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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

Should I let kids stay with my ex?

5 replies

Forfucksake84 · 01/04/2024 17:44

I have a bit of a dilemma in that I don't know whether to let my children stay with my ex when he moves into his new flat in a couple of weeks. We split up 3 years ago and has been a very unhelpful and unreliable coparent so far. He blames it all on his depression. He used to have them for one night a fortnight last year before he got kicked out of his old flat for not paying rent but there were often cancellations due to him not having enough food/petrol to come and get them etc. The last 3 months he has been living in temporary accommodation with his girlfriend and their 4 month old baby so has been visiting them once a month at a push. He says he wants to help me more and be more of a father to them but I don't know if I would be doing the right thing for the following reasons : 1) it's a one bedroom flat (he says they can sleep in sitting room
2) he has written off 3 cars in the last couple of years. The first 2 were minor scrapes but the most recent one was apparently a head on collision and he said he was lucky to be alive so would be worried about him driving them 40 minutes away.
3) he has a very toxic relationship with his girlfriend where they seem to be very hot and cold with eachother (although he says they never argue in front of the girls and that she's good with them.)
I feel torn as one one hand I'm really struggling with single motherhood and am desperate for some more help and am full of resentment for him not doing his bit. But on the other hand I don't know if the above circumstances are appropriate. I would appreciate everyone's thoughts.

OP posts:
FunLurker · 01/04/2024 19:04

How old are children? What do they want to do?

Forfucksake84 · 01/04/2024 19:10

They are 9 and 3. They would probably want to go but I still don't know if its the right decision or if he deserves it

OP posts:
Cbljgdpk · 01/04/2024 19:55
  1. its fine for them to sleep in the sitting room
  2. that worries me more and I’d think about trying to get them there myself
  3. you can only really know this by what your girls tell you and trying it out
I dont entirely understand what you mean about him deserving it though? I think I’d try it and see how your girls find it.
Forfucksake84 · 01/04/2024 20:27

Cbljgdpk · 01/04/2024 19:55

  1. its fine for them to sleep in the sitting room
  2. that worries me more and I’d think about trying to get them there myself
  3. you can only really know this by what your girls tell you and trying it out
I dont entirely understand what you mean about him deserving it though? I think I’d try it and see how your girls find it.

I can't get there myself because it's 40 minutes away and i don't drive. There are no direct trains there. I was with him for 10 years and he never had any accidents in that time...but did often drive too fast/try to overtake people etc. He says he would be careful with the girls in the car but I don't know how I'm supposed to believe him. The girls like his girlfriend. It sounds like she's a bit jekyll and Hyde. He is constantly slagging her off to me. I just really overthink everything so I don't know if I'm being paranoid or not...

OP posts:
babycool2 · 19/11/2025 16:24

He seems like bad news with all the cars and rent issue.

My only issue is " if he deserves it", i do not think the law would agree with you on this , you can judge a parent but if he has no safeguarding concerns, i doubt you have much say in that to judge.

Anyway good luck

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