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Parenting

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How can I protect my children while co-parenting with an abusive ex

28 replies

Sunshine231 · 15/07/2026 22:17

How do you raise good human beings when you are co parenting with an abusive man? I recently separated from my kids dad. He is still really aggressive in front of the kids when we do hand overs. Tonight for example he had picked up one kid from school and took them to the shop before bringing back to me. Our child came home in floods of tears saying his dad had been shouting at him in the shop. My ex became instantly abusive calling our son a prck and telling me to shut the fck up multiple times so that our toddler started repeating it. This is not a one off behaviour. The kids have been dysregulated all evening and I’m now sat in tears because I feel like I am still failing them even after leaving the relationship. How can I expect my kids to be decent people when they witness their dad being aggressive all the time? I don’t know how to mitigate his awful behaviour to protect them 😣

OP posts:
DogAnxiety · 16/07/2026 19:29

Also, please do not, ahem, rely on ChatGPT or similar for advice on what to do. It is not good.

bettyrubble99 · 16/07/2026 20:35

Sunshine231 · 16/07/2026 12:09

What is to stop him just coming round my house demanding to see them though? I don’t really want to be scared in my own home and I also don’t want the kids seeing him kicking off again. Also I’m afraid he could just pick them up from school and take them and then refuse to let me have them back. He has parental responsibility so can the school really refuse to let him pick them up? And the police would not be able to do anything if he did 😣

A non-molestation order. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-non-molestation-or-occupation-order-fl401

Apply for a non-molestation or occupation order: Form FL401

Ask the court to make an order protecting you and any relevant child from abuse or harassment by a named person, or to prevent them living in your home.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-non-molestation-or-occupation-order-fl401

Cheeseandolivesplease · 17/07/2026 09:52

@bettyrubble99 You are correct. As he has PR he has the right to collect them from school. The school will be obliged to release the child/children unless there is a Court Order in place prohibiting this. There is nothing at all illegal about this.

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