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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

Ex slagging me off to ds, right in front of me, wwyd?

23 replies

crystalduck · 17/05/2012 13:18

Today ex H came to pick up ds. Ds has Aspergers. On arrival he asked ds if he had brushed his teeth. Sounds minor I know but this is a question (among many many others) that he constantly asked when we were together as he often called me dirty and said I was a poor parent for not brushing teeth immediately after breakfast, I usually wait twenty minutes because of acid straight after eating. When this question is asked it IS a trigger question and ex knows exactly what he is doing.

Because of his condition ds often needs help with questions like this so he turned to me and said "have I brushed my teeth Mum?" to which I replied "yes of course like you do each and every day, in the morning". Ex H then asked me where ds's phone was, he has a mobile to keep in touch with his Dad. I asked why he wanted it, the reason being that Ex has many times in the past just kept ds's phone because he has lost his own and I have had to replace it at least four times.

The argument escalated and he called me a "cunt" not in front of ds thankfully. I told him if he called me this again then I would call the police and have him removed from the property as he was being verbally abusive towards me.

He then carried on getting ds ready to take out and I asked what time he would be back with ds. He ignored me and then said to ds "I can't talk to your Mum anymore because she wants to call the police and get me into trouble when I haven't done anything just like she did before, remember?" I called the police before when he had me round the neck and was throwing me all over the living room in front of my kids. He then said "I can't have any more dealings with your Mum because she is nasty and trying to always get Dad into trouble so from now on I will only talk to you and you can tell Mum what I want to say".

He also said "Oh and if Mum called the police then Social Services will be involved and the shit will hit the fan". There were other things as well, all to ds but aimed at me. I just smiled at ds and told him that Dad was being very silly today and he wasn't to worry about it because even grown ups, like us Mum and Dad (I included myself) could be really silly at times and he should take no notice.

Anyway I don't know what the best thing to do now is. This isn't the first time and I honestly never thought he would be THAT kind of father. He seems to have no conscience whatsoever about saying these things to ds and I find it absolutely sickening. For him not to say them I have to just shut up and accept anything that he says and does. Ie the dig about tooth brushing, which yes I should have let go but should I have let him take ds's mobile YET again?

Please give me some pointers on what to do now. He also constantly holds Child Support over me as well, threatening to stop it all the time, tells me I don't deserve it like I am spending it on f*cking shoes and handbags or something Shock. He is just such a cliche. Every penny of it goes on the dc or bills and he knows this just uses it as a stick to beat me with.

Sorry this is so very long. Just feel so rubbish now and ds if off out with him listening to god knows what Sad.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 17/05/2012 13:22

Have DS ready at the door, communicate only by email. The moment he says anything say 'Bye' very cheerfully and shut the door.

Never hand over the phone again. Go to the CSA for money. Don't let him in the house and never talk to him again apart from by email as you will then have a record - apart from 'hello/goodbye'.

Ignore ALL attempts to bait you. Don't correct the 'police' stuff, your DS will eventually work out what what he is like.

crystalduck · 17/05/2012 13:28

It all looks so easy written down there.

I handed the phone over today as well because he got ds to ask for it by saying "its not up to Mum to hold onto YOUR phone ds, if you want your phone you can have it, its not HERS" and I couldn't say no without it escalating into another big argument in front of ds.

OP posts:
Beamur · 17/05/2012 13:28

What a nob.
I'd agree with the above poster, cut down the contact you have with this man to the absolute minimum. As for the phone, don't hand it over, your ex doesn't need it - lie if it makes it easier and say you don't know where it is.

GoPoldark · 17/05/2012 13:33

This is emotional abuse of your child.

I would see a solicitor, and get him to write a letter making it very clear that you will take action to have his contact supervised should he continue to subject your DS to emotional abuse and bullying.

Furthermore, all communication will now be by email only.

Do you have anyone to do handovers? That is the other point that can be made - continuing abuse and bullying of you in front of your child will result in handovers at a contact centre being sought.

Yes, it does sound easy, it isn't, but it's the best way - hit him hard and fast with a solicitor - to his face, nothing. No response.

And go to the CSA!

Proudnscary · 17/05/2012 13:33

God am so Angry on your behalf! He is not just messing with your head, but messing with your son's who is vulnerable due to the Asperger's. It must be stressful and confusing for him.

What a dreadful man, thank God he is your ex eh? Agree, pare contact back to bare minimum and stay strong. Really feel for you xx

NatashaBee · 17/05/2012 13:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fluffiphlox · 17/05/2012 13:36

This situation does sound dreadful but I must admit that whenever I read this type of thread my thought is why did this woman ever think this man was a suitable candidate as partner and father? He seems rude, cruel and a terrible role model for his son.

crystalduck · 17/05/2012 13:38

Thank you so much. I am crying reading this replies. I didnt realise how stressed out I was about it all, got used to holding it all in.

No there is no one who can do handovers. We were being quite relaxed about everything ie inviting him in letting him spend time here with ds. Obviously can't do that anymore.

I think I am going to have to make it all official, csa, solicitors etc. I didn't want to and have bent over backwards not to but it seems to be the only way.

It IS emotional abuse and I told him that. When he mentioned SS I said "I'll be getting them involved myself if you keep emotionally abusing our son!"

