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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

Ex wants to see DS after a year of no contact.

251 replies

Ohb0llocks · 03/11/2016 19:08

Very long so apologies in advance!

Some may remember my previous posts on here about DS (2, 3 in Jan) and his dad.

Trying not to drop feed, exP was emotionally abusive when we were together and physically on a few occasions (police were never involved). He was barely at home out every weekend taking drugs, cheating, god knows what else. On one occasion he called DS a 'fucking retard' when he was around 4/5 months old.

We split up 2 years and 2 months ago, and up until last September he had contact each weekend, Saturday 9-6, then changed to Fri 6pm to sat 6pm in April 2015.

I facilitated this contact, did all pick ups and drop offs (45 mile round trip), provided everything DS needed in terms of food, nappies, clothes, bottles and formula (When he needed them). I received no maintenance as he wasn't working. He refused to have DS on various occasions when he'd been arrested, was hungover, still partying, or even on one occasion had sunburn Hmm

Last September I wrote My car off, therefore was unable to take DS to contact. He took this as me stopping seeing him and because very abusive, calling me names, saying DS probably wasn't his, then didn't get in contact for a month. He then got back in touch apologising promising the earth etc. Never ended up materialising as he got drunk and started sending abusive texts and emails. I informed the police and blocked his number/email.

He has been in touch a few times since then, none of which to enquire about DS, just to give me grief, insult me, and inform me that when he did see DS he would tell him 'his mummy is a cock loving slut' and take him and not return him. Each time I have reported this to the police.

I received a letter requesting I attend mediation in May, where then I spoke to a solicitor who advised me to decline this on the grounds of his emotional abuse which I did. We then wrote out to him offering supervised access in a contact centre, which he did not respond to.

Fast forward to today, I receive a phone call which is him. He apologised for everything. Asked how DS is. Told him he is fine, and doing very well at nursery, bright etc. He then asks how he can see him, says he will jump through every hoop. Informed him I don't know where to go from here, as this is the exact same conversation we had last year. Asked how long it would be before he didn't get his own way and became abusive again, and lo and behind 'he's changed'. Asked him why he never responded to the solicitors letter and he said 'my mates said that's where crackheads see their kids so I didn't bother'... wow.

Unsure where to go from here, he doesn't want to go through 'all the legal bullshit' as he calls it.

I don't want to deny the chance for DS to make his own decisions when he is old enough. However I have to protect him from being used as a pawn against his Mother, and myself, from the stress and anxiety this 'man' puts me through, and the threats he has made to not return DS to my care if he does have contact.

Any advice would be so appreciated Flowers

OP posts:
qwom · 04/11/2016 15:10

PMd you x

Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 15:27

Another email from solicitors assistant. £200+vat for advice and a letter out to him. Fuck.

I have been receiving constant treatment from gps for anxiety/panic disorder due to him. Will that be enough evidence for legal aid?

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 04/11/2016 15:34

You could call the free Rights of Women family law helpline to ask for advice on this issue and/or ask about your eligibility for legal aid.

In your situation I would consider offering a contact centre once a month, at his expense, on condition that he sticks to it and doesn't abuse you or your son. If he messes you around, cancels at the last minute, doesn't turn up, becomes abusive, etc, it stops straight away.

That would be the last chance I would give him before telling him no contact at all and if he wants it he can go the legal route.

prettywhiteguitar · 04/11/2016 15:43

I would just ignore him, if he wants it badly you will get a solicitors letter. And block him. If it went to court you could cite the offer that stood last November that didn't come to anything.

Don't get stressed out about him just ignore him and say you will only communicate through his solicitors

Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 16:12

I feel as though I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Inside I'm falling apart but I'm trying to just keep strong for everyone else's sake but it's exhausting and it's only been a day. I just want life to go back to normal again. Every time I dare to feel happy this crops back up again and it tears me apart. I was suicidal last time he got in contact I was that scared.

OP posts:
prettywhiteguitar · 04/11/2016 16:16

I definitely wouldn't be letting him contact you personally then, tell him to contact you through a solicitor and you will be blocking him from phone and email as you find it too stressful. You can reply to his solicitor yourself.

skyyequake · 04/11/2016 16:18

I know its hard and scary, try and take deep breaths and think about what you want. He's not in control of you anymore, if you want to just ignore him and carry on as though nothing happened, you can. You can block his number and delete his texts. He might try and take you to court, but I doubt it. And if he does you have some good evidence to deny him unsupervised access.

If you've reported him to the police, you may be able to use that as evidence to get legal aid.

Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 16:38

Thank you all. The tears and migraine are here. I feel like I'm living someone else's reality. I feel sick.

OP posts:
qwom · 04/11/2016 16:59

I would contact legal aid and see what would constitute dv in their eyes. They're usually v helpful when i have spoken to them

skyyequake · 04/11/2016 17:47

Go easy on yourself, nothing is going to happen imminently, take some time to chill out, do whatever makes you feel relaxed: read a book, run a bath, whatever you want. You're ok Flowers

CremeBrulee · 04/11/2016 18:12

Contact through legal channels only - you need a buffer zone between you and him. Flowers

Starlight2345 · 04/11/2016 18:24

Op... I did contact in a contact centrewith my ex..He stopped because all the people their were drug addicts,drunks and waste of space parents Hmm..Not like him at all then..

I did eventually relent and had it in a soft play centre for 2 hours once a fortnight with his MIL supervising.

It was damaging the amount of cancellations.

I would be tempted to say go to court simply as I disagree it is his decision to make when he is older...Damage is done when they are small...

You need to make him work for it..See if he is actually interested.

I also let maintenance go by.. I did it as I didn't want him to think because he was paying he could see DS...When he started mediation I then approached CSA.. In the end he gave up before court.

At the moment you are his parent and you have to act in his best interest. Protect him from harm.

Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 20:16

My main worry is that it will go to court and he will get unsupervised as he has had it before, however this was before his threats and before he didn't bother seeing him for a year.

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 20:17

I am also going to see the gp on Monday, I have been pming a lovely poster and she has suggested maybe I have a PTSD issue, as I react so bloody badly whenever his name is even mentioned. I'm willing to do anything to help. I won't let this turn me into a mess again like last time.

OP posts:
LifeLong13 · 04/11/2016 20:21

You sound like you're doing all you can OP & you're doing it amazingly. Please be kind to yourself Flowers

qwom · 04/11/2016 20:35

You're being a super strong mummy for your DS. You're doing great.
If it does get to court you have to make sure that CAFCASS know everything - a good CAFCASS officer will be able to reassure and advise you x

Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 20:38

Wouldn't it be so much easier if we could see into the future!

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 04/11/2016 21:45

Life - I'm trying to be kind. Just had a nice long shower and trying to put things to the back of my mind, for now at least.

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 05/11/2016 08:49

Feeling a bit better about the situation this morning. Although I have sort of an 'anxious background buzz' going on.

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 05/11/2016 18:05

Spoke again today, he seems to think that DS will remember him and all will be rosy.

One thing that rings alarm bells is when I said contact centre his reply was 'I'd rather is just me you and me' and 'I'm not willing to pay to see my child'...

OP posts:
CremeBrulee · 05/11/2016 18:11

Why did you contact him? You're playing into his hands. Don't let him call the shots like that. If he really wants to establish regular contact then he won't try and impose terms and conditions.

skyyequake · 05/11/2016 18:13

He wants to get you alone. You're right to have alarm bells ringing!! And tell him if he's not willing to pay then he can fuck off! Does he think kids are free? Like you haven't been paying for everything for your DS whilst he hasn't chipped in a penny. Paying for a contact centre is the least he could do!

TheOnlyColditz · 05/11/2016 18:15

What he is and is not willing to do, and what he would p4refer, are completely fucking irrelevant. SOunds like he's prefer no witnesses to me.
Hmm

Ohb0llocks · 05/11/2016 21:32

It's the nice act that gets me every time.

I know he's an asshole, I know he's manipulative, but there's one part of me that desperately wants to give the benefit of the doubt, and that is terrified if I don't it will backfire and DS will hate me when it's older.

I'm scared to rock the boat because I feel like if I am nice to him this will be easier and he won't try to use DS to hurt me if I play ball.

What a fucked up situation.

OP posts:
Starlight2345 · 05/11/2016 21:46

One thing reminds me of what I used to try to do was resolve things. You don't have to ..You can be pleasant and tell him nicely if he doesn't want to pay to see his DS he doesn't have to .. But you have offered a contact centre.

Who contacted who? if it was him you do not have to answer the call if he rings.. He also knows you are contacting solicitor so may be wanting an answer. If it was you you need to stop..My ex used to play on this yours will too.

The thing is here..You can't avoid how he is going to behave.. If he doesn't even want to pay to see his child , he isn't going to pay a couple of hundred pounds to request a court order is he.

I would also put communication through text or email..You will have a paper trail..He is abusive and likely to say anything over the phone.

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