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Parenting

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Ex keeping all clothing

35 replies

Qwertylkjhg · 27/06/2024 07:18

Hey

Summarising, left my ex 18 months ago.
Parallel parenting with a narcissist, following basic rules like yellow rock, BIFF, JADE.

We exchanged via school in term time.

Sadly it means PE/Uniform days are mixed, it's not go to school in one and come back in the same.

School don't want to get involved or be responsible so getting changed at school and leaving uniform there, isn't viable. I've been in tears the past two weeks as I'm sending my boys in with the wrong uniform daily because their father won't return items. He even sent them back in old school shoes this week that are too small, even though I've purchased 4 pairs for our boys since September as he kept widthholding them.

Every week he returns them in clothes too small or too big (our youngest, he sends in 6/7 so it's too big; our eldest, he sends in the same so it's too small). I will return his uniform but he never returns mine. Often he sends them back in shoes too small or only one set, I've had to repurchase shoes multiple times - I've been patient, he only returns them once he's seen on the school photo app that I've repurchased. Part of his stupid "I'll bankrupt you" campaign I have in writing from him.

He keeps messaging me to 'let me know' he has my uniform but hasn't returned it. He's done this before and implied I need to ask him for it if I want him back. He won't return anything otherwise. He literally hoards our belongings - I've labelled them mum's, too! Last time he dropped off a whole bag for life filled up. And it wasn't even my stuff, it was old clothes that didn't fit them or were totally ruined.. stained with ink and paint and other things not even a 2hr wash or soak could get out.

I'm officially at the point I cannot purchase anymore. I do not have the funds. I'm dealing with 70% of my income going out to solicitors to get our court order amended due to his continued malicious behaviour. I'm literally living off of pennies the next few months while I clear bills, as I also have to accommodate normal bills, fuel for work/school (I cannot move schools without his consent, and I have to drive them as it's not within walking distance of our new place whereas it is for him!), food etc. I'm praying after court, money will be better.

I'm at my wits end. I've never met someone so malicious they would punish their children to get to the other parent. I know it's also so he can campaign he's the better parent - the school thought I was just being unorganised. I've had to explain the situation and offer my receipts to prove actually, I've been replacing monthly like clockwork.

Today, I'm going to lose my last set of PE kit for my eldest. I'm stressed because he even widthheld the brand new trainers for 2 weeks, saying they were gifted to him when they weren't. Every single message is malicious and argumentative - even my solicitors had enough of him.

Is there any solution to this? Usually they go to his in normal uniform, and come back in his PE kit. I return his weekly. Once a month he gets two sets from both due to extra curricular activities I have them in. Or like today, it's an event day.

I even handmade a Snail outfit for our youngest, I sewed everything on and spent hours and he won't give it back. My youngest is heartbroken as he's asked me for it and I've had to tell him it's at his dad's, I can't buy or make a new one, and he will get upset because his dad said he can't take it to mum's.

I just don't know what to do anymore

Sadly it's not something courts are interested in, either. I just can't do it anymore and it hurts to see my kids upset - I had to cut my youngest trousers into shorts this week as their dad took all the brand new shorts.

He even does it with their pants - I have to send them in smaller pants or old pants as he takes the lot. It's not even like he takes 50%, he takes everything.

😔 any advice is appreciated.

OP posts:
Beamur · 27/06/2024 11:38

Your response is what he's seeking. Absolute shit behaviour to weaponise the kids like this.
Don't engage.
Try again with the school.
Don't return clothes to his or send spares. Tell the kids they have clothes at Dads. You don't need to provide clothes for time at his house, that's his job.
You could ask the school if you can take any unclaimed lost property for PE kit - they will almost certainly have some you can have. Especially at the end of summer term when they probably have a clear out. Ditto put on Facebook that you're after certain sizes of school uniform if anyone is clearing out outgrown stuff.
Get some decent second hand clothes - cheap bundles of decent brands from somewhere like Vinted. Ditto shoes - send the kids in clothes that fit but don't cost the earth.
The less you react, the less enjoyment he will get from punishing you.
Once the kids are a bit older if this is still happening change the pattern of residency so there are few/no swaps from school.
The kids will wise up to this before long. It's truly shitty behaviour.