OP posts:
dondon33 · 17/05/2012 13:40

Sorry you're going through this.
What a bastard for involving your son this way, he doesn't need to hear it.
Can you not arrange to drop your son off at a neutral location (relative or friends house) then ex can pick up from there, at least it would keep him from your home and give him less opportunity to be a total dick.
Don't replace the phone, if he wants your son to have one to enable him to have contact then HE should replace it.
If your son continues to listen to this then it's going to cause him problems and it's not fair or acceptable. Tell your ex if he continues then you will forced to arrange supervised visits through the correct channels if he can't be trusted alone.
My ex used to be the same with the CS, making threats to stop it so I started to keep a list with receipts of what I had used it for so that he didn't have a leg to stand on if he took the accusations further (I'm not sure what he could have done tbh but just for my peace of mind) I used to tell my arsehole ex that I would go through the CSA, (who wouldn't be as understanding and flexible as I was with him), even though I knew it was a nightmare and do things properly so that he stopped messing with my head, I eventually did.
Sorry I can't offer more advice, hopefully someone who has dealt with a similar situation will be along soon xx

dondon33 · 17/05/2012 13:41

*Wow while I've been typing my message they've already arrived :)

crystalduck · 17/05/2012 13:42

Google the Boiling Frog metaphor fluffi. He wasn't like this from day one. If he was I would have run a bloody mile obviously.

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 17/05/2012 13:43

wwid? i would do what other have suggested, CSA and supervised contact. i also wouldn't have him in my home again.

what an arse he is.

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 17/05/2012 13:45

"I called the police before when he had me round the neck and was throwing me all over the living room in front of my kids."

Shock

Jesus! how long ago was that?

fluffiphlox · 17/05/2012 13:48

I am aware of the metaphor. I do wish you well, the whole situation seems highly undesirable. I think anyone who can call you a cunt (in front of your son or not) deserves very short shrift and to be shown the door.

mummytime · 17/05/2012 14:01

Do also keep a diary of his behaviour. After each hand over keep a note of how it went, and any twattish behaviour. If you do it as soon as possible after the event it could be used as evidence if you need it.
I would definitely recommend proper legal advice and involving the CSA.
If your sons behaviour is affected by contact, also document that, and if make sure records are kept by others who deal with him.

TheHappyHissy · 17/05/2012 14:02

Why is this nasty bully being allowed access to your vulnerable ds?

Berts · 17/05/2012 14:17

Honestly, if I were you, I'd go straight for supervised contact now - even if you keep handovers to a minimum, you have no way of knowing how much emotional bullying he is loading onto your ds when you're not there, and he obviously has no conscience when it comes to emotionally abusing your son and putting him in the middle - a very distressing situation for any child.

Stop 'bending over backwards' to make things easier for this man - you owe him nothing. No matter how reasonable and sensible you are, he will always try to make things more difficult for you.

crystalduck · 17/05/2012 14:17

The violent episode was three years ago and I thought we had got to a point where we could put the dc first. It has been working quite well up till now.

I need to get back to my solicitor and go through the CSA, I see that now.

He has access because he is in the main a good father and he and ds love each other very much. It is only me that he has the problem with up until now.

OP posts:
TheHappyHissy · 17/05/2012 15:31

The behaviour you describe is of a very bad father, a manipulator, an abuser.

A child that is not AS would be being damaged by thos behaviour.

Your ds is vulnerable, much more so than a child without AS.

Get the contact supervised, or stop it altogether. Please protect him from this man.

sadwidow28 · 17/05/2012 16:24

Have you established some basic rules about acceptable language?

I look after DN a lot and I DO NOT allow swearing from anyone in my house (or on my premises) or to DN when Mum phones him for a 'goodnight call'. The words you cite in your OP are totally unacceptable.

I had to explain to SIL (a single Mum) that I could not and would not look after LN if unacceptable language occurred in my home. (Phone or otherwise.) She can't curb her language 100% but it has improved enormously by me setting my ground rules.

Of course, I don't use inappropriate language myself - even when SIL riles me. She is never angry at me - I just sometimes have a childcare handover for SIL to have some adult time where I am told that LN has been a c this week and made her F* mad! Or a Mum at school did xyz and that made her .................

Well done OP - but absolutely insist that inappropriate language isn't allowed around you or DS.

solidgoldbrass · 17/05/2012 16:29

See a solicitor and get a letter written to XP stating that he is no longer allowed in your house and that all future contact will be supervised - and if he continues to manipulate your DS contact will be stopped.
Don't waste time trying to give this man another chance, he is a selfish abusive bully who shouldn't be given an inch.

No court can force contact between an abusive man and you, you can simply refuse to speak to him, hang up the phone, shut the door in his face etc, and as long as DS is available for contact with this father at agreed times, you can ignore the man completely.

GoPoldark · 17/05/2012 16:42

I'm sorry but I think the worst thign you can do is continue to think 'He is a good father...'

He isn't. He ISN'T.

A good father wouldn't be saying what he said today, because he would know that the actual KEY result of that conversation would be anxiety, insecurity, confusion for your son.

But he thinks that's a fine pay-off for having the pleasure of needling you.

It goes without saying that of course any father who attacks his child's mother in front of them is actually the scrapings of the barrel of fatherhood, but that is another discussion...

He isn't a good father. Really.

I would seriously consider hitting this crap as hard as possible, and simply going to your solicitor and saying 'I can no longer do handovers myself. I can no longer have him come to my home, he is threatening and bullying and emotionally abusing our son. How do I set up a contact centre?'

Lueji · 17/05/2012 16:43

I fully agree with the others.

Contact via e-mail or text, preferably via solicitor for important issues.
Define pick up times and return times and stick to them. Spell out consequences for not returning on time, or even picking up.

And do not allow him in the house. If he forces his way in, immediately call 999 (have phone in hand, just in case).

Go to the CSA to sort out maintenance.

And if the phone is to contact his dad, his dad should buy the phone. Do not buy another one.

He is right, though. If you call the police SS may well be involved and the shit will hit the fan. On his side.

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