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PLEASE PLEASE HELP - Contact with DAD

15 replies

drainedparent · 29/06/2024 10:34

Hi I’m desperate for help. I have no other place to seek advice currently as people in my life don’t have this experience.

im 23, have a 4 year old son. Sons dad is 25 and his new girlfriend has just turned 20 a week ago. He met her end of March, and quickly introduced our son to her first week of may, left me with no choice and he had her stay overnight as there first meet. They both smoke weed. Before meeting her he smoked it outside and now he’s met her, she smokes it in the house. My son smelled of it heavily when he was picked up, and his girlfriend posted a TikTok of her smoking a joint upstairs, but my sons dad hit back with, ‘it wasn’t lit’. Her sister is a police officier so they clearly know how to technically get away with it.

his girlfriend purposely handed her keys back to her flat and moved in. They only met end of march, and then they would’ve gotten to know each other after this. My sons dad has cancelled multiple times to spend time with his girlfriend instead. Has never given me child maintenance. I set up a claim in dec of last year and it’s going to collect and pay because he provided nothing. And now he’s cut down his hours to get out of child maintenance.

my sons dad has multiple times put our sons safety at risk. From the beginning I said that I wasn’t sure about overnight stays with our son and his girlfriend, as he doesn’t even see our son regularly, our son at the the time didn’t even have a proper bed. He ignored this and left me with no choice, And our son told me he shared a bed with them, when he advised they’d be in separate rooms. This was the second sleepover they had too.

after multiple arguments and things happening around our son, I thought it was best to try and set clear boundaries but my sons dad refused unless girlfriend was present. I advised I didn’t feel comfortable as his girlfriend said I caused her miscarriage when I didn’t when she commented on mine and sons dad relationship before my son was conceived, when it was completely irrelevant and I said that was unkind and apparently it made her cry and caused her miscarriage the same day. I can do nothing right. I’ve asked to sit down with him to hear what he wants, and refuses and says I’m being controlling, but my actions are the opposite because I want to know what he wants, and hear each other out.

ive not felt comfortable dropping my son off overnight, as his dad wouldn’t speak about boundaries and previous boundaries were completely disrespected. However, I still dropped him off but advised I didn’t feel comfortable his girlfriend staying until boundaries were established. He wouldn’t reassure me his girlfriend wasn’t there, tried going for me when our son was between us to get my phone. And then switched his phone off. So me and my friend went down as I had a horrible feeling, I asked her to knock as his dad had previously went for me. She asked if our son was okay and if he girlfriend was there, because he said he’d FaceTime and didn’t and phone was off.

the next bit is wrong and I admit to the wrongness in this, but my friend then said can I have my son back as I didn’t feel comfortable. She said his house stunk of weed. Which I know he smokes it but he always said not in house. He gave my son back but the second son came in the car he stunk of weed and so did his bag. I asked my sons dad to come get his son back as I didn’t even ask my friend to collect him. I just at least needed to ensure his safety and I know his dad would use it against me if I drove away with our son. Like he did the first time he told me our son was meeting his girlfriend wouldn’t even bringing it up to me. I said I wanted to take our son home, and he started throwing stuff at my car.

so then the next week I drop our son off, my son falls over and my sons dad won’t let me even come in the house to comfort my son because his girlfriend said I can’t come in the house. This is where it affects our son. And it’s being so controlling and it was the worst thing in the world driving home when my sons elbow was drooling with blood, and could t even say in the kitchen for 5. But in the past this would’ve been no bother. I’ve just said at present I don’t feel comfortable being around his girlfriend. Btw his girlfriend has witnessed multiple times sons dad giving me verbal abuse on the phone, I don’t rise to it, or call him names back, she just thinks I deserve this.

i found the TikTok earlier this week of her smoking cannabis. He gave me verbal abuse on the phone for an hour saying it wasn’t lit. I forgot to add when I went to his the other month to collect my stuff that was there before he met his girlfriend, he had multiple packets of cocaine. She is awake he uses it too. But he had empty packets where my son stays. And I’m just too concerned for my sons safety. I don’t have my evidence wise that is my problem. Tonight our son was supposed to be staying, but If I’m honest I don’t feel like my son is safe there. Especially the lengths they went to cover up certain things, they’ve admitted to the odd lie. His girlfriend didn’t like it when she was pregnant having a bong blew in her face but she is fine smoking weed in the house and controlling things where I can’t even comfort my own son.

