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Parenting

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Need Advice!! Will he have any rights?

4 replies

bethyates2801 · 24/08/2019 23:50

(Incoming long story) So I was dating a guy for a few months, who I thought was everything I’d ever wanted. Yes we both liked a drink, him a lot more than me - I’m 20, he’s 29 and things were all fine. Until I find out I was pregnant and just instantly went cold turkey, quit smoking, stopped drinking. Basically stepped up to the role expected from me without hesitation. He however went down hill, kept drinking, and smoking, and driving like a reckless rally driver. I kept asking him to cut down and be careful and help me out...he would make promise after promise but never have anything to show for it. Things got progressively worse when he got completely smashed one night and wouldn’t let my Dad drive him back to ours from the pub, he drove himself (3ish min journey) I then told him to leave his car at mine and except our offer of paying for a taxi for him, back to his (15min journey). He wasn’t having it and I ended up snapping at him because he just wouldn’t listen (expected...particularly when your sober and dealing with a drunk) he ended up getting in his car and driving home. And then continuously called me shouting all forms of abuse at me down the phone, calling me every name under the sun, and having a go because I’d snapped at him...(again can you blame me). We met up a few days later and I told him he needs to seek help for his drink problem and his anger issues (far from the first time i’d seen his anger)...he seemed to take okay to this and agree, particularly since we’re having a child together..only to find out 2 hrs later he’d downed a bottle of something and attempted to commit suicide. I got an ambulance to his house and got him to the hospital...which again he had a go at me for because I “didn’t leave him to die quietly”...he was okay and survived. Few days later I decided I had held on long enough and due to an abusive relationship history...couldn’t allow myself to go back there again, for mine and the babies sake. So I ended it, he then tried to commit suicide again...and accused me of using him for a baby, and being the blame for his suicide attempts.

He has now (3ish weeks later) decided he’s God’s gift and expects me to gain a friendship with him...when frankly I don’t feel safe around him or trust him. He’s manipulative, unstable, aggressive and a drunk.

I’ve tried to make an agreement with him which is that he will have his involvement as father but on my terms...but because apparently “because I’m to blame as well for everything that went on”, basically meaning that I lost my temper a couple times with him (again again...can you blame me!!!), that arrangement isn’t fair enough.

Ideally I don’t want him involved at all. He’s a lose canon, and I would never forgive him or myself if anything were to happen to little one because of his actions.

What do I do?!?!?

OP posts:
Bobbiepin · 25/08/2019 00:04

Tbh I would say cut him out completely and don't put him on the birth certificate. He doesn't sound like a healthy influence to have around a child.

Kiki92 · 25/08/2019 07:40

Jesus. What a terrible man.

I wouldn't normally say this but cut him entirely out and do it now before the baby arrives. No one needs that kind of toxic atmosphere in their lives, least of all a child. You'll be better off without him, I assure you.

Do you have a good support system? Are you close with your family?

bethyates2801 · 25/08/2019 10:14

My parents are amazingly supportive. They are currently looking for a bigger place for us to move to as they don’t want to leave me on my own. My only worry about cutting him out is he has started AA meetings and stuff, and if he were to attempt to take me to court, how far would he get? I’m terrified that he could take my child from me because of how manipulative he can be.

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SmartPlay · 25/08/2019 13:58

You should not cut him out completely - he is the father, for god's sake, and he has as much right to be involved in the child's life as you have. Also the baby has the right to have a relationship with it's father!

Of course you can't just leave your baby with him if he's an alcoholic or dangerous to himself or others. He will have to deal with his issues and get help, which he aparently tries to do now, or he'll have only supervised contact.

The answers here sound like people think a child is the mother's property and she can do with it whatever she pleases ... "just don't put the father in the birth certificate and prohibit contact." That's an extremely sickening attitude!

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