It’s actually gaslighting me into believing I am needy or something? When I have no interest in him whatsoever for myself. He makes me feel like I’m begging him to converse with me, when the reality is it’s just about his daughter. Last week he didn’t contact me at all, I had to message him on the day to ask if he was seeing her. Over this period of time he has been ridiculously inconsistent (turning up two hours late, changing the time way too late, turning up late when he knows I have plans etc.) Bearing in mind he takes her usually at night on Sunday’s and brings her back on Monday mornings (which gives me NO time to relax or recuperate from a stressful week). He hasn’t provided anything for her (his family have been very attentive regarding toys and clothes though) and even asking him to buy more formula powder is met with stupid questions (‘how has it finished already?’) and all he really does is buy nappies and wipes when I’m low on funds. I am grateful for this of course, but the last thing I want for my daughter is a faceless dad who picks and chooses when she’s important (my dad was in and out and then disappeared when I was around 6). He also cannot stick to basic requests. For example, she is now eating 2 meals a day as well as bottles, so I provide him with food for her when he takes her. One time he said ‘I couldn’t be arsed’ and another he hadn’t touched or opened the pouch of food id put in her bag. I understand that I should be grateful (albeit the bare minimum) but I can’t help but think I’d be better off on my own since I’m pretty much alone anyway. I give her everything she needs and she is the light of my life. Everything I do is for her and I don’t want a father who doesn’t match that. He works full time and is very busy outside of work (although this isn’t an excuse in my eyes as I have family who work a lot and still make time for her) but today is the last straw. Once again he hasn’t messaged me, I’ve had to contact him first, and his response was ‘I can come at 6:30 because I’ve picked up an extra shift at work’. I completely understand wanting to strive towards goals etc, but why take an extra shift on the day you have with your daughter? His reasoning in the past has been that’s he’s working to provide for her, but how does that work when you’re missing her development and barely bond with her? Now is a crucial time for her because she’s changing rapidly, and he barely knows her. I’m starting to feel as though she is just a burden to him and he only sees her as an obligation as he didn’t want her in the first place. He kept trying pretty much throughout the whole pregnancy to convince me to abort her. My daughter deserves a father who loves her and wants to be around her, and he isn’t providing that in my eyes. AIBU to want to tell him to F off until he shows more consistency and care? Be nice please.

OP posts:
spurs4ever · 03/04/2022 11:34

I don't think you need to tell him anything. Just don't contact him. It's not your job to provide or be Father, you can just be a Mother and what he does is up to him. He's clearly not bothered.

GrazingSheep · 03/04/2022 11:34

Unfortunately you’ve had a child with a useless man. Stick in a claim for maintenance and you might get something.

NuffSaidSam · 03/04/2022 11:38

He sounds awful.

I would cut him out completely. Seek financial support through the proper channels but don't speak to him anymore.

If his family are good I would speak to them about maintaining a relationship with your DD.

kweeble · 03/04/2022 11:39

Do a CMS claim and wait for him to contact you - if he loses touch with his daughter then it’s his problem for now.
When she’s older you can decide if it’s worthwhile her seeing him even if it is ad hoc; give up trying to control his response as it’s just adding to your stress.

averythinline · 03/04/2022 11:40

get cms sorted for payment...of child maintenance that sorts the financial side of things .....
regarding his lack of interest/constant contact - make an agreement in writing (email will do) with notice period for changes -

firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 12:30

You’re so right. Talking isn’t solving anything and it hasn’t over the past year, so action is the best thing to take. Thanks for your advice xxx

OP posts:
firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 12:31

Yep!🤣 took me 8 months to realise it too

OP posts:
firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 12:33

@NuffSaidSam
Yeah 100%
Unfortunately I’m not that familiar with his family, so I assume they’ll take his side. Either way, I have my family supporting me so I don’t really need anything from them, unless of course they want involvement x

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 03/04/2022 12:34

Stop being grateful for a start
He’s doing far below the minimum, nothing to be grateful there for
Formalise it all

firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 12:35

@kweeble
Strangely enough I never even considered that route Confused I suppose I feel like I’m causing havoc by involving the gov but you’re right, I can’t control anyone else! All I can do is do what’s best for me and my daughter. Thanks so much for your advice xx

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 03/04/2022 12:40

[quote firsttimemom99]@NuffSaidSam
Yeah 100%
Unfortunately I’m not that familiar with his family, so I assume they’ll take his side. Either way, I have my family supporting me so I don’t really need anything from them, unless of course they want involvement x[/quote]
It's not about 'sides'.