i don’t know what to do contact wise. I’m waiting for my sons dad to reply because I know he’ll message today asking for him overnight, but he’ll call me controlling and jealous and using my son as a friend weapon. When all the decisions he makes is to please his girlfriend and our son safety is being compromised because of it. i want to suggest a supervised visit tomorrow at a family members house, but I think he’ll flip. I don’t know what to do I feel so ill because of him, please please please help

OP posts:
Cantalever · 29/06/2024 10:46

Have read your post, and so sorry - i can hear the pain and worry for your son. I admit I know nothing about child custody rules, but otherwise will say - Don't hand your child over. Why would you put him in an unsafe, unhealthy and chaotic environment. All my instincts say keep hinm safe with you, and don't let him go there. Others will be along who know more about the legal side and custody rules, etc. But mother's instinct to protect is what is screaming out here. Is there a court order saying your ex has to have access or custody at some times? If there is no legal compulsion, keep your DC safe with you, and let your ex fight if he wants access.

Cantalever · 29/06/2024 11:32

No other messages yet with advice, OP. Could you ring Womens Aid? They might be able to advise. On Monday get an urgent appointment with a solicitor. You need to know where you stand legally if you withhold access because of your concerns. But never mind that now - over this weekend, do not let your ex have DC overnight or at all unsupervised by you or someone you trust. Keep calm. Trust your mother instincts to protect DC. 🍀🌺

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 29/06/2024 11:37

Don’t send him. No father is a thousand times better than this one.

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drainedparent · 29/06/2024 13:41

No there is no court order but it will definitely go down the legal route as his girlfriends parents are foster carers, so they will help out a lot. And with her sister being a police officer, they know how to get away with things legally like taking cocaine and smoking weed without getting caught. All I genuinely care about is my son being safe

OP posts:
drainedparent · 29/06/2024 13:43

I will try my hardest to get legal aid on Monday as I’m petrified of this affecting me negatively if I ‘stop contact’. All I’m not comfortable with now is overnights. Especially smoking weed in the house. It hurt so much emotionally my son really hurting himself and I couldn’t comfort him. But if his girlfriend was there I could’ve done? I don’t get why they should dictate why I should be able to comfort my son.

OP posts:
drainedparent · 29/06/2024 13:46

It’s so sad because he wasn’t the best parent at all before her, but he didn’t compromise his sons safety. I could 100% trust when he was there overnight he was okay. And now that’s went out of the window. It’s just so silly that he’s cutting down his hours to get out of child maintenance. Still not got any money from collect and pay yet, so all it’s done for me is free up some of his time so technically he can have our son more

i did the workings out. They met end of March and he got our son to meet her 11th May, that’s them knowing each other for 6 weeks. And when I expressed my concerns I got verbal abuse, Shopping (that I bought for him and son as he had no food for the weekend stay) chucked at my car and called controlling and wanting a hold on his life. Not that he had got her pregnant and barely knows her and is trying to blackmail me Into letting son stay.

OP posts:
Cantalever · 29/06/2024 13:55

Your ex's new girlfriend's parents are nothing to do with anything, OP. Try not to panic, but just be determined not to let your son be there overnight. I cannot imagine any legal consequences for you if you do this to protect your DC this weekend, and almost certainly in future too. Just don't let him go there, its unsafe, that's enough reason.

Cantalever · 29/06/2024 14:03

Google: Urgent Advice re. Child Access - it will come up with Citizens Advice page offering an adviser. Other organisations too, Speak to someone if you can.

Hadalifeonce · 29/06/2024 14:08

You need to ignore all the insults etc. your ex throws at you. You need to stop handing over your son to a man who happily smokes weed with him in the house, and is happy for his GF to do the same. You owe it to your son not to do this, you are putting him in danger. Stop it now.
If he wants to see his son, he can go down the legal route to do this.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 29/06/2024 14:10

The NSPCC might be of help here

Mrsm010918 · 29/06/2024 14:33

I'd just refuse to send him overnight and offer supervised access outside the home.