RoséProsecco · 27/06/2024 12:06

Mine did this too - a combination of being domestically useless but also controlling too.

I did the following:

  • only communicating with him in writing / no texts or phone calls.
  • emailed him y to o state that items were not returned & he was not acting in the children's best interest.
  • said to leave things out on a Wednesday & Sunday at 7pm for collection/exchsnge.
  • let the school know - they were happy to keep a spare set on school that the child would change in to.
  • I will not provide clothes for his contact time at weekends or holidays.
  • whatever he sends them in, I launder & send them back in.
  • I instruct them to put items in their school bags dirty & I will wash them at home.

It's spectacularly shitty behaviour & you will never win with it.

Qwertylkjhg · 27/06/2024 22:25

Thank you everyone.

He conveniently messaged today (family support worker just gave me loads of donated clothes, too!) stating he has our uniform again and is going to return it.

I'm not holding my breath and the family support worker has solved my problem for at least a month if not more - she kindly dropped a whole bin bag!

Just going to wait and see if he actually returns anything as he messaged 2 weeks ago stating he had our uniform then, and never returned it.

I'll also push the school more with the support workers aid; I've got receipts so I can prove to them I've been purchasing over and over. I just need the kids to get changed at school into the old uniform; it's the only real solution I can come up with.

My works 45 minutes away and the school don't let the kids out early (viewed as disruptive, as prior to having a court order I would request early collection via the other door to avoid him).

We have the family support worker specifically because my relationship with the school is so damaged - he was constantly messaging me he had spoken to them and they weren't going to help me. I'm not sure why they're so resistant in offering support, even getting the kids into ELSA had to be requested by outside services as I got dismissed.

Thank you everyone, I am grateful for the advice and am noting it down for ideas I can present to my solicitor.

OP posts:

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RandomMess · 27/06/2024 23:38

Can you move all communication over to a court approved app so it's admissible as court evidence?

Once you have done that. You could send factually messages.

You have returned X and Y in clothes that are too small and very stained, meanwhile you have 4 set of school uniform each that I purchased and are labelled that you haven't used to clothe them or return to me. Y is upset that he had to wear ill fitting uniform and shoes that are too small and hurt his feet. Please advise when you will drop them off.

Then when he does return:

Thank you for returning the following clothing belonging to X labelled as purchased by me:
Long list of clothing items

And so on.

You can comment in advance.

You have 3 complete sets of school uniform and 4 sets of out of school clothing and have only sent the children to school and home in unsuitable clothing that is at least 2 sizes too small. As you are aware I cannot afford more. Please send the DC in these clothing or ones you have purchased that is the correct size so they are upset.

RoséProsecco · 28/06/2024 08:01

From experience, getting the school on board really helped me, as my narcissistic ex liked to put on a good public show & was furious that those showed him up for what he was.

But it's exhausting keeping records & carrying the mental load of dealing with this nonsense - which is exactly what he wants coercive control through uniform.

And sadly courts don't give a shit about this kind of stuff - as long as children have a relationship with their father.
Good luck, OP.

Wingingitstepmum · 16/10/2024 11:12

Oh I’ve never read a post I can relate to more.

Our situation is the other way round with the mum withholding clothes and any information in regards to school.

2 boys aged 7 & 10.

We have a schedule that means the boys stay a different houses mid week so uniform & PE kits go back to the opposite house. I wash & iron the boys clothes at our house and we return back when they get dropped back home. We have to send a text with the list of items we need back.

She pushes back every time “I just pack their school stuff for you and keep it all here”. We did used to do this but she loves the power and control of not giving us everything the kids need to wear the next day. Giving us wrong sizes or just completely rotten clothes. Even dirty and inside out where the boys have taken it off.

This year I bought uniform for our house. Labelled it all. So this was all extra that she didn’t know was bought. So when we ask for the PE outfits we sent them to school in that week back it was bought as extra so her excuse of needing it is invalid as she already has her own.

I’ve lost count of how many trainers, school uniform items, football boots, wellies etc I’ve repurchased over the last year to accommodate for things just being kept at her house.

Their mum works in their school so we cannot even speak to the school.

