Help wording message to ex

[SourTwister]

I want to reach out to my ex but don’t know how, can anyone help or suggest a message to send? For context he contacted me in the summer and asked to see the kids again but I felt too much time had passed (2 years) and due to past inconsistency I felt he had been absent too long to just come back when he felt like it, but I have since changed my mind and would like to restart contact. How can I get back in contact now though without it looking strange? Was thinking he would message at Xmas as he usually does but he didn’t so I am not sure how to word a message to him about restarting contact again, has anyone been in this situation and got back into contact with an absent father and how did you initiated it?

How about -

‘I’ve been considering what you asked in the summer, about re-starting contact with the kids. I can’t pretend I was happy when you suggested it, as you haven’t been reliable in the past and it is really important that the kids don’t get hurt by you behaving in the same way if and when they start to get to know you again.
However, you are their Dad and from their point of view, I don’t want to block contact, if it’s your intention to build a secure and solid relationship with them. How do you see things proceeding?’

Or something along those lines?
Hope all goes well, if he does resume contact.

This is perfect. Perhaps tell him you'd be willing to attend mediation if he organizes it to make a child centred plan. Make him do some work and also this is the right process legally. If he just left it I wouldn't hold my breath for him to be proactive though.