Is it right to ask for supervised contact over this?

[Neepandthedragon]

Hi, I am new here. I have been reading this board for a few weeks and was hoping for some advice with my own situation.

I have not allowed my ex to see our kids without supervision. This has been going on for a while, he has not taken this up, so is not seeing the kids but has made it clear he intends to take this to court. He has been saying this for a while and it does not seem he will ever actually do it.

I have had some contact with his family and friends who say my concerns are unfounded, that I need to get help and separate my issues with him and the children, but I feel my concerns are valid and that he is manipulating and lying to everyone about what has happened.

What worries me is his mental health, that he does some very extreme and negative things that create crisis situations, often taking things over the line of where things go from being ok, to being very very bad. He regularly talks about killing himself, is a known suicide risk, does things like vanishing for days without a word so everyone panics he has killed himself and does so many other things to push people away that if I wrote down the details I would probably be outed.

In combination with this, he became madly angry with me and started doing things to get at me, like refusing to see the kids for months on end. he told me he wanted nothing more to do with them, threw away their toys, walked past them in the street ignoring them. This stopped and started until the last time when it went on for 9 months and I thought that was enough. I feel that treating children in this way is unacceptable, that this is emotionally abusive and considering that he has shown he is unable to prevent himself from knowingly upsetting the children as a result of this hatred towards me, how could i trust him not to involve the kids in the other kind of stunts he pulls?

I am tired of having this hanging over me, it has been going on for years and in a way I think that he is just perpetuating his need to have some negative impact on me by having this long standing threat of taking it to court followed by long silences and ignoring my letters (In the relationship he used to say he was leaving, would never see me and the kids again, then sit on the sofa in silence for days).

So I wondered what you thought-do I sound like a mad women for asking for supervised contact ? and what can I do to resolve this stalemate?

Thanks for reading (sorry about the long first post) x

[cestlavielife]

Centre was shabby but clean with plenty of toys for all ages. Ball pond for little ones and pool table for older. Books. Plenty board games to get out and play with . Crayons paper to draw with. Much like a local school or library.

Dc had already witnessed and seen dad,s negative behaviour but understood that being supervised it would be ok.

Obviously if NRp s behaviour is hidden from child could be different. But not all centres are going to be grimy.
Sometimes it will, be due to length of time without seeing the Nrp. All depends.

The fact that dad or mum has been "bad" in some way may well be obvious and knowing it s a supervised centre may well be reassuring to a child.
If child is very young they prob won't notice too much tho may of course realise it isn't at home. But then home will have changed anyway and they will understand dad or mum isn't at home any more .

Obviously your experience mums may have been different but my dc experience at contact centre was v positive. And staff were v professional .

[cestlavielife]

Other supervised contact was with other adults.
It worked well with a lady who was a friend of exp. Older lady I was v happy for her to be involved .

It didn't work so well with younger people I chose (he assaulted one of them ! )

[cestlavielife]

That was someone taking dc to visit with him .

[ElsieMc]

Although posting in relationships means you will receive more supportive responses, you could perhaps also post in legal. Responses will be geared toward the realities of family court.

I think you have done absolutely the right thing because in your situation you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. A social worker would want to see you do the right thing for your children and if you have any doubts, you need to protect them. He is already damaging them emotionally with his erratic behaviour.

However, supervised contact is the slippery slope to unsupervised contact. It is testing the water and a way to re-establish contact after there has been no contact for a period of time with the non resident parent.

It is very, very rare for a parent to have a no contact order. It is always seen as in the childs' best interests to have contact with both parents. I differ in that I do not think it is in any child's best interests to have to suffer frightening, abusive, unsafe contact.

The family court judge gave my eldest's father supervised, then unsupervised contact saying he did not believe he was a violent person. Five years on, he has continued to offend (actual bodily harm, drink driving and a recent conviction for gbh in the last twelve months). His contact moved to supervised whilst he was on bail, but changed back to unsupervised following him being found guilty.

I hope you can avoid court and it's stresses. They do expect mediation and this may be a way forward. Another issue is the cost and this may ultimately be a deterrent for him.

[Neepandthedragon]

Mumsfor - I am sorry you have had bad experiences with contact centers, but I would like to say that this is in no way about 'getting back at my ex' - My dc are the ones suffering the most in this situation, not my ex, which is why I have tried to set up contact with their father for them (albeit supervised).

The soft play area is a brilliant Idea, I had thought of the local sure start but he did not accept that either, but he might just do the soft play area so thanks, I hadn't thought of that.

[CharLiz]

What a sad situation. Sounds like your ex needs some help. As someone who lives with mental health issues the disappearing acts and suicide threats sound like a cry for help, even if he doesn't realise it. I went undiagnosed for years, even my husband didn't know how serious the situation had got, so I can appreciate how he's managed to go under the radar. Feeling suicidal and being suicidal are two completely different things, even if he's doing it cos he likes the attention that's a big problem. Someone who is thinking rationally does not do this.