I just keep a record of all receipts of purchases. Keep a log of all message exchanges regarding asking for items to be returned back to our house so that it’s ready for the boys and organised so they always have what they need for the day of school we send them in.

Theres not much else that can be done. We don’t involve kids much as it’s not their fault they live in 2 houses. Plus they think we are speaking badly of their mum when we say we haven’t had something back. I think going back to court and changing days will be help but it’s the money side of it all.

Our house is calm and loving and runs so much smoother without her trying to control every aspect. Unfortunately their goal is to cause chaos and make you look like the disorganised parent who can’t get their kids dressed for school. Never give reactions. Kill with kindness and always remain calm and pleasant. As the children get older they will see things more clearly and understand where the chaos is.

I do feel your pain but don’t let your ex “win” by playing nasty games using the kids. When your kids are older ask them to ensure certain things are packed up. It’s not nice to involve them but we can only teach them to look after and manage their belongings. Just never say anything about the other parent just keep it nice and airy on the topic of now you’re older you can be in charge of having ‘x’ in your bag.

God it’s a battlefield with some parents but it does get better I promise.

2Little · 16/10/2024 11:42

Have you got a parenting app? It might help with commutation. Take a look at our family wizard.

Andwhatfreshhellisthis · 16/10/2024 11:44

sleepyscientist · 27/06/2024 07:22

Either send a large male family member round to get it back or ring the police as it's theft and you want their help to get it back to prevent a breech of the peace

This. Mine was written into the court order that he had to return items.

Qwertylkjhg · 16/10/2024 14:44

Wingingitstepmum · 16/10/2024 11:12

Oh I’ve never read a post I can relate to more.

Our situation is the other way round with the mum withholding clothes and any information in regards to school.

2 boys aged 7 & 10.

We have a schedule that means the boys stay a different houses mid week so uniform & PE kits go back to the opposite house. I wash & iron the boys clothes at our house and we return back when they get dropped back home. We have to send a text with the list of items we need back.

She pushes back every time “I just pack their school stuff for you and keep it all here”. We did used to do this but she loves the power and control of not giving us everything the kids need to wear the next day. Giving us wrong sizes or just completely rotten clothes. Even dirty and inside out where the boys have taken it off.

This year I bought uniform for our house. Labelled it all. So this was all extra that she didn’t know was bought. So when we ask for the PE outfits we sent them to school in that week back it was bought as extra so her excuse of needing it is invalid as she already has her own.

I’ve lost count of how many trainers, school uniform items, football boots, wellies etc I’ve repurchased over the last year to accommodate for things just being kept at her house.

Their mum works in their school so we cannot even speak to the school.

I just keep a record of all receipts of purchases. Keep a log of all message exchanges regarding asking for items to be returned back to our house so that it’s ready for the boys and organised so they always have what they need for the day of school we send them in.

Theres not much else that can be done. We don’t involve kids much as it’s not their fault they live in 2 houses. Plus they think we are speaking badly of their mum when we say we haven’t had something back. I think going back to court and changing days will be help but it’s the money side of it all.

Our house is calm and loving and runs so much smoother without her trying to control every aspect. Unfortunately their goal is to cause chaos and make you look like the disorganised parent who can’t get their kids dressed for school. Never give reactions. Kill with kindness and always remain calm and pleasant. As the children get older they will see things more clearly and understand where the chaos is.

I do feel your pain but don’t let your ex “win” by playing nasty games using the kids. When your kids are older ask them to ensure certain things are packed up. It’s not nice to involve them but we can only teach them to look after and manage their belongings. Just never say anything about the other parent just keep it nice and airy on the topic of now you’re older you can be in charge of having ‘x’ in your bag.

God it’s a battlefield with some parents but it does get better I promise.

Bless you, what a horrible mum! Poor kids 😔 I can't imagine what goes through her head.
We have all ours labelled and it still doesn't come back or he cuts them out now (I know as I stamp inside the lining, I don't think he has noticed!). Does labelling yours help at all? I was hoping it would with us.

Sigh, we are still ongoing. Lost the majority of new boxers, no trousers returned this term so far, lots of messages claiming we stole his belongings/aren't returning (I haven't 😑); had to buy more trousers this week. It's just bankrupting. It's in our court order now, but it's not enforceable. He's threatened me saying he "has enough messages" to prove I'm not returning items. Him claiming that I've stolen from him, is just a narrative... I could lie too, but I haven't. I also don't want to engage with the conflict he's looking for. I'm praying if he takes me to court, they don't just side with him because he has BS in an app.

