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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

Christmas parallel parenting

53 replies

TitaniumTess · 03/12/2023 08:04

Abusive ex. Years of post separation abuse. We're now communicating through an app, which is much better. We've got a 6-year old child together.

Family court locked down pretty clearly what Xmas arrangements are. My ex wants to change them. I've tried to accommodate it and been polite. He's had a big strop in the app and effectively said not to bother. I've said that I was trying to help. Why do they have to make everything so hard work? I still dread getting the app notifications. Any tips? Xxxx

OP posts:
urbanbuddha · 23/01/2024 23:03

Nasty man. Download a simple voice recording app and run it when you have to see him. Put the phone in your pocket mic end upwards. That way you’ll have both evidence of bad behaviour and the satisfaction of knowing he’s making a real prat of himself.

TitaniumTess · 24/01/2024 04:43

@urbanbuddha thanks. I've got lots of cctv video of him shouting else when he used to come to the house for handovers. The more extreme ones, the police know about. They just said to keep logging.

OP posts:
TitaniumTess · 25/01/2024 19:11

Never ends! 4 chats today. Some piffle we don't really need.

Some stuff about hols. Two half terms. He's changing the rules depending on whether it's his or not. His week, he's decided both weekends are his....as per his court advisor, he said. I've checked with court. He hasn't been in touch so he's ia lieing. My half term, he's decided that one weekend is his and one mine.

Baffling. He's a 5 year old child with no logic stuck in a middle-aged man's body, isn't he?

OP posts:
urbanbuddha · 26/01/2024 12:30

He's a 5 year old child with no logic stuck in a middle-aged man's body, isn't he?

Sounds more like he’s got a bad case of the “terrible twos”.😄

TitaniumTess · 26/01/2024 18:46

@urbanbuddha thanks! That made me laugh!!

I think I've got another few rounds and then I'm sorted for all of 2024!! :)

OP posts:
TitaniumTess · 19/02/2024 06:41

Sorry, it's me again...

He's trying to change holiday arrangements....and also getting angry...

Lots of messages yesterday and he's also trying to accuse me of not cleaning our son's ears properly, things like that...

He's the one who once sent a bag of clothes home for our child that he had borrowed with soiled underpants in it.

Where he's attacking and it's silly, do I just drop the chat, or reply to prove I'm not what he says. He just reliates more is the problem and changes topic.

OP posts:
TealSapphire · 19/02/2024 07:15

OK, firstly I would not respond to his messages other than the following statements:

'I disagree with your assertions'

'I am unable to deviate from the court orders' and attach them.

Perhaps have an email rule that his emails go to a certain folder that you check once a week. Ignore his texts (unless your child is with him). You really need to go very low contact with this man. He has his contact time and you have yours and the only communication necessary is brief essential information about your child.

TitaniumTess · 19/02/2024 07:35

@TealSapphire

Thank you xxx

OP posts:
TitaniumTess · 07/06/2024 06:28

Not posted for a while but he's still rumbling on with his unnecessary chats....

He raises the most minute things or says that another parent has seen me and our son doing something that is actually fine but that he twists into an issue.

Even if I post something super short....he's carrying on....

OP posts:
category12 · 07/06/2024 06:44

Just ignore the twisty stuff, don't rise to it. You don't need to defend yourself.

TitaniumTess · 07/06/2024 06:54

Thanks. I always worry that he will then think he's right and I've 'been told.'

I've used phrases like 'I have a different view but thanks for sharing your opinion' but he keeps coming back.

He always messages late at night. I turn notifications off but I can't help notice that it mirrors when he used to wake me up to shout at me at night.....

OP posts:
category12 · 07/06/2024 07:08

What he wants is ongoing dialogue with you and to continue bullying you.

Does it matter if he thinks he's "told you"?

Don't let his bullshit influence what you do day to day, given it as little headspace as possible.

MultiplaLight · 07/06/2024 07:17

I would stop responding to anything except logistical messages.

If you really must, have a stock statement like "noted" or "I've read this" and don't say anything else. Don't engage with who is "right", he won't change his opinion whatever you say.

Epidote · 07/06/2024 07:23

He wants the control to manipulate and annoy you. Now is Xmas arrangement, in few months will be where you have to buy the school uniforms.
Keep strong and don't engage in his crap.

RandomMess · 07/06/2024 07:38

Only check the app a little before contact can commences in case he has cancelled. Can you turn off the notifications?

unbelievablescenes · 07/06/2024 08:03

Did you ever get any domestic abuse charges logged? If I were you I'd apply for a non harassment order and run all contact through a third party. You can do this through criminal court if he's been convicted, or civil court if not. My ex hasn't been allowed to speak to me for 5 months and it's heaven. Just message him and tell him you see no need for any further correspondence outwith the arranged dates other than emergencies. Then start reporting him for harassment. You need someone in between you and him to make him think before he messages. Get tough. Its hard to start with but it works

TealSapphire · 07/06/2024 09:29

Honestly they must all read out of the same losers playbook. Mine emails constantly to tell me how I'm abusive and controlling to him, that I neglect the kids, and apparently other parents even come up to him from school telling him how concerned they are for the children (DS says no one has ever done that!).

