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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

Divorce - can he just decide he wants to see the children more?

32 replies

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 16:22

Just that really - we had agreed EOW but suddenly he wants them in the week now they’re off school. I’m not happy about this. Can he just unilaterally decide? How do I stop him?

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Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:07

Anyone?

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ginandwineandbaileys · 21/01/2021 17:12

If he has a court order, then he should go back to court. If no order, then just refuse. I'd give one day in the week though, whatever is convenient for you. Is there any reason you don't want to? It'll be good for the dc, as long as there are no safeguarding concerns

ginandwineandbaileys · 21/01/2021 17:13

I would make it clear though, that he'd have to do the homeschooling on that day, it's compulsory

Redcrayons · 21/01/2021 17:14

Why do you want to stop him?

Iyiyi · 21/01/2021 17:15

What’s the context- is he asking to see them or demanding? Does he have a history of being controlling?! Is there a reason you don’t want him to?
DPs work hours can be changeable so sometimes in the week if he has some time, he’ll call his ex and see if it’s convenient for him to see the kids. It’s not a contentious thing, but they don’t have a contentious relationship.

LST · 21/01/2021 17:15

Why can't he? Unless he is a danger to them I dont understand why you wouldn't allow it?

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:15

Thankyou - Not court ordered.

He wants me to deliver them to him which is a 2 hour round trip, for a start. (He moved away)

They have SEN and need stability and routine. He can’t seem to stick to a schedule at all, it’s whatever suits him that weekend. So I’d rather be very firm in my boundaries, for their sake.

Also, he’s a dick.

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supersonicginandtonic · 21/01/2021 17:16

Is there a reason he shouldn't have more contact.
If not you are being extremely selfish. 2 days out of 14 is nothing.

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:16

Yes very controlling, gaslighting, coercive and has been warned about parental alienation.

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Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:17

He moved away. He won’t travel in the week and agreed EOW, and rarely even sticks to that, cancels at the last minute etc.

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WhatKatyDidNxt · 21/01/2021 17:17

I would knock the delivering on the head. No one made him move away, he chose to do that

CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/01/2021 17:18

He can ask.

You can agree... if the kids want to see him; if he takes on all parental duties that day; if he doesn't use it to reduce child support and then stop seeing them, or not do things like home schooling etc.

But as we don't know, not do we need to, why you want to stop him, that would be entirely down to why you are bothered by it. If you have good reason them say no and make him go back to court for an adjustment

LST · 21/01/2021 17:19

Well. As the saying goes, 'he made his bed'. If he can't come and get them himself and offer them a stable environment then until he can stand firm

CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/01/2021 17:20

Apologies, cross posted.

Say no and tell him he has to buck his ideas up or you will be seeking an order to stabilise his contact for the benefit of the kids and to impress upon him he needs to do the travelling. He moved...

Are you claiming through CMS?

RippleEffects · 21/01/2021 17:20

I don't know your back story or your reasons for not wanting your childrens father to have reasonable access to them.

I'm divorced from my XH. He walked out when they were 1 and 3 stating parenting wasn't for him. Turns out he'd been having an affair and moved straight into another womens bed. Our elder son is also severely disabled. Then less than a year later I got a solicitors letter saying I was blocking access.

There are many ways access can go but court is a very expensive process - financial, emotional and it can have quite a profound effect on everyones relationships.

The long and short is that having had children together you have a tie which is going to go on for every remaining child related event of your lives.

This doesn't suddenly stop at 16. There are things like graduations, weddings, grandchildren coming along where you may well need to be able to be civil for your childrens sake.

Quite common shared access arrangements appears to be one night in the week and every other weekend. You don't need to be a doormat and do things to suit your XH but you do need to consider what is in the childrens interests and how could the situation work for all of you.

I don't claim to have found the perfect solution but my XH does things like take our younger out for a kick about at the park, they go off road biking together (something I don't really fancy). He takes the older one out to Ikea restaurant for tea (when we were allowed to). Its things the children enjoy but to a timetable that works for our family.

We communicate by email to keep all arrangements in writing and at first I only accessed the XH email folder once a week to limit my exposure.

So are there any mitigating circumstances that leave you very concerned about more access?

Blacktothepink · 21/01/2021 17:22

Tell him to jog on...

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:26

Thankyou for all your replies. I have begged him to stay local so he can see the children more, but he refused to consider it.

He will not do anything that inconveniences him, he won’t drive over just to take them for a burger or have a chat and a walk, he doesn’t like being outdoors so won’t come.

I would love them to have a closer relationship with him, despite his being a rotter he does love them. But I’m not prepared to be messed about the night before he’s meant to have them, or for him to think it’s ok to cancel just because it pleases him.

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Looneytune253 · 21/01/2021 17:29

If he's insisting on an extra day give him the friday or the Monday so it's less travelling for you. Will give you a break too (as long as he's a decent dad that is of course)

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:31

One of the kids has specialist provision and is in on a Saturday, so at best it’s Saturday afternoon to Sunday night as he can’t possibly drive back and forth for him.

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MacavityTheDentistsCat · 21/01/2021 17:33

I'd refuse. He can't manage to keep to an EOW arrangement nor be bothered to live nearby but expects you to put yourself out to take them to him each week? No way. It's a power play. Plus, they are not "off school". This is not the holidays. They are just being schooled at home.

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 17:36

Thankyou.

Here is the back story

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4132317-to-only-communicate-with-my-Ex-husband-via-email

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Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 18:55

Forwarding all this to SHL.

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marshmallowfluffy · 21/01/2021 19:07

He can ask but he can't expect you to obey that command.

Tell him if he picks them up then you'll collect.
You shouldn't have to do all travelling.

If he's not happy tell him to take you to court. This will work in your favour as you'll know exactly what days to expect him and can say no to days that aren't his days. It doesn't mean he'll turn up as the order won't force him to do anything but you'll have peace of mind to make plans or say no to him if it's not court ordered.

bigbird1969 · 21/01/2021 19:13

You can say no. Your focussing on the needs of your DC and that is correct. Dont even know why your asking here whether his request to see them mid week and expecting you to do a 2hr round trip as he wont drive is unreasonable. As it clearly is...tell him no and leave it at that

Vigorothello · 21/01/2021 19:31

It might sound obvious that I can say no but I had nearly 2 decades of his domination, so I question myself when I have to stand up to him.

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