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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

DD’s and their father

28 replies

Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 10:17

So there’s quite a lot of history here and I have to hold my hands up and say there’s been conflict in the past, there’s been me ranting about their father‘s behaviour which I wish I could take back but I can’t. I dont want to repeat it.

I know I’m not being unreasonable I guess I’m just sort of asking for advice on how you would handle this ?
Long and the short of it is my three younger children’s father has remarried to somebody who gave her children absolutely no support through university, no money and therefore the kids got, I think 50% of the grant about £4000 a year.
My eldest children with him has put all their financial applications in my name which meant last year they did get 50% financial support and their dads details wasn’t looked into, next year I will earn too much for them to receive a penny.
I have my eldest daughter who received a lot of financial support from her father growing up and frankly that money was put in the family pot and it contributed towards everyone’s well-being at one point it paid the mortgage when my ex was out of work. Had I been selfish and ring fenced that money for her she would have enough money to buy a house for cash and certainly wouldn’t be worried about going through university.
My second daughter is with the ex and basically beyond flicking and 20 quid here n there because the new wife didn’t support her children financially he doesn’t see why and needs to do anything for his daughter despite the fact that he literally earns double what I do and he also has a side gig that brings the man in excess of 20 grand a year cash I actually think it’s nearer £30,000.
No I’m not naive enough to think I can force him to help his own child but I don’t want to be the bad guy all the time and literally I always I am. Always.
The bottom line is if I have to find £8000 each for them to get through university next year then I will won’t I but then why does he get to stand there smiling at her graduation having contributed absolutely apple and I’ve got to admit I did say that and she was like he’s my dad he’s my dad … he does nothing for you.

I’m just so sick of the situation where he comes up smelling like roses.
The last conversation I had with her she stated you and dad will have to sort out this between you and it’s quite simply not going to happen and I don’t know how I can make her understand that this really isn’t right. I understand I have to support daughter one because nobody else is going to, he should be contributing at least 50% towards daughter two well actually should be contributing 50% towards daughter one if the truth be known but that’s never gonna happen.

OP posts:
NotaCoolMum · 18/12/2021 17:56

I feel your pain but it’s not right to put that emotional burden onto your DD. This is an issue between you and her (useless) DF and it should stay that way.

Cloudfrost · 18/12/2021 18:04

1.stop trashtalking her dad to her, regardless of how shit he is, its her dad, in time she will realise herself what a twat he is

  1. if u cant afford to help her then she will have to find a job to support herself.
  2. you are not responsible for what he chooses todo. if she wants his help then she should be the one to discuss it with him. so its not a matter of you 2 sorting it out like she said. Are all your children as entitled and spoilt like DD2?
Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 18:42

She has a job in the holidays but is in lectures 30 hours a week so its tricky to work too.
Ill ignore the snidey remark its hardly entitled to expect support from your parents. Both of them

OP posts:
BigFatLiar · 18/12/2021 18:48

Its hard but either suck it up or offer her 4k and tell her its up to her dad to provide the rest.

kitkatsky · 18/12/2021 18:57

Well YANBU... and I'm already prepping 10yo DD with the idea that if she goes to uni me and her dad will have to pay half, eso as he has never paid a penny in maintenance 🙄 I think you need to tell her "I can afford x. You need to ask dad to pay y or get a job to pay the difference" unless you can afford to pay it all...

Try not to slag him off to her, even tho he's clearly a waste of space... she knows who is there for her

Cloudfrost · 18/12/2021 18:57

The last conversation I had with her she stated you and dad will have to sort out this between you

what she said is entitled imo
she needs to get involved and find a way to sort the financial mess if she wants to go to uni next year.

a lot of young people dont go to uni due to finances
it would be great if everyone got financial support from parents, but often thats nbot possible,, whether due to lack of funds or parents unwilling to help like her father is.

Lucy420 · 18/12/2021 19:01

Could she take out a student loan to pay for fees? Even half of her father won't help her? That's what I and many of my friends had to do. There was no bank of mum and dad to rely on unfortunately.

ToughTittyWhompus · 18/12/2021 19:02

I’m in my 30s and at Uni… My Dad didn’t even offer me so much as a well done when I got in, despite doing it as a lone parent to 3DC, has never asked how it’s going etc. He will get told to fuck off should he ask to come to my Graduation, those tickets belong to my Grandparents, who have remained excited, encouraging, interested and have inspired me the whole journey.

Regards to your DD1 - yes you should have ring fenced her money. Bit late for that now, though.

Tell DD2 you will fund £4000. He can fund the other half. If he doesn’t then thats on his head.

BeyondOurReef · 18/12/2021 19:04

Why isn’t she taking the fees loan? That’s not means tested.

Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 20:02

@BeyondOurReef

Why isn’t she taking the fees loan? That’s not means tested.
She is taking out the fees loan. Its rent that she needs help with
OP posts:
Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 20:05

It just grinds my gears that I’m gonna be providing all of the support and he’s gonna be stood there on graduation day with a big grin on his chops looking proud as punch when literally he’s had fuck all to do with any of this.
And she’s going to let him and if I so much is grimace it’s my fault for “kicking off”

OP posts:
RandomMess · 18/12/2021 20:06

Give her £4k and tell her the rest is between her and her Dad 🤷🏽‍♀️

Natty13 · 18/12/2021 20:22

It just grinds my gears that I’m gonna be providing all of the support and he’s gonna be stood there on graduation day with a big grin on his chops looking proud as punch when literally he’s had fuck all to do with any of this.
And she’s going to let him and if I so much is grimace it’s my fault for “kicking off

Pay her just as much as he does then? She's already said it for you "he's my dad" well the logic for you must be the same - you're her mum, she'll love you whatever you contribute...

motheroflions · 18/12/2021 20:27

OP, i totally get this. My eldest is 25 and I had to support her through everything, whilst her dad wasn't even in the country for huge parts of her life. She is in her dream job in the middle east and I know it me thats helped get her there. Even when covid first struck I had to send over money so she could eat! She really distance herself from him in her early 20s as she realised he was a flake.

Your ex is a CF - and he probably knows it.

Have you spoken to him directly about this?

Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 21:07

@Natty13

*It just grinds my gears that I’m gonna be providing all of the support and he’s gonna be stood there on graduation day with a big grin on his chops looking proud as punch when literally he’s had fuck all to do with any of this. And she’s going to let him and if I so much is grimace it’s my fault for “kicking off*

Pay her just as much as he does then? She's already said it for you "he's my dad" well the logic for you must be the same - you're her mum, she'll love you whatever you contribute...

Doesnt work like that though does it. DD2 will suffer and of course will know DD1 is getting helped
OP posts:
Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 21:08

@motheroflions

OP, i totally get this. My eldest is 25 and I had to support her through everything, whilst her dad wasn't even in the country for huge parts of her life. She is in her dream job in the middle east and I know it me thats helped get her there. Even when covid first struck I had to send over money so she could eat! She really distance herself from him in her early 20s as she realised he was a flake.

Your ex is a CF - and he probably knows it.

Have you spoken to him directly about this?

Yes he just completely ignores any texts or emails he doesnt like the look of
OP posts:
HelloDulling · 18/12/2021 21:20

Doesn’t work like that though does it. DD2 will suffer and of course will know DD1 is getting helped

But DD1 is being helped by both her parents. Your DD2 needs to see that you pay 50% of rent for her sister, and 50% for her. It’s up to their dads to pay the difference. The parent contribution is expected.

Sally872 · 18/12/2021 21:29

Sorry, am I right in thinking that you're annoyed that your dd would still allow him at graduation if he hasn't contributed?

It is awful he won't contribute but he could still be proud of the work your dd has put in and her achievement.

motheroflions · 18/12/2021 21:39

OP, you can only do what you can afford.

If you pay for her you need to accept the fact you are doing this as a gift for her and try and ignore his idiotic grinning face.

Don't be a martyr. Decide if you are willing to take her through this and that decision is yours alone. One thing I learned is that so much is 'expected' of us by our kids when they are younger. 'Dad wont do it so obviously you have to cos some one has to'

No one really has to when it comes to big pay outs but you want to because you want the best for her. He is just happy to watch you do it - but dont let that eat at you, this isnt about him. This is a private arrangement between you and your kids. And fuck yeah i would be pissed off.

Same will happen at their weddings. He wont pay a pay but will want to walk her down the isle.

My best advice is that you accept this is what you want to do and try and filter out him. And i would be letting him know at graduation you got her there.

motheroflions · 18/12/2021 21:41

@HelloDulling

Doesn’t work like that though does it. DD2 will suffer and of course will know DD1 is getting helped

But DD1 is being helped by both her parents. Your DD2 needs to see that you pay 50% of rent for her sister, and 50% for her. It’s up to their dads to pay the difference. The parent contribution is expected.

Which will most likely result in her not going to uni - as her dad wont pay.
ToughTittyWhompus · 18/12/2021 21:43

The Uni job shop will help her find a job around her studies. Plenty of weekend work around around.

Jessie75 · 18/12/2021 21:43

Basically and then he’ll make her feel like shit about it too.

OP posts:
BeyondOurReef · 18/12/2021 21:45

Which will most likely result in her not going to uni - as her dad wont pay.

Ultimately her father is her father. And she is going to have to live with that.

She might just have to choose a local university (and stay at home with you). Lots of young people make that choice.

You can offer her the same contribution as her sister. But it’s not her sister’s fault that she’s got a better father.

She might not recognise it now. But in the long run she will realise that her dad chose not to support her. And he’ll be the one that can experience the consequences of her realising that.

AliceMcK · 18/12/2021 21:46

She’s an adult, tell her you can give her x amount towards uni, the rest she has to find herself, she can ask her dad, work more or delay going while she saves. Lots of people don’t go to uni because they can’t afford it, or go to uni part time while they work full time.

Maybe if he says no to her she will see what an asshole he really is.

BeyondOurReef · 18/12/2021 21:46

@ToughTittyWhompus

The Uni job shop will help her find a job around her studies. Plenty of weekend work around around.
Fast food restaurants are not a glamorous option but hey offer flexible, extremely student friendly work.
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