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Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Does co parenting ever get easier?

4 replies

Laurenjessicax · 03/09/2023 08:03

It's been 8 years and still I find myself no further forward. I try to block it out and just focus on myself and DS but every few months ex decides he wants a new type of child arrangement (no court orders) I agree to try and keep peace but it goes from wanting DS 3 nights a week then a week later he can't keep it up so every week he's missing the days he asked for meaning I'm scrambling around for childcare whilst I work and get such disrespect from him as though he's mad at me for him not being able to manage this. Then it goes to the other extreme of wanting him every other weekend conveniently over summer holidays because he needs social time. Then Christmas / Easter / Birthdays come and of course wants 50/50 over that one week of special events and I get the whole it's not fair he's my kid once again I agree despite the constant let downs / poor effort throughout the year. I just can't deal with the inconsistency. Just picks and chooses really and cancels last minute. Stuff such as uniform / school bags never get returned even when I ask so I'm constantly replacing things. I'm so organised with everything but it's hard when someone is constantly undoing all that and creating such chaos. Son doesn't want to go much anymore. I daren't say anything because I honestly can't handle the blatant delusion he has that he does so much and way more than most dads. His reference to 'most dads' is they choose to never see their kids. I'm fed up DS is fed up. Just selfishness really what suits him is what we then all have to cater to surely we should be doing what's best for DS.

OP posts:
fearfuloffluff · 03/09/2023 08:22

That's really crap, it must be bad for your child to have the inconsistency and maddening for you to be expected to change things at short notice.

Tell him you're fed up, put a plan in place and if he messes about again, say you'll get a court order in place. The threat alone might sort it without needing to pay legal fees. He's treating you like a doormat.

rockingbird · 03/09/2023 14:45

I wouldn't stand for that!! Neither should you or your DC. Tell him firmly that his inconsistent parenting is not acceptable and you are no longer willing to keep chopping and changing to suit him. If he doesn't like it he can go to court - at great cost to him and the judge will tell him to buck his ideas up. Christmas is non negotiable for me, I wasn't the parent that fucked around so I refuse to 'share' my children. Dick brain actions have consequences, tough. Take me to court and tell the judge what a c*nt you are - which he won't. I truly believe it's about being firm from the beginning, stand up to him and you'll get there in the end.

Starlightstarbright2 · 03/09/2023 17:27

How old is dc ..

I say this in the kindest way - he does this just because he can .

I would ask him to go to meditation for a consistent plan ..

if he continually cancels tell him you are putting childcare in place for these days so your dc isn’t available that day .

is he playing maintenance ?

Laurenjessicax · 03/09/2023 17:56

he pays as though he has our son a lot more than what he does I'm hesitant to change the child maintenance as I think this would then turn into well I'm not paying that I'll have him 50/50 and in all honesty I'd rather money not influence how much time he chooses to spend with our son as he'll just leave him with relatives. I've thought about mediation / court but I'd spend all this money have him argue 50/50 which he'd potentially get and would then continue to cancel from what I've heard a court order means you're forced to allow access but they don't have to take it.

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