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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

am i being irrational about residency ?

45 replies

armbow · 12/10/2010 20:29

first off, I know that a father of his children has the right to 50/50 parenting and I have in no way ever stopped my h coming to spend time with the dcs as i know how much they love him.

i talk about him positively in front of my 2 young children because i know how much they love him (despite of it sticking in my throat as he walked out on his family)

the thing is he had an affair and is still with this woman 3 months on - he introduced her for the first time today and the children came home with presents from her and i am in pieces.

i have no idea how to cope with this part of the break up. When my h left (just over 3 months ago) i loved him dearly and it was very very hard for me at first. over time i have learnt to live without him and my life is getting better, thank god. the children and i are settling into our new house and things are going ok.

then boom today i feel as though she has moved in on my family and i feel anxious and panicky that maybe h will start to fight for more access or even worse residency, she has a ready made family on a plate and i will lose my babies.

rationally i know that this is very far fetched but i have this stomach gripping fear - please help me with advice on how the hell to cope with this fear i don't know what to do.

(h sees them about twice a week at the moment but has not yet had them over night as is staying with a mate)

i have been a sahm for most of my children's lives (they are 2 and 4) and I have recently started to work from home so i can make ends meet now that i am on my own.

OP posts:
trickortreatplease · 13/10/2010 09:34

Hello AB, read your thread and I really sympathise as I dread the day this happens with my H and the OW. I liked some of the advice earlier in the thread. Take each day at a time and try not to be anxious it is highly unlikely he'll want 50 50 access as he's as selfish as my H and they'd lose a lot of freedom ((hugs))

It's teaandcakeplease here from our other thread Smile

gettingeasier · 13/10/2010 12:24

AB what a twunt that is completely inappropriate as she isnt around long as I understood it.

I doubt this has anything to do with residency and everything to do with showing off his dc and what a wonderful father he is to her.

I wouldnt worry about it but I do understand how painful that must have been, presents ffs [anger]

IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowIt · 13/10/2010 17:06

Hi AB, I can see how worrying it must be. The presents thing is crap and I have had that too.

But from all that you have said I think it's unlikely he would try for shared care. So I would take one step at a time, keep on being the great mum that you are and I expect he will return to his usual self shortly

Bloodandsnakesplease · 13/10/2010 17:23

Loving this thread

Bloodandsnakesplease · 13/10/2010 17:28

Oops thought I'd posted this on our ditched thread, not AB's thread. Sorry lovely lady Blush

WhenwillIfeelnormal · 13/10/2010 17:41

Oh armbow I think he's far too selfish and self-absorbed to seriously challenge you for custody or even a shared parenting arrangement. Personally, I think it was selfish of him to introduce the OW to your DCs so quickly after your break-up, especially as it looks hardly likely this relationship is going to last very long.

I ache for you having to hear the DCs' excitement over her and their presents. In later years when they finally learn the truth of her role in events, I'll bet they'll resent their father for putting them and you through that experience.

On a separate note though, after all the speculation we had on your initial threads about whether there was an OW, I'm glad you've at least discovered what he was really capable of and that he was deceiving you all along. I think that will help you to move on now, because his mask about being a "decent man in turmoil" has been stripped to reveal the common-or-garden adulterer that he was, with an extra dose of cowardice thrown in.

There won't be many more days worse than that one in the future armbow - already you are seeing little gifts coming your way, to remind you that life is starting to reward you for the pain of the past 2 years.

armbow · 13/10/2010 17:57

thank you getting, happy and wwifn

i feel a bit better now tbh, it was the shock last night - i like her even less now (if that is possible Hmm) because i think a decent human being would

A) have not been in this situation to begin with

B) or if they had found themselves in this situation they would have given gifts that could have been consumed at the time (a packet of choc buttons for example) and not stuff that she knew would be taken back to my house and obviously piss me off.

but that is her intention isn't it? to get me to react and slag her off to h - she has also done other very public displays of affection whilst she has been here, she is like a tom cat spraying her territory - she must feel threatened (god I hope she does)

i shall rise above it, so far i behaved with dignity and i intend to carry on this way.

no worries tea, Grin

OP posts:
wheredidmyfeetgo · 13/10/2010 18:13

Armbow my heart goes out to you, I am just giving my two gorgeous boys their dinner before I take them and their 14 week old sister up for a bath and then to bed. I shall be back to comment after that with glass of wine in hand to share my experience with you- if you like. But you are not alone!

