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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

Worried I'm forcing children's dad out of their lives. Am I being unfair.

60 replies

Onmyownwith4kids · 17/02/2015 09:28

Discovered hisband's affair 18 months ago. I tried to save the marriage but he stepped up the deceit until I had no option but to divorce him. I've bought him out of the house so it's mine. All this time he's been living with his girlfriend at her parent's house. He never sees the children at holidays and weekends but often had them after school in my house while I'm at work. I hate having him swanning in and out. It makes it hard to move on. I suggested he set up home nearby so he could have the kids overnight sometimes and in his house at weekends. He said I was being controlling he'd do what he wanted and he's not paying rent. He's never been good with money and is swiftly getting through the house money he had. I can't see him ever setting up home. Yesterday I interviewed after school nannies. I found someone lovely to start in April and discovered although it will really put pressure on finances I can claim a lot through tax credits. The idea of him not coming back here all the time and every so often asking if I will take him back gives me huge relief but an I being selfish in pushing him out. The children seem really happy and I don't want to ruin that. They never ask to see him or talk about him but am I denying them the contact they have by doing this. Would be so grateful for advice.

OP posts:
Floundering · 17/02/2015 12:13

I agree with pp about getting it formalised just to prevent the man-child from trying it on with legal means.

Spend a session with an experienced family lawyer drafting a simple but unambiguous letter stating that he is welcome to have access of EOW plus one night mid week at his home or other mutually agreed place. (however the sol advises wording it)

Then should he ever get really arsey & go to a solicitor of his own, you have proof you offered access & never stopped him seeing his children.

Other than brief texts or emails over matters to do with the kids welfare/visiting arrangements do not engage with him.

iloverunning36 · 17/02/2015 12:17

You are not selfish to want your kids in a routine and not running wild. This is in their best interests and yours. 4 kids and working is hard and you need a routine. Well done to you and keep that fecker out of your home, tell him to sell his stupid car for a deposit/rent on a place. Cake

Onmyownwith4kids · 17/02/2015 12:28

Howard is pretty spot on. Parenting is non existent. He just arrives plonks himself down and causes mayhem. Life is honestly so much calmer without him and the house is no longer a tip! I feel sorry for his girlfriend. She thought she saved him from an awful marriage. The reality was she liberated me! I'm going to take your advice and go ahead with new plan and tell him he needs to sort access away from my house.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 17/02/2015 12:29

good plan

Smallcogbigwheel · 17/02/2015 12:31

He's really done a number on you hasn't he?

His happiness is not your problem, tough shit that he chose to have an affair, he got a second chance and didn't take it. Boo-Hoo!

As pp said if he starts with that , just says 'not my problem', if he carries on, 'stopped being my problem when you choose to cheat on me and continued to lie to me after I found out'

As far as contact goes, all you're responsible for is to have the children ready to go at the agreed contact times.

It is not your problem if he can't sort himself out a place to live etc.

It sounds very much as though you always had to be the grown up in this relationship, that girlfriend is not doing the same so he's expecting you to jump back in. (assuming that both she and her parents are aware of the children. . . .)

If he is a 'good' father he needs to start showing it.

Employ the nanny, email a suggested schedule of contact but reinforce that this will not be happening in your house (remember it's yours now, not his, he has no rights to it). I bet you £50 he complain that you're being controlling and you can't tell him what to do. . . just remember he can't tell you what to do either!

Yes the children might see less of him, but better that than growing up thinking that this is normal that it is ok for an adult to walk away from his/her responsibilities, and expect someone else to cover for them.

Very bad role model to show both female and male children.

Smallcogbigwheel · 17/02/2015 12:32

Cross post!

Good Plan!

Viviennemary · 17/02/2015 12:38

He's an adult and will have to shape up and make his own arrangements. You bought him out of the house so he's not paying the mortgage so has absolutely no right to be there at all IMHO. You are not stopping him seeing the DC's. He's made a massive mistake and now looks as if he's trying to worm his way back in. Don't stand for it.

Emu1969 · 17/02/2015 13:38

Lol @ Anyfucker's "Macdonald's Daddy"

Oldraver · 17/02/2015 13:55

You're doing the right thing OP, the children will be much more settled and it doesn't sound as if its quality time with him anyway.

Now he'd going to have to actually DO something to see his DC's rather than leaving it up to you. Be prepared for him just not bothering

Onmyownwith4kids · 17/02/2015 18:30

Feeling really upset. Told him I wasn't happy him coming here. He had a massive go at me. Said it has to always be about you doesn't it. Says he had no home, has to see the kids here and it's nothing to do with me. I don't know how to handle it. He says he has a right to see the children in their home and if his kids are here he has a right to be here too.

OP posts:
pinkbraces · 17/02/2015 18:37

He has absolutely no right to see the DC in YOUR home. Please tell him to do one. Don't let him manipulate you, stand firm.

BalloonSlayer · 17/02/2015 18:39

Well . . . he is wrong.

