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Parenting

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DS (11) refusing contact?

4 replies

BobStrangeNameforaGirl · 16/06/2013 21:35

Not sure if I'm posting in the right place.

DS (11) has recently cut almost all contact with xh.

Background - divorced when ds was 2. Always been acrimonious, although more from his side than mine. He has contact alternate weekends and half holidays, indirect contact whenever but usually twice a week. We live approx. 1 hour apart.

For a long time I have had to make ds go when it's his weekend to be away. At half term he should have been away for the week but he lay on the floor, refused to get dressed and begged not to go. When I text XH to say he didn't want to go XH just said fine. Then XH refused to take DS's phone calls and sent him a manipulative e-mail (I'm so hurt, how can you do this when you're supposed to love me? etc) XH is still refusing all contact.

I think DS has been building up to this for years, every bit of contact has been agreed in court and it's always been said from 11 he can decide for himself. At home he has me, DH and DD, all his friends and a fairly typical family life. At XH's he has XH and current GF. He says they drink a lot and aggressively question him about us, take him to the park late at night, odd things/ They don't get up until about 11 but he isn't allowed to get anything from the kitchen himself. XH has cut all DS's contact with GP as XH and GP fell out (my ex mil) since before Christmas.

Now it appears that XH has recently been convicted of drink driving and lost his license for 2 years. DS found out by reading about it online. Sad.

I've tried to stay out of it but it seems that DS is beginning to see how manipulative XH is. Should I encourage him to make up? Or leave it for them to sort out themselves? DS says he would like to talk to him, but doesn't want to stay again for a while. Is it cumulative or was there an incident I haven't been told about?

All opinions welcome.

OP posts:
Skygirls · 16/06/2013 23:20

I think it would be more damaging for your ds to be around the behaviour exhibited by xh.

You said he could choose at age 11. Does this have to be legally notified? If so, get a judge to listen to your ds and get a legal document so your xh won't have a leg to stand on if he tries anything funny.

HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm · 17/06/2013 08:20

Please don't make him go. Agree with above, and keep a record of all phone calls/emails etc just in case XH takes this further and starts demanding contact.

Maybe DS could just go with calls/letters for now if he wants to and the odd day out when/if he wants to.

At age 11 IMHO, it should be his choice, provided there is a sound basis for it and not just teenage angst. From what you've said it seems a v sensible decision by your DS.

Justfornowitwilldo · 17/06/2013 08:32

What has been said above.

Do you get on with your ex MIL? Would it be ok to arrange for your DS to see her?

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BobStrangeNameforaGirl · 17/06/2013 12:42

Well Justfornow I don't really, but she's been having some contact through me. When I took him to see her a couple of weeks ago she had a pile of Christmas presents for him. He's going to stay with her for a weekend soon.

Thanks for the replies. When you're close to a situation it's hard to see if you're doing the right thing. I think I'll just follow DS's lead for now and see what happens.

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