armbow · 13/10/2010 20:51

would love to hear your experience wheredidmyfeetgo Smile

OP posts:
wheredidmyfeetgo · 13/10/2010 22:01

Armbow I don't know if they will be helpful but maybe comforting to know that you're
not the only one going through this.
On march 17th this year my fiancée told me we were having problems and he wanted a trial seperation/ needed some space. At this point I was around 25 weeks pregnant with our 3rd baby our other two children being 3.5 years and 2.5 years. I wanted us to stay together as it was a total bolt out the blue, I didn't have a clue we were having problems. I suggested councelling as well as many other things all of which he rejected. I took the kids away a couple of weeks later to give him some space. In those few days he didn't call or text me. I decided to come back early, when I got home he wasn't there and neither was his wasbag. I got the boys to bed and went into the spare room leaving the rest of the house untouched. He finally got in about 1 am- on his own. He was surprised to see me and said he had stayed at his friends for a couple of nights. Something in my gut told me something was up so I checked his was bag- in there I found a note saying " hello sexy give us a smile". I kept asking him that night if he was seeing someone and he denyed it even when I confronted him with the note. He then tried to call my bluff and said I could check his phone. Eventually he let me see his phone whilst trying to delete messages at this point his heart was pounding so loud he didn't need to say anything. The next 6 weeks or so were hell I got signed off work as I was soo stressed about it. He keept seeing her and still coming back having the family life when it suited him. I took the boys away in may for mine and the kids sake to try and refocus on me being a mum and to look after my bump. Whilst I was away she came round to our house- he moved all my things into the spare room as it turns out he'd told her that we had been seperated for 6/7 months and we only found out about the baby after we split, but we were still living together. The weekend we got back he'd arranged a day out for the boys. There was no invite for me and I knew that he was going to spend the day with her. I questioned him so many times and give him chance to tell the truthbut he didn't!
I kicked him out at the end of may and he moved straight in with her.
Our baby was born on 30th June and he was there for her birth at home. He was supposed to spend his two weeks pat leave with us but didn't- he didn't even stay for the first night of his daughters life! He went away with her during his pat leave! She was born on weds and on the sat, his ow emailed him the pictures of their day out in may. He had only been seeing her all of 6 weeks and he introduced our sons to her whilst I was still pregnant with his third.
I moved out of the family home when my daughter was 4 weeks old mainly so he would have somewhere to spend time with his kids on his own as taking them to hers was not acceptable to me.
We started off pretty much doing 50% split with care, when he would collect the boys after work he would also take our daughter ( even though breastfed) and I would go and puck her up at 10pm. I realise now I should hAve never let that happen as it nearly destroyed me. It was bad enough the boys going but letting all 3 go everyother night was heartbreaking I just used to sit and cry. I suspected that his girlfriend was spending time with them in the evenings but he just denyed it even though our eldest son was saying different. 4 weeks after I left the family home I got my proof she was there with my boys and my 9 week old daughter. To this day I still do not know how I didn't storm in and at least get my baby girl back. I felt so physically sick I was beside myself. He dropped my daughter off claiming his mate was round with the boys but obviously I knew it was her. And had to deal with the fact she had probably helped bath my boys and tuck them in bed and kiss them goodnight all when I was 9 weeks postnatal. And that she would have also been cuddling my baby girl. She was fast asleep when he dropped her off, but I woke her up and bathed her becaused I couldn't stand the thought of her hands on my baby! And my poor boys came back the next day asking me why daddy and X sleep on the living room floor.
It was then his weekend to have the boys, he promised me he was having them by himself and going to his parents. He said he would text to let me know they were there safe- by 10pm I still hadn't heard. But I had text his ow and she said that she was at a gig but had spoken to him at lunchtime and they were fine. Low and behold she lied as much as him as she was there with him. The went to an airshow and then to stay with his parents! Playing happy families with my
boys at his parents house (they were there and didn't say anything) when I had his 8.5 week old baby!
I've just realised the weekend at patents happened before the night at his house with her and my baby there. So he was supposed to be taking them away for a long weekend with all his family the first weekend in sept- something that was arranged for our family when we were together. After I found out about her being there with our chikdren in the week I said he wouldn't be taking the boys away as planned. After some arguements and discussions I agreed to him taking them as he promised me she wasn't going to be there. But I knew as soon as he picked them up she would be there. So he got to play daddy with puffed up chest infront of her and all his family. When the boys came back I spike to his mum and she cried and apologised and confirmed she was there. Our poor boys were so confused they wouldn't talk about their weekend away. At the end of that week he went away on a biking holiday with his mates so I went to see a solicitor. He got back on the Sunday then I went away with the kids on Monday to the following Monday. My letter to him from the solicitor outlined new contact which is ties and thurs eves collect after work and drop back to me bathed and ready for bed. Then every other weekend collect at 9 am sat and drop back bathed ready for bed 8pm sun. Contact is to take place at his house and she must nit be there. He is allowed to spend an hour at my house on thurs after dropping the boys back to bath and feed his daughter. This agreement started on 28th sept and the boys are so much more settled. Emotionally I feel alot better- I was close to ending it all as it hurt so much. All the stress was and still is affecting my milk supply, but at least I'm more in control.
He replied to my solicitors letter wanting to basically go back to the original contact arrangements. I nearly went straight back to give him more but my solicitor has told me to stick to what we've outlined.
He booked us into family mediation on Friday but I won't be agreeing to anything without speaking to my solicitor first and thinking if it's in the childrens best interests.
Sorry this is soo long I haven't really posted since march so I have a lot to spill. If you want to chat then feel free to message me, I do know what you're going through and how crappy it feels.
Take care

armbow · 13/10/2010 22:13

omg wheredidmy - you are one amazing lady - your strength is inspirational. you made the right choice. 100%

it sounds like you were put through hell

thank you so much for your post it has made me really think about things (and it made me cry!)

