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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:
Ohb0llocks · 14/11/2016 16:25

I'm trying to keep him sweet as I don't want all the nastiness to be thrown back in my face when DS is older and his dad fills his head full of crap.

And I'm concerned that if he does get unsupervised access he will use this to get at me (pretty sure that's the only reason he's now bothering with DS). I'd feel better about him seeing DS if we were 'getting on' as opposed to sending DS to someone who is hellbent on hurting me.

OP posts:
Ohb0llocks · 14/11/2016 16:28

And if he goes to court he might be pushed into asking for more access (e.g. Full weekends, half term weeks)

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 14/11/2016 16:31

Even when you were being nice to him, and driving your son to see him, he said he would tell him his mother was a cock loving whore- so why bother?

He won't bother with the legal stuff- he has TOLD you that. He won't get unsupervised straight away given your history. The more you engage, the more you weaken your case that he is abusive, the more likely you are going to be manipulated into granting unsupervised access.

Please get some therapy for yourself, you need to start making wise choices for you and your son.

43percentburnt · 14/11/2016 16:38

Either let him go to court or offer contact centre which he organises and pays for. If you are present, 1 on 1, like he wants how can you tell the court he is a risk? He has threatened to not return him. Even if you get on like a house on fire, anything he sees as a slight on him will lead him to being abusive again. He was abusive because you stopped during ds because your car was written off - he is not reasonable.

For example- a new boyfriend, you looking nice, the grass is green, the sky isn't blue, means he will have a temper tantrum. He is abusive, you cannot win with him, you certainly aren't friends.

Make notes, every communication needs to be in writing and the aim is to minimise contact.

Lunar1 · 14/11/2016 17:16

Or he may just decide court isn't worth the hassle and he will vanish for another year.

Ohb0llocks · 14/11/2016 20:55

I've offered contact centre which he has agreed to, but unsure as to how long for?

I don't want to do anything that would make the court see me in a 'bad light' if this does get that far, hence the trying to be reasonable.

Awaiting callback from csa, and my local children's centre are running a freedom programme and a 'recovery group' which I am going to see about getting booked on (dependant whether I will be able to attend due to other commitments).

OP posts:
Starlight2345 · 14/11/2016 21:23

Some of what shines through is your fear of upsetting this man..

I would never suggest to your DS he might meet his dad till anything is in place...In a way his opinion is irrelevant at this age...He has no idea at all what is in his best interests..

You are not required to answer any calls, reply to messages. If you have to say anything tell him you will talk to him after you have spoke to sols.. He hasn't seen his son for over a year this isn't something that needs to be rushed...He wasn't in a rush to sort it out 6 months ago.

Ohb0llocks · 14/11/2016 22:08

Star, you're absolutely right. I don't want to rock the boat, as if he is going to get DS unsupervised I want it to be as amicable as possible so that it can't be used against me, and he doesn't refuse to communicate with me (i.e. If I want to know how DS is etc).

I'm trying to make this as 'not about me' as possible, I just want the best outcome for everyone regardless of how shit it makes me feel.

OP posts:
Starlight2345 · 14/11/2016 22:15

I think we cross post..I started posting then needing to deal with DS...

The steps you have made all seem positive.. I still say very much limit communication.. Never answer calls straight away..

He will be using his manipulation skills to just get exactly what he wants..

Coffee3 · 14/11/2016 23:20

Op you need to be really careful ; if you start accepting calls / texts from him your ex will think you're dropping your resolve and start gradually clawing back control.
The problem is when he has been controlling and abusive in the past, you may subconsciously slip back into compliant behaviour.
You do not need to help him; tell him in writing; ideally via solicitor, what is acceptable to you and what needs to happen for him to have supervised contact. Don't negotiate on that; do not ever agree to meet him alone and child maintenance should be paid, but does not equate to contact rights. He needs to prove himself, you needn't help him.
If supervised contact gradually moves to unsupervised in the future you can review the communication between you then.
Your son doesn't need you to make this happen ; he needs you to protect him and make sure there are good role models in his life.
You worry your son will resent you but he can't really remember his father; and will resent a negative experience more no doubt.
Stay strong and look after yourself; keep asking for help from the DV support, police etc as needed.
None of this needs to happen today; there is no rush from your perspective.

Patriciathestripper1 · 14/11/2016 23:28

Wtf - You should have put the phone down and told him nothing.
Why wouldnt you after everything he put you and your Ds through?
You can bet your life the drama will start all over again and you are facilitating it by giving him a foot in the door.
He is a looser and why would you want someone like that in your Ds life??
Next time he tings don't answer.

BillHicksRanting · 15/11/2016 07:25

Do not start communicating with him, as the others said. Do everything through a solicitor. You won't be seen in a bad light because you're trying to protect your son from what this man did in the past. Stop trying to please him!

You need to listen to everything that Coffee said above!

Ohb0llocks · 25/11/2016 11:36

Spoke to my solicitor today, I've got 2 options

  1. She writes offering him indirect contact for 6 weeks followed by 12 weeks in a contact centre then review
  1. She writes and offers nothing.
OP posts:
BillHicksRanting · 25/11/2016 13:04

What does she mean by indirect contact?

JellyBelli · 25/11/2016 13:16

Go through the legal bullshit, get maintenance, use a contact centre.
Stop trying to keep him sweet. Stop worrying about looking like the bad guy in 18 years time.

Ohb0llocks · 25/11/2016 13:59

She means letters bills

I will be doing this legally but at the minute those are my options from my solicitor.

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 25/11/2016 14:03

Offer nothing let him fight for it if he wants it.

ElspethFlashman · 25/11/2016 14:10

Option 2. Your son doesn't want to see him.

So let's see how much fight your ex actually has in him. I'd say fuck all.

Ohb0llocks · 25/11/2016 14:13

How much of his opinion can I take into account though, he's not even 3 yet (in Jan)...

OP posts:
ElspethFlashman · 25/11/2016 14:20

It's not about his opinion, it's about his potential distress at being left with a virtual stranger without you. A stranger with a long history of abusive and erratic behaviour and drug taking who has promised to tell your son you are a cock loving slut.

0dfod · 25/11/2016 14:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Perihelion · 25/11/2016 14:54

Can I suggest that if you have any more direct contact ( not through solicitor ) that it is by email and not text. And a separate email account from your usual one that isn't on your phone.
From experience, I started to get anxious whenever my phone received a text as I was scared it was from someone abusive. Having an email account not on your phone stops messages hijacking your day to day life and gives you time and space to read and answer/not answer and keeps all correspondence in one place.

Ohb0llocks · 25/11/2016 15:19

I've told him not to contact me and the phone calls with DS are stopping due to it confusing and upsetting him and he's already kicking off, telling me his friend recently committed suicide over not seeing his son. I'm the worst mother in the world apparently.

OP posts:
0dfod · 25/11/2016 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IAmNotAMindReader · 25/11/2016 16:36

No, you're a good mother for protecting your son from that level of instability from an adult being inflicted upon him.