The legal route would cost him money, and he's specifically cut down working so that he has none, so he won't be going that route realistically will he?

Oh he'll shout and stomp his foot and make threats about it all right, but I think that's about all he'll do and it's designed to intimidate and bully you.

If he wasn't like this until he met the girlfriend I would hazard a guess that this relationship has upped his drug usage, including the addition of cocaine, and that will also be worsening his behaviour.

Ultimately though, a home with empty drug packets is not safe, and your child's safety is what is important

drainedparent · 29/06/2024 19:00

Cantalever · 29/06/2024 13:55

Your ex's new girlfriend's parents are nothing to do with anything, OP. Try not to panic, but just be determined not to let your son be there overnight. I cannot imagine any legal consequences for you if you do this to protect your DC this weekend, and almost certainly in future too. Just don't let him go there, its unsafe, that's enough reason.

my worry with the girlfriends parents is they’ll heavily support him, and help cover his tracks and provide money to help get his son, because on his side, he’ll look so hard done by
hes not messaged anymore since his message at 3am saying his girlfriend has fully moved in and wants his son more. Didn’t specify tonight so I’m just happy at least tonight it looks like he’s not asked for him and my son is safe tonight

OP posts:
drainedparent · 29/06/2024 19:05

These were the texts that he sent me at 3am. The apparently annoys me because further update on the texts he admitted it was ‘his bad’ that our son smelt like weed. Plus, my friend came with me to collect him, so I didn’t get verbally abused and she said herself he smelt like it before I did, and at that point she didn’t know sons dad smoked it.

the message seems well thought out, he did t craft it himself and why did he send at 3am

PLEASE PLEASE HELP - Contact with DAD
PLEASE PLEASE HELP - Contact with DAD
OP posts:
drainedparent · 29/06/2024 19:07

Hadalifeonce · 29/06/2024 14:08

You need to ignore all the insults etc. your ex throws at you. You need to stop handing over your son to a man who happily smokes weed with him in the house, and is happy for his GF to do the same. You owe it to your son not to do this, you are putting him in danger. Stop it now.
If he wants to see his son, he can go down the legal route to do this.

i know if you read the texts I have attached too, he said his girlfriend makes his environment safer. And yeah she might help clean up and help him stay or cocaine, she’s the one that influenced him to smoke in the house, because if her cerebral palsy, but she can get down them, and she shouldn’t have given up her flat. They should’ve spent time at her flat instead of his

OP posts:
drainedparent · 29/06/2024 19:11

Mrsm010918 · 29/06/2024 14:33

I'd just refuse to send him overnight and offer supervised access outside the home.

The legal route would cost him money, and he's specifically cut down working so that he has none, so he won't be going that route realistically will he?

Oh he'll shout and stomp his foot and make threats about it all right, but I think that's about all he'll do and it's designed to intimidate and bully you.

If he wasn't like this until he met the girlfriend I would hazard a guess that this relationship has upped his drug usage, including the addition of cocaine, and that will also be worsening his behaviour.

Ultimately though, a home with empty drug packets is not safe, and your child's safety is what is important

He has cut down his hours, and this is where his girlfriend and parents come in. They would happily give him the money needed for court. Happily. I know he does it to bully me and get his own way. It’s sad because from the beginning I’ve been so open to his wishes etc, he started putting our son less and started jeopardising his safety and kicking off when things didn’t go his way. Like when I was shocked he didn’t even mention, didn’t mention, that our son was meeting his girlfriend (after only 6 weeks after him meeting his girlfriend) and massively threw a paddy in the car, screaming at me whilst driving then throwing things at the car. But his girlfriend understood because apparently I made him react like that. I think his cocaine up was before he met her, she did drugs at the house they met, then she told him she doesn’t really do coke, so they both apparently stopped, and he’ll tell his girlfriend honestly when he takes it. That’s what my sons dad told me before it kicked off.

OP posts:
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