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Can my ex just turn up when he wants to see our daughter?

2 replies

Kbop82 · 09/04/2024 17:30

Hi I have been a single mum for just shy of five yrs and divorced for almost three.
I share a DD aged 10 with my ex, he is due to get married again in July this year. I am quite content in my own life. When my DD turned 10 as previously agreed I brought her a phone with all social media links blocked, she has what's app and is on several family groups.
But she joined my ex's family tracker app as well as another one I have installed.
At the beginning of the Easter holiday as a treat after dinner I took her to see kung fu panda 4 it was an evening showing, but as it was the holidays. I thought it would be a nice treat for her, and she could relax in the morning/ have a lay in as we wouldn't be home until 10ish.
Well on the way to the cinema, he started ringing her and asking what she was up to? When she told him he said that was late. -the cinema is a deviation from our normal route and she doesn't usually go out much in the evenings with me.
After that little incident, I decided to temp pause her location sharing on his family app. The phone calls over the weekend increased.
Fast forward to her week with him and he removed her phone from her for two days. Stopping her from her daily messages to me.
He has also complained that she spends all hours on the phone. But actually she has daily limits (3hrs/day) and times the phone locks out so she can't use it after 8pm.
I also don't look at the location when she's with him as I feel that's there time

On to, today he has turned up randomly on my doorstep saying he wants to see her. But he sees her once a week for tea and alternate weekends, as well as extra allocated time during the holidays. When I explained she was out playing on the play field with her friends close by l, he went off looking for her. He then reported back that he 'had found her'
When i tried to discuss him not just turning up, he blew me off.

He also keeps turning up at places and calling her a lot to see what she's up to. It feels like he is tracking her.

What can I do? Is he allowed to just turn up?

During our relationship he was very controlling and frequently stopped me going out or seeing friends.

For clarification shes had the phone since March and I now turn off his location sharing app when she is with me but back on when she goes to his.

OP posts:
Kbop82 · 09/04/2024 17:53

Also since I left him I have only ever had x2 occasions where a night out has clashes with my weekend with DD.

  1. When I was bridesmaid at my friend's wedding- on this occasion I left DD with my parents for the day. I then stupidly posted a picture of myself made up on social media. One of his friends told him and he rang my parents to see where we were and what we were doing. When he found out my parents were looking after DD. He rang me and insisted in the future that on all occasions where I go out. I check that he cannot look DD first. He was quite aggressive to myself and my parents at the time
  2. When I had tickets to see the filming of strictly come dancing. -we stuck to the above but he was busy and said his mum would take care of DD. I explained that wouldn't be necessary and my dad spent the day with both his Grand children and they had a lovely time

But then in the lead up to Christmas he asked for some extra time, as I was working the sat before Christmas, during the daytime. I said he could have her for the night. But he and his partner went out to a party and got a babysitter to look after her. When I challenged them, they said they were having her for extra time as a favour to me. I explained that I thought we had a set arrangement about nights out. Subsequently my next night out/ event that clashes I won't be running past them anymore.

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 09/04/2024 18:05

During our relationship he was very controlling and frequently stopped me going out or seeing friends.

Looks like he's starting the same on dd.

I would talk to her in an age appropriate way about stalking and controlling behaviours - maybe in terms.of friends etc. Let her know she doesn't need to answer her phone evertime it rings (except to the parent she is with at the time - for safety).

You might need to get the police involved if he keeps turning up on you and harassing you. Be sure to tell him.to stay away and leave you alone. Not sure how they'd view him turning up on her though it has to be a difficult one. She'll likely vote with her feet before much longer and refuse to go to him if he continues with the controlling.

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