Perhaps a solicitor's letter will be in order:

  • detailing the terms of divorce re contact
  • explaining that "contact with the children" means that he has to find a venue for his contact
  • stressing that you have no obligation to let him see the children in your house as you are now divorced
  • reminding him that if he tries to enter your house without your permission you can call the police

Would cost a couple of hundred I suppose but well worth it.

CheeseandGherkins · 17/02/2015 18:45

He doesn't have the right to be in YOUR house, children or not. The children have a right to see him, not the other way around. Don't engage with him any more. Tell him no and that's the end of it. Refuse to talk any more about the issue, if he texts about it I would ignore, calls and hang up or don't answer. Remember that he has no control over you or your life anymore. I would not tolerate him "having a go" either, I would close the door or put the phone down (and have done). I'd also not let him inside the house AT ALL anymore.

BathtimeFunkster · 17/02/2015 18:51

He says he has a right to see the children in their home and if his kids are here he has a right to be here too.

Confused

Did he think this when he accepted your money for his share of the house?

What planet is he on?

I wouldn't be spending 200 quid telling him to do one.

He's being utterly ridiculous.

Just stop letting your adulterous, emotionally abusive, wanker of an ex-husband into your home.

tribpot · 17/02/2015 18:53

A grown man who's incapable of housing himself and providing suitable accommodation for his children? Per-lease.

As to his bollocks about having a right to be where his children are, seriously? Of course he doesn't.

I agree, a solicitor's letter might be money well spent to remind him of his responsibilities and his non-rights to your house.

CheeseandGherkins · 17/02/2015 18:55

I wouldn't bother wasting the money either. You've told him no, and that's the end of it. If/when he turns up, don't let him in. Any trouble, call the police. Let him be the one to call solicitors and waste money, they would laugh at him and he knows it.

AnyFucker · 17/02/2015 18:58

I thought might happen

what a tosser

he has no more right to enter your house than any man on the street

he is using the kids to try and emotionally blackmail you...that's exactly what these Loders do

your ^only' responsibility is to make the kids available for him to see on a prearranged schedule

no more, no less

stop engaging with him and dancing to his tune....any legal person will tell you this

expect the next step to be him belly aching about you stopping him seeing his kids...

AnyFucker · 17/02/2015 18:58

*losers

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 17/02/2015 19:01

Might be an idea to set communication rules as well. Email, letter, ONE contact phone number (which will be the mobile you install Call Recorder on). All visits to the property need notice and he's not to cross the boundary until invited. Anything he tries outwith those conditions will be treated as harassment.

Add that to the solicitor's letter?

WhereYouLeftIt · 17/02/2015 19:08

"Says he had no home, has to see the kids here and it's nothing to do with me. I don't know how to handle it. He says he has a right to see the children in their home and if his kids are here he has a right to be here too."
It is his choice to have no home. He does not have to see his children in YOUR HOME, he can take them out somewhere. He does not have any right to see them in YOUR HOME.

What a total arsewipe.

BathtimeFunkster · 17/02/2015 19:11

But god, that silly cow who slept with your husband really did you a favour.

Onmyownwith4kids · 17/02/2015 19:16

I'm so upset. I've tried so hard to keep things pleasant. It was horrible he was quite aggressive. I'm so worried this is to get really acrimonious. I've had a lovely day with the children, was feeling so positive about the future and now feel as if I'll never be free of him

OP posts:
BathtimeFunkster · 17/02/2015 19:24

You can be free of him just by making that decision in your head.

You are divorced. You own your own home.

He has no hold over you any more.

Let him get arsey. What's it to you?

Just ignore him.

He's a pathetic loser who deserves nothing from you.

Not even kindness. He treated you like shit when you were married and thinks he has a right to carry on doing so.

He has no such right.

CheeseandGherkins · 17/02/2015 19:29

You are free of him. Ignore him. Do not let him affect you any longer. I know that's easier said than done but that's what you need to do. Change your mindset as you owe him nothing. Make it clear he will not be coming into your house any more and that you will not hesitate to call the police. Any threats or aggressive behaviour you should log and also call the police if you're worried. I would send an email to myself and/or someone you trust, with details of what has happened so that it's time-stamped for future reference.

GoldfishCrackers · 17/02/2015 20:00

I love the monkeys proverb, karma

OP He's trying to bully you and because he knows you well he knows exactly how to make you feel bad. He's talking utter poppycock. He has no right to be in your house and he knows it. He took good money from you so that you could have the right to say who enters that house.

You haven't made things acrimonious. He fucked someone else. He cries in front of your young children, blaming you for his unhappiness? He doesn't take the children anywhere for any length of time? And you think that saying to him he needs to see the children in his own place is what's going to stop this amicable atmosphere?
You are being perfectly reasonable. He is taking the piss and having a tantrum because he sees his easy option slipping away.

You're not stopping him seeing them. Not even close. All you are doing is saying he needs to make a tiny bit more effort to see his own children. Rather than walking into yours for a couple of hours with all the things the DC need on tap, he needs to take them to his place or a park or something. If he really thinks that will influence how often he sees his own children, he's the laziest fucker ever. Or the most vindictive.

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