He already hurt one of our kids putting them in pants too small (DS told me), he got cut (chafing) by them. No way am I going to copy that. I don't want to explain to my kids as teens, that I prioritized money over their welfare. Finding secondhand uniform in their size seems to be a competition at the moment but 🤞.

OP posts:
Wingingitstepmum · 16/10/2024 18:06

To be honest since the kids started back at school their school uniform schedule of wearing uniform or PE kits has worked probably a lot better than previous years with what our schedule is for the kids being with us.

So we have the boys week 1:
Tuesday pick up from school stay over.
Arrive in uniform and we send in with PE kit Wednesday. I bag up their uniform with shoes and blazers etc and my partner drops it to her house and we have an outside storage box.

Thursday pick up from school stay over.
Arrive in uniform and we send them to school in uniform so I swap out any dirty for clean items.

They stay with us until Sunday evening. So they go back to their mums in normal clothes.

We need back the Wednesday PE kits including all shoes and then Sunday clothes.

The following week we have the boys on just Thursday so they arrive in school uniform and they go to school Friday in school uniform and back to their mums. This week there’s nothing we need back.

Labelling has helped as she sometimes packs back something with “our” label on out of spite where I’ve perhaps swapped a dirty school jumper for a fresh one but because it has “our” label on she wants to give it back to be petty. It’s not a matter of “ours” and “hers” it’s just the boys school clothes I’m happy for swaps etc it’s just that when she would pack a bag for us and send the oldest to school with it she would deliberately not pack it correct so that it would make dads house the disorganised house that couldn’t get them dressed for school. So that’s why this school year I bought extra for us to have all kept at our house so we don’t rely on her giving us what she wants. It was about being in control. Making my partner ask her for their clothes. So he would have to text her.

The boys school outfits isn’t a game to me. I also won’t stand for coercive control over anyone. I don’t engage in arguments or tit for tat. If the boys are with us more than one night I wash and iron all school clothes to return to her so I have peace of mind it’s fresh for them. We’ve even said to her not to wash ours just simply shove it in a bag (as she normally does) I just want it back in my house so I have time to wash and sort and capture what’s missing with enough time to either request missing item back to replace.

it’s like the uniform tracking is a full time job.

Completely agree with underwear I constantly buy their correct sizes but it also ends up at her house and I have to eliminate small sized stuff here. I’ve even bought packs of new socks and underwear previously and put in the bag when returning stuff. In the hope she’ll sort the old ones away and put new ones in place. Can only do so much.

Like you said it’s just a Malicious game they want to punish the other parent because they can’t control you they’ll use the kids as weapons. Keep calm and positive, over time the kids will age (don’t want to wish their life away) but the need to do all this will one day be gone when the kids can pack their own bags.

Sadly my partners ex has conditioned her oldest son and he’s very loyal to his mum so we do tread carefully. He’s very protective over her. We do not say anything bad about her in front of the kids. We just display a normal loving home environment in the hope as they grow older they can see with their own eyes the difference and work out for themselves she’s controlling over them. As she wants to control everyone.

I do wish sometimes I had double bluffed her and let her think she’s controlling me for the sack of the kids not being the main target now, but I instantly worked her out and took no nonsense off of her. Now we are forever punished with her manipulating the kids against us and poisoning them. The plan is to not engage and correct them where we can age appropriate and just be there for them and remind them of our truth. We love them. We’re always here for them. They can always come to us no matter how big or small a problem is. I listen and offer comfort at their ages and validate their feelings so much. “Oh I know how tough this is for you, must be hard, you’re doing so well”.

I might mention now I do speak to a therapist once a week. Not ideal, but I do need it to keep me on track mentally for my own sake and my partners and the boys. They’re all victims of mental and emotional abuse by the ex/mum. I can’t fix it all. I wish I could put at end to it all so I just keep our house nice and a safe environment for everyone to unwind and be their true self.

God I need a glass of wine when those boys are older and I can look back and say I made it 🤣

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