It's about the best outcome for your child.

If his family are good (which you mention they are in your OP). Ask them directly whether they'd like to maintain contact with their grandchild. Don't include him in any discussions. Deal directly with them.

firsttimemom99 · 03/04/2022 12:43

@NuffSaidSam
Sides probably wasn’t the right term
I meant, attacking or demonising me as someone who’s ‘stopping him from seeing his child’
They don’t like me much anyway since I ‘baby trapped’ him by refusing to abort my child

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 03/04/2022 12:46

[quote firsttimemom99]@NuffSaidSam
Sides probably wasn’t the right term
I meant, attacking or demonising me as someone who’s ‘stopping him from seeing his child’
They don’t like me much anyway since I ‘baby trapped’ him by refusing to abort my child[/quote]
Maybe best to cut them out as well then! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Theunamedcat · 03/04/2022 12:50

Do you actually need him and his lack of support? If you needs him financially Suggest you finalise things say its not really working me asking for things all the time just transfer me x amount a month and that will be fine because I can see it devolving into "I want my child 50% of the time" if you bother with csa because his family will have his ear

Don't bother contacting him in the week see if he contacts you

MintJulia · 03/04/2022 12:57

Stop pushing him to spend time with her. Either he loves her or he doesn't. Nagging will only make communications more difficult.

Make it clear that your dd is available between 9&10 on a Sunday for him to collect. If he doesn't show, you'll be going out.

Then get on with your life. By the time she is old enough to remember, you'll know whether he is interested in being her father.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 03/04/2022 12:57

It sounds like you have fundamentally misunderstood the situation. He is not interested in his child, and if you aren't offering sex he isn't going to pretend he is. He isn't interested in providing for her, and he is not a coparent in any meaningful sense. I don't know what he said in the past to give you the expectation that he would be?

Don't waste time trying to keep him informed or making him show an interest in her. Go through the formal process to get child maintenance, and recognise that you genuinely are a single parent and will be parenting singly.

MaChienEstUnDick · 03/04/2022 13:09

@TheYearOfSmallThings

It sounds like you have fundamentally misunderstood the situation. He is not interested in his child, and if you aren't offering sex he isn't going to pretend he is. He isn't interested in providing for her, and he is not a coparent in any meaningful sense. I don't know what he said in the past to give you the expectation that he would be?

Don't waste time trying to keep him informed or making him show an interest in her. Go through the formal process to get child maintenance, and recognise that you genuinely are a single parent and will be parenting singly.

It's better to give people the chance to surprise you than the chance to disappoint you. Change your mindset to that of a fully single parent - you're 90% of the way there, you sound resilient and capable and a fab mum.

Get a CSA claim in, that way you know what money is coming in when for nappies and stuff and don't need to ask him. Absolutely say 'your DD is available at X times' and that's it. Don't rely on him, facilitate him or plan around him. Don't worry about his family either, that's not your issue to solve. If he has regular contact now he'll be able to take her to visit his family in future when she's a bit bigger, if he doesn't then he won't. That's on him.

ReacherMargrave · 03/04/2022 13:24

First thing you do is put in a claim for child maintenance. Then I wouldn't contact him at all unless it's an emergency regarding your child. When he does get in contact offer him contact outside of your home between certain times and if he doesn't show up repeatedly or late tell him to take you to court! Stop providing the essentials food, nappies etc that's up to him on his time.

AskingforaBaskin · 03/04/2022 13:26

Did you think he would grow to love her after standing by the option to abort?

He didn't want her. That hasn't changed he is never going to be the father you want for her and it doesn't sound like he has ever been deceptive in that regard.

Crimeismymiddlename · 03/04/2022 13:48

Email him each when your dc are available to him-it’s up to him to organise contact now, not you, go to the cms-stop being so grateful for a run of baby milk and some nappy’s here and there, that is not even the bare minimum of what he should be providing, stop giving him updates, organise his family to see them separately and finally when he wants contact it is not in your home, he has a place to live, he should use it.

Starlightstarbright1 · 03/04/2022 17:25

Agree with the others. Ultimately you can't make him a great dad. Be greatful he isn't on b/c. It makes things to easy.

Like others say cms. Put a claim in tomorrow it can't be backdated..these extrea shifts. If you are asking for money for nappies and milk she certainly isn't benefitting.

Leave his family .. you have enough to deal with.

One thing i learnt with my ex wishing them to be a better dad doesn't make them one. I genuinely think we are conditioned to go way beyond and it makes it to easy.

You are a single parent you sound unsure.. He certainly isn't co parenting

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