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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

Dilemma over xmas contact with ex and DD

57 replies

MyOldMansADustman0 · 07/12/2023 11:30

DD has supervised contact centre contact with her father (because of DV)
Has been ongoing for several years.
He has fortnightly contact and I have stuck rigidly to the order. I have missed a couple of sessions due to illness, but I have immediately made them up and therefore have not missed any contact whatsoever for the duration of the order.
One thing I find a sticking point is the moral dilemma over birthdays and christmas.
I absolutely cannot bear the thought of my DD thinking her father doesn't care about her on her birthday and xmas's, so I have always offered him an additional supervised contact near her birthday or xmas.
We have a dilemma historically where the contact centre chooses to close over xmas so DD goes up to 4 weeks without a session as his last session is always the week or two weeks before xmas.
I am wondering if I should offer an xmas contact?
The issue I have is, am I making a rod for my own back?
I absolutely despise the man, but for all intents and purposes I have ALWAYS prioritised DD's needs over my own which is why I have never opted to frustrate contact in anyway.
We are approaching final hearing stage and I am worried by doing this it will be an expectation.
To note - he NEVER asks to see her on birthdays or xmas's, takes no involvement or interest in school, school have never heard from him. He doesn't know anything about her life or what activities she does, what her interests are, what her friends are called.
Just want some advice on the morality of it vs the future expectations.

OP posts:
pikkumyy77 · 07/12/2023 16:53

Don’t do any work for him. It is better for your dd to learn which people are trustworthy and which people are not early, in a matter of fact way, than late.

MyOldMansADustman0 · 07/12/2023 19:14

I know. I've got some good advice on here.

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 07/12/2023 19:17

There is good reason contact is as is, leave it that way. It’d be very foolish to offer something different.

Daleksatemyshed · 07/12/2023 19:37

Your obviously a very good DM who has your DD's welfare first and foremost but you're being too generous to him Op. He doesn't care, he doesn't ask to see her, your DD hates the journey and doesn't seem to care if she sees him or not so there's no real benefit to her in seeing anymore of her Father. He sounds like the sort of person who will try and turn your kindness against you, he may say if you were really afraid of him of him you wouldn't encourage contact.
If your DD wanted to see him that would be different but if she's really not bothered I'd let sleeping dogs lie

MyOldMansADustman0 · 07/12/2023 21:50

Very true. I can see what people are saying. I'm going to sit tight and wait for him to ask.

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 07/12/2023 22:48

I think you're doing the right thing and over thinking it - she sees it as normal
That she has Xmas with you and yours . She might not want him around on the day or close to it. She doesn't need to see him closer to the date and he hasn't asked. Perhaps he doesn't care that much about Xmas day. Leave it well alone!

MyOldMansADustman0 · 08/12/2023 21:53

Thank you. You are right.

OP posts:
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