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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

Childcare post split

4 replies

HMQueen · 11/05/2014 19:35

My STBXH moved out 6 months ago, as he thought, temporarily, as he believed I was stressed about other things when the reality I was stressed by him - his drinking, smoking, spending money, lies, texting godknowswho at all hours with secret phone lock and failure to be of any use with children. Now I don't want him back - he has made zero effort to change. My children are 3 and 8. At present they stay with him 2 nights a week. He doesn't get back from work until 715 on average and he wants to have them 3 nights a week a) to reduce he CSA contribution (he denies) and b) because he misses them. I get back from work at 6 and only work 4 days. My 8 yr old rarely wants to go. She is an anxious child who can sometimes be very forceful/upset if things don't go how she wants. But I know they should see him so 2x per week is fine, but I don't want them to go more - he wants our childminder to take them to his house after school until he gets home so they are "settled" as that's apparently why DD doesn't want to go. This is despite the fact I would be at my house from 6 alone and the kids are at his house with the childminder waiting for him to arrive. I've said no several times to this - I've explained it's quality time with a parent that counts and if he wants to arrange to finish early one night a week that would be fine. Last night I got pissed texts from him x10 laying down the law about what was going to happen as of next week. I'm not sure where to go with this now.. Am I being unreasonable? I hate him now (which is more useful to me than the guilt and feeling sorry for him).

OP posts:
mammadiggingdeep · 11/05/2014 19:46

Stay focused and remember that he doesn't call the shots.

Don't respond to drunken, 'aggressive' texting. State the facts again as you see them and repeat what you want to happen. If that's sticking to the agreement as it is then so be it.

That's what I'd do.

HMQueen · 11/05/2014 20:42

Thanks for that. I'm so focused on keeping things 'amicable' for the children as my parents had a very upsetting divorce where my mother was so upset we felt guilty for seeing my dad at all, that I always feel I should accommodate what he wants. Also as feeling bad for him in a flat (nice flat,mind) and me in our house. But I need to remember: he wasn't great with the children before the split and he caused the split with his behaviour. No guilt required. Will try broken record approach to childcare.

OP posts:
spacetobeme · 11/05/2014 20:52

You sound perfectly reasonable to me. It would be ridiculous for a childminder to be taking your children when you are available. That sounds so odd. You were very sensible by suggesting he take an early afternoon from work to ensure he was there for the kids...it wouldn't work any other way IMO. For what it's worth, the in my experience the court would not think this was acceptable either.

Stick to your guns and go for legal advice if he doesn't accept your call on is. It could be that a contact order is necessary.

longjane · 12/05/2014 14:37

Would your childminder even do this as they work in their own house.

and
have you told him how much it would cost him .
because it would be up to him to pay the childminder on those days.

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