It's hard not to respond. I kind of feel like by not replying I'm nearly agreeing or not even denying it iykwim? But if I say anything then he jumps on it to keep engaging me.

GerbilsForever24 · 07/06/2024 09:46

Aaah, the "You are a terrible parent, everyone says so" or "You are a terrible parent, I'm going to go to social services" rant. It's a classic.

Op, you're doing well. If you can't turn off app notifications, can you get a completely separate phone for the app and keep it in a drawer and just get it out when you need to?

You just have to continue to grey rock him. It's very difficult, I know. But try to look at some of the rants dispassionately because they're so illogical - you know that. It's the fight or flight response kicking in that makes you question, even just for a minute. DH, SIL and i liked to laugh at exBIL's rants about how he was going to call social services because SIL let her mother mind the children and MIL was apparently not safe to look after the children. Fair enough you think (assuming MIL is old/frail/whatever)? Except... he left the children with MIL more often than she did!!

DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum · 07/06/2024 09:50

TitaniumTess · 07/06/2024 06:54

Thanks. I always worry that he will then think he's right and I've 'been told.'

I've used phrases like 'I have a different view but thanks for sharing your opinion' but he keeps coming back.

He always messages late at night. I turn notifications off but I can't help notice that it mirrors when he used to wake me up to shout at me at night.....

It doesn't matter if he thinks you've been told. You just need to stop responding to any of the irrelevant shit. You're feeding it.

DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum · 07/06/2024 09:50

unbelievablescenes · 07/06/2024 08:03

Did you ever get any domestic abuse charges logged? If I were you I'd apply for a non harassment order and run all contact through a third party. You can do this through criminal court if he's been convicted, or civil court if not. My ex hasn't been allowed to speak to me for 5 months and it's heaven. Just message him and tell him you see no need for any further correspondence outwith the arranged dates other than emergencies. Then start reporting him for harassment. You need someone in between you and him to make him think before he messages. Get tough. Its hard to start with but it works

She's got a court order that states they have to use the app. She can't just change those arrangements.

unbelievablescenes · 07/06/2024 10:19

@DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum well if he's harassing her she can. But I didn't actually say she should "just change the arrangements" I said she could apply for a non harassment order. If that was granted the court would revise the contact and stipulate that it should be through a third party, as they have for me. And it's life changing.

DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum · 07/06/2024 10:49

unbelievablescenes · 07/06/2024 10:19

@DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum well if he's harassing her she can. But I didn't actually say she should "just change the arrangements" I said she could apply for a non harassment order. If that was granted the court would revise the contact and stipulate that it should be through a third party, as they have for me. And it's life changing.

Hes not harassing her though. He's only contacting her through the app. He's a dickhead but he's not breaking the law.

unbelievablescenes · 07/06/2024 11:08

@DracoDormiensNumquamTittilandum he's sending excessive messages to her, after plans are made and agreed, that are causing her unnecessary distress. She describes him flaring up and tantruming, she's feeling triggered. Of course he's breaking the law. Look up the police definitions of harassment, there's practically a picture of him. Women don't need to keep putting up with this shit and badging it as crap behaviour. Report the fucker and speak to women's aid.

Greatmate · 07/06/2024 11:10

I think you need to have a set day or two a week where you check the messages on the app and don't look on the other days (unless he has your son) to reduce his contact with you.

Is it possible to go back to court and have the contact set in stone? They you do what the order says. No divination or accommodation.

Personally, I think you need to stop responding and engaging with him. When you do make it the most boring and monotone communication possible with no emotion, frustrating ect. He likes having control over you. Do your best not to give him the satisfaction.

GoldDuster · 07/06/2024 11:47

Your central nervous system is still reacting as though you're in the danger you were in when you were with him, ie when he used to wake you up at night to shout at you, and he texts you, your system reacts in the same way. This is really normal. Years and years on I still get activated when I get a text, although it's got much much less over time and I'm not compelled to reply immediately like I used to be, or try to make it fair, as it never will be.

Every time you get contact from him you are compelled to leap into action and defend yourself, to try to prove that you're not the "bad person/unfit mother" he's allegating that you are. You need to get to to a place where what he thinks of you is none of your concern. Truly. You won't be able to appeal to his reasonable side by being sweet and reasonable. He doesn't have one, and the rare occasions he is reasonable, it's just another way to manipulate you.

He is, and probably will continue to, use every excuse to keep his hooks into you. He likes it when you're on the end of a string and he can pull you around. Cut him off. You can decide if you're going to join in, or not. Do not communicate with him outside of the app, stick to the court order, turn your notifications off and have a set time to check for messages, respond to any message that needs an answer with "noted". Do not get dragged into "chats".

The energy that you're spending on wondering what he's up to, and trying to make him be more reasonable will be better spend on enabling yourself to disengage, therapy would be a good shout for this, and if you don't have the means there is loads of resource online on YouTube and podcasts. Draw a line, you're no longer at his beck and call, physically or energetically. Concentrate on being a good mum, and you'll do that better when you're not a distracted bag of nerves.