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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

I'm trying to be the bigger person, but its so damn hard!

11 replies

user1471564834 · 13/03/2019 16:08

Backstory (I've a couple of other threads) - Ex left me when our DS was just 8mths old. Moved in with another woman obscenely quickly/there was crossover, and since then has either been a totally absent Father or a brief Disney Dad, dependant upon his mood...For context he's only spent, in total, no more than 40 hours with our child over the past year and a half.

Now two years on from when he abandoned us (after many months of infrequent visits, no co-parenting/financial support and total NC , for months at a time at his own volition) he's decided that he wants to be a 'Father' Hmm.

The up shot of this, since January, (as I will never deny him access to our son - I hate him intensely, but love our child more), is that he now 'visits' our child for a few hours EOW. He collects him from my home (I can barely look at him), takes him out to soft play/park/creative play etc etc and then returns with him a few hours later...In between visits he gives me zero parental support, barely enquires after our child and pays (and only for the past 6 months) the minimum towards maintenance. I am a lone parent working a 50hr week and I'm currently a mixture of deep bitterness and sorrow for how life is for me right now (see other threads), combined with shear wonder and joy at the awesomeness of the child I gave birth to. But life is one long day of plate spinning.

My reason for asking for advice from you, is this - Last weekend the OW was (for want of a better word) stashed around the corner, unbeknown to me, and joined my Ex with our child on their outing. I only discovered this as our son (super bright two year old) dropped into conversation how she had been with them during the visit.

Basically (as he now lives an hour and a half from us), he'd driven over, dropped her around the corner, collected our son, driven back around the corner and picked her up and then done the same in reverse 3 hours later Angry.

I've never met her. I've never spoken to her. I think, though am not positive, this was the first time she has met our child. My ex is a total knob, a man child, and she is the woman who he has spent all his time with over the past year and a half and he has forsaken his relationship with our son in the process.

Please give me some advice as to how to address this clear underhand, cowardly and down right disrespectful (though clearly not unusual, given the cretin he is) behaviour they have BOTH shown me, so that when he arrives for his next visit I can be measured and dignified.

I know that I have zero say in who he introduces to our child, so please don't remind me of this (I am fucked off that she has, but they've been together for some time, so it was inevitable).

What burns is the manner in which it has been done . I just need some wise words from anyone please, given that in a fortnight I'll be staring at his smug face at my front door, wanting to pour bleach in his eyes, but also wanting to rise above the whole unnecessary 'drama' of it all. She of course may or may not be in the car when he arrives this time...

He spends such little time with our DS (just 18 hours so far this year), that to involve a third party at this stage just illustrates what a complete Bellend I'm having to continue to have contact with.

She's been introduced behind my back, I want to be dignified when I see him, but I also want to tell him that I know she's met our DS and that going forward she doesn't need to wait around the corner like a prostitute Grin.

OP posts:
2019willbegreat · 13/03/2019 16:14

ExH, there is no need for your GF to loiter on street corners when collecting DS. What was it that made you so ashamed that you couldn't just simply let me know she would be there?

Said with a big smile.

WeeMadArthur · 13/03/2019 16:16

As you said, you can’t do anything about who he introduces your child to so I think the best thing is to rise above it and not mention her at all, you may try to be dignified if you mention it but is it worth him seeing that it bothers you?

Seniorschoolmum · 13/03/2019 16:20

When my ex did this, he was preparing the ground to be able to use his new woman as free childcare, so he could claim to be active dad but still go to the pub. So be careful. Good chance to check her out, see if she is kind, decent etc

TwinkleMerrick · 13/03/2019 16:24

@user1471564834 I am going through a similar situation. Ex left us when DD was 7 months old on Boxing Day! Is shacked up with OW and has a drug problem. I have decided if he wants to see DD to use a contact centre. This means supervised visits with agreed people only and I don't have to see him. Obviously I have slightly different circumstances due to the drugs issue but you can self refer. Just the fact that it is causing you upset is enough to refer yourself. You are the main care giver and you need to look after your mental health, if using a contact centre will help this then go for it xx good luck

Angrybird123 · 13/03/2019 16:43

I'm not sure a contact centre is merited here.. The op expresses no safeguard g concerns. OP I totally know where you are coming from. I would go with a brief acknowledgement that your DS mentioned she is there and say it might have been courteous to give you a heads up.. Say it calmly, nonchalantly even, no big deal but helpful for you to have an idea of what's happening and you'd appreciate being told if the plan is for her to have DS on his own at any point. There are no 'rights', and you can't object but it's not unreasonable request. When you've shut the door, pat yourself on the back and have a gin 😊

HollowTalk · 13/03/2019 16:45

If you ever do see her, be sure to mention that you're going to the CSA because he hasn't given you a penny. See how attractive he is to her then.

Easterbunnyiscomingsoon · 13/03/2019 16:48

Ime befriending her (of sorts) will infuriate the ex more than any ranting....

youarenotkiddingme · 13/03/2019 16:58

Love 2019 response.

I used similar with my ex. When he denied the woman he was seeing (who he later married she then divorced him!).

I just said. Something along lines of ....

Is there some reason you are pretending x and you aren't a relationship and hiding the fact she's co raising ds with you when you have contact? Because if you need to deny her contact with our son then I think I need to ask for family services to get involved and consider contact - (Different country and MUCH tougher on NRP fathers with regards maintenance and contact etc) - because hiding things generally means you have something to hide.

As it is turns out she was lovely, had a step parent herself, got her SM role perfectly down to a tee and was the driving force in ds contact with father - which stopped when she left him.
To this day she asks about ds whereas his father is gawd knows where 🙄

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 13/03/2019 17:02

Why are your't you chasing maintenance from him if he's so concerned about being a father?

Not much you can do about the girlfriend apart from do what @2019willbegreat said.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 13/03/2019 17:02

you not your't! Fat fingers.

IloveJudgeJudy · 13/03/2019 17:02

@user1471564834 Hi, I'm sorry for your situation but it sounds like you're doing a grand job.

I don't think you can police who your ex-P sees when he has your DS, but you should definitely go for back maintenance and a proper amount. It's not for you, it's for your DS.

Just keep doing what you're doing and Thanks

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