OP posts:
Bloodandsnakesplease · 13/10/2010 22:42

Wheredidmyfeetgo - that is truly awful Sad

Armbow, me and lots of other ladies are on a lovely support thread for women who have been ditched, if you'd like to join us? weblink here It's a lovely growing community x

wheredidmyfeetgo · 13/10/2010 22:50

I've just got through it because of my kids- they are my world.
Going to the solicitor was the best thing I did. Ultimately with a newborn it has to be what's best for mum and baby, if mum isn't happy how can she function as a mum to any of her children.
It's just coming up to 7 month since I found out we were having problems but it's taken me that long to get back on here again.
There is so much more to my story but I just tried to keep with the bits that were similar to what you're experiencing.
I'm doing this on my iPhone, I am going to borrow a laptop and do a looooong post on here about what's has happened and what ive been through. I'm going to do it as therpy for me. It's taking up so much of my head space yet I don't want to forget about it yet. So at least if I write it down it's out of my head but I can still revisit if I want to.
I don't think i'm in a place to give advice but I can certinaly lend an ear.
Just remember she will never replace you as mum and that alone will be a big enough threat to her. ( his ow said in a text to him "an ex is an ex" er I don't think so, I'm the mother of his children!)

Pumpkinsobtainsallthings · 13/10/2010 23:02

Much respect to you WDMFG you are a strong strong lady ,big love sent to you and ur babies x

BaggyAgy · 13/10/2010 23:26

Hi, I have only read your initial post, it is very late, so I thought I might try to help you rather than not. If you have had all the help you need, then sorry for the repetition.

You say you are a SAHM, so you have been the primary carer of your children. Only in unusual circumstances, none of which you indicate, would a court remove children from their primary carer and grant a Residence (NOT Residency) Order to the other parent.

Your H left the children in your care. If he had serious concerns about your parenting, he would not have left the children in your care. He cannot now allege that your parenting is inadequate and that the children should be removed from you and that he should be granted a Residence order. He left them with you expressing no concerns about your ability to care for them. He didn't take them with him. Had he been worried about their welfare, he would have taken them with him.

Your children, like all children, need one settled home. Flitting about between 2 homes is disrupting for them. They need to know where they live and who their primary carer is. You have always been their primary carer and there is no apparent reason why that should change. Courts believe that change is detrimental for children and should be avoided.

The non resident parent usually has contact (formerly called access) on alternate weekends. Your H has not had staying contact for 3 months. It is most unlikely that a parent who has not even had staying contact would be granted a Residence order. Younger children often find staying overnight away from their primary home, very difficult. If you think they are too young, say so. Children whose parents have recently separated are often very sensitive and do not want further change, ie. sleeping away from home. State what contact you think the children can tolerate and offer only that. Ask your H not to give the children presents as this is confusing for them, it is artificial (it's not Xmas) and looks like an attempt by OW to buy their affection, or an attempt by their father to assuage his guilt at leaving them. State this, it usually stops such behaviour.

If you are a SAHM or if you work part-time, you are obviously more available to care for your children than is your H if he works full-time. An OW is almost invariably never considered a suitable person to care for children if the children's mother is adequate. If it ever came to it, you could always suggest stopping work so that you would be available to care full-time.

Sometimes Fathers attempt to persuade children to come to live with them. Usually this is either to punish an ex W for some perceived fault ( she cheated on him) or, more frequently, to avoid paying maintenance for them or to keep the family home. If your exH starts to put pressure on the children to say they want to live with him, then get expert legal advice.

The OW is getting a man who cheats on his wife. She is getting a liar, a man happy to deceive. He will probably cheat on her too, in time. Besides he will have to pay child maintenance. Not exactly a bargain. You, on the other hand, are free to find an honest faithful loyal partner. She knows that he is capable of infidelity and will have difficulty trusting him. You don't have to live with that.

This is a new beginning for you too. I hope it works out, good luck.

wheredidmyfeetgo · 14/10/2010 00:22

Baggyaggy there's some great advice in there a few bits of that I can take away with me too so thank you for taking the time to post!

armbow · 14/10/2010 08:37

thank you baggyaggy for that great post.

feeling so much calmer now and thankful for the stronger bond that the children and i are building since it has been just us.

OP posts:
gettingeasier · 14/10/2010 10:28

AB Smile glad you are feeling better

Where it was hard to read your post much less live through it , you sound like you are surviving I guess things can only get better. Do come over to the thread linked earlier you sound like you could use support from those that can relate to your experiences

BaggyAgy · 14/10/2010 19:34

Hi, Happy to help. Huge hugs

Pumpkinsobtainsallthings · 15/10/2010 00:09

Wonderful post BA x

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