He probably won't thank you at the time but when he does make these threats or disappears for days I would call the police, they will take it seriously. This will be good for you as you will have records of what is happening if this does go to court and it will hopefully get help for your ex.

I fully understand you not wanting him around the children unsupervised (I would be exactly the same), is there anyone in yours or his family that could supervise? Just to make it a bit more relaxed than a contact centre.

I found that with my MH issues I became an amazing actress, I'm very open about it now so don't feel the need so much but before my massive breakdown no one would ever have known how ill I was. Consider this if you do end up going to court, he's obviously convinced friends and family he's fine. He can do it in court too! Keep records of everything, texts, letters, police reports, FB screenshots and a diary (including the emotional abuse he is still inflicting on you, times you have contacted him but he hasn't contacted you back, times he hasn't turned up to see the children).

From a none MH point of view as long as you aren't stopping him seeing the children and you aren't bad mouthing him to them no matter what 'his supporters' say children are very perceptive and over time they'll make their own minds up about him.
Best of luck

[Neepandthedragon]

elsiemc - Thanks for the info - i am new here so I will try posting in legal.

I am sorry to here about your situation too, I was worried that supervised contact would lead to unsupervised, he is very good at putting on a front. In my situation at least time gives my dc a chance to get older and be less dependent on the adult taking care of them should they be with him in an episode (they are 5&6) and dc2 has allergies so adequate parenting is essential.

[Neepandthedragon]

Yes he desperately needs help, in many ways I feel compassion for him as what he is going through is horrendous. Its because the behavior is so damaging and often aimed at damaging others that I am so worried for the children. When we were together we spoke about it and he said he almost wanted to push people away and do terrible things to the people close to him, as he felt he didn't deserve them. Its very sad, but in later it became very malicious towards me, including rejecting the children to spite me, and he knew it would devastate them, yet still did it. I just worry what if he involved them in something more serious as I feel he has shown the capability to.

[CharLiz]

I think you need to separate the compassion and the reality. Which I know is easier said than done but it sounds like you're doing. keep offering the supervised visits so you can't be accused of hindering him but I suppose start to build a case against him. Going through the police is a pretty horrible for him way of doing it but it will get his assed at a vulnerable point. GPs have quite limited resources basically it's pile you with pills and until you've had the police to you or you've been to a&e it's very difficult to get any help, we went the GP route and it took around 9months to get anywhere. He's using these issues to abuse you make sure you're keeping everything. Keep strong, he's trying to hurt you so however hard it is try not to let him see he's affecting you. Even if you have to scream and cry after don't give him the satisfaction. I know you're saying it'll devastate the children and in an ideal world every child would have two parents that are lovely but sadly life isn't like that. At this point in his life it doesn't seem that it's a good idea for him to be a big part of their life. Doesn't mean he won't be a good dad down the line, if he gets help and gets himself sorted. When the children are older and understand more it can be explained that they didn't see dad around this time much cos he wasn't well and needed some help. No decisions that are made now are set in stone, everything can be reviewed as circumstances change. You have to do what you think is right, as long as you have good reason don't feel guilty. You're keeping your children safe

[SolidGoldBrass]

Actually, I don't think you need waste much pity on this dickhead. It sounds to me like his 'mental health problems' are more like tantrums when he doesn't get his own way. Remember that the feelings and welfare of an abusive man you have thrown out are bottom priority in your life. And if SS have already advised you to keep him at a distance, you will not have much trouble with a court, particularly if he is refusing supervised contact already.

[cestlavielife]

it is up to him to get the help he needs.
you cannot do this.
you say that all other adults around him - including gp - apparently dont recognize what you saying. "what he is going thru is horrendous" - what exactly? if it that bad the authorities need to be involved... if you the only person seeing it, then step back. if others ar protecting him from himself - well leave them to it.

and if it is more a question of a personality disorder than a clinical depression it is more difficult to diagnose and treat...

so - you call police if he makes threats to kill himself; goes awol, etc. charliz is right in saying stop worrying about his feelings. do what is needed.

so - you focus on protecting yourself and dc.
offer supervised contact. somehing which suits you and DC . if its saturday 2 pm at the soft play centre with person xxxx supevising then that is what you offer.
he doesnt turn up - his choice.
kids get to play anyway. dont tell them he invited.

if he refuses, record the refusal.
work by email so you have a record.

get the report from SS, from the mediator etc.

your main argument here is that he has deliberately refused to see the DC for spurious reasons and isnt taking offer of (supervised) contact up.

you have no proof or basis to argue his serious mental health as you have absolutely no proof of it. BUt if mediator referrred to SS then you need to get written report from SS/mediator

[Neepandthedragon]

Thanks, I feel much clearer now.

I recently read about borderline personality disorder which felt like it was describing him exactly.

You are right, I need to let go of making things the way I want them to be and just accept him and the situation for the way they are.

I will set up a contact arrangement and its up to him if he accepts. Its time to focus my attention on being a good mum and having a great life with my lovely dc