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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

Absent parent wants a chance - help!

29 replies

unhappyconstellation · 19/08/2025 23:09

I have one DS 2.5 - been a single parent since very early in my pregnancy. For background - father and I were never in a proper relationship it was very casual and short term and he is the opposite of the sort of man I thought I would have a child with (I was going through some stuff at the time and not making the best decisions) was on contraception but didn’t work or possibly missed a pill will never be 100% sure.
I had a really horrible pregnancy was so poorly all the way through - actually ended up two stone lighter after I’d given birth than before I was pregnant. He didn’t turn up to scans he didn’t buy hardly anything baby needed he was horrible throughout nasty over phone and message and just generally made a stressful time ten times worse.
I continued to update him on appointments etc but got to the point I said he isn’t to be at the birth due to his behaviour. He then proceeded to slag me off all over social media on the day I went in to be induced.
When I returned home with baby I offered for him to come and meet his son, he came, complained about baby not having his surname. Left and then harassed me with constant phone calls till the early hours telling me had taken an overdose and wouldn’t be around by morning. At this point I told him enough was enough. He is not to have any contact with baby until he sees a doctor and gets his mental health sorted and also his drinking (suspected alcoholic but wouldn’t agree himself). After this I didn’t hear from him again. This was Jan 2023
He has another daughter in her 20s who has been active in my sons life since day one, he stays with her and her mum (who is dads ex) once a week and they are amazing I really appreciate them.
He has never properly contributed financially- paid nothing for a while and I went through CMS and he now pays £29 a month despite working cash in hand (he claims benefits for not working) I have reported him numerous times as have others but nothing ever happened. He missed birthdays and Christmases not so much as a message.
Out of the blue in the last week he has contacted me and asked to see DS. He hasn’t got a new relationship the woman he is with they’ve been together long term. Not sure why now but I’m torn. I have agreed for him to see him with conditions as I don’t want to be a woman stopping contact for no reason but I also want to ensure the least impact for my son if this is just a flash in the pan and he ends up absent again. The message I sent with conditions is below.
Does anybody have any advice? Anything I could do differently or what to look out for? I’m just very apprehensive and not sure what is best. Thanks for reading.
Ok - so you’ve not been in his life at all pretty much for the last two and a half years, first two birthdays and Christmases have been missed.
So it has to be built up slowly as he doesn’t know you.
You currently contribute very little to his upbringing so I’d appreciate if you could ease some of the financial burden that’s all on me and contribute some more than you do at the moment.
You won’t be able to tell him you’re his dad straight away until I’m sure that you’re consistent and reliable. I don’t want to mess redacted name around and play with his emotions.
Initially it would be coming to see him at mine or I can meet you somewhere so you can see him, that can be built up slowly to you taking him on your own but it would be a slow process.
Let me know what you think? I have no issues with you being in his life never have done but my main concern is redacted name and doing what is best for him, and considering you’ve not been around at all for the first two and a half years I want to tread carefully and make sure it has the least impact on him
*personal details redacted by MNHQ for privacy.

OP posts:
Francestein · 20/08/2025 03:46

I would let that message go directly to spam. Your kid needs someone who will show up consistently. This guy’s a waste of skin.

Springadorable · 20/08/2025 05:14

You're not stopping him seeing his son for no reason. You're stopping him because he's a manipulative piece of shit who hasn't cared for, and has gone out of way not to pay for, the life he helped create. He doesn't now get to waltz in and add additional emotional damage to the reams he's already caused.

BabyCatFace · 20/08/2025 05:22

I would simply ask him why now - what's changed and how can you trust him? See what he has to say for himself before you start offering all that contact. And don't mention money, you won't see a penny from him and tying contact to maintenance isn't right.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 20/08/2025 05:48

I would t let him see his son, but if you want to that’s your choice.

The message is extremely combative, understandable because you’re angry (like I say I would not facilitate it anyway).

If it’s to foster a good relationship between father and son, I’d say the same things but in a less aggressive tone, but only if you are doing this because you think it’s long term good for your son.

i would put along the lines of:-

I was surprised to receive your message after so long, but I hope we can move forward with a relationship between you and XX. A good father and DC relationship is a definite positive.

We will need to move slowly for XX sake,

A secure setting for XX is important, so I’m willing to facilitate short meetings at our home, building over time to let XX get to know you, once he is confident, we will review. It may be a slow process, but let’s see how XX progresses, he’s a shy/confident/ little lad, so who knows.

No Daddy status for a while, it’ll need to be built up to that, I will agree that once I see how the relationship develops and decide how/when/if an appropriate time to tell him is. (saying if you don’t turn up, you won’t be daddy!.

We need to discuss finances (over this email, not when/if you visit), you’re not contributing enough to his life currently, this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Could you confirm your solution to this?

Absolutely no discussions about how, when or where you next see him in front of him. Any discussions on money etc, must be via email. I think it’s best to avoid any conflict in front of XX, Which Im sure you’ll agree is best.

Let me know your thoughts on the above.

Good luck, if this is what you want, but you don’t have to do any of it!

beAsensible1 · 20/08/2025 06:10

I’m going to go against the grain but a bit of supervised time with him is probably the right thing to do.

yes he’s fucked up, yes he’s been a shot parent, but punishing him shouldn’t include keeping the option of your child having the other parent involved.

I know we want the other person be on the trenches and share the burden. And it’s not fair being the only responsible one and feeling like there’s no consequences for being a rubbish parent but it doesn’t matter.

almost all the young men I know who have had fathers kept away because they’re rubbish, and have addictive behaviours or are inconsistent are still upset. They would’ve rather had something than nothing.

you child has one constant parent so he will have a good attachment with you. Seeing a parent intermittently is better than not at all with obvious exceptions for abuse etc

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/08/2025 06:14

Op has not punished him.

He has chosen not to have consistent contact with his child because he is a selfish waste of space. And why now such a message from him?. What does he really want here?.

LoudSnoringDog · 20/08/2025 06:15

No way on earth would I let this waste of space within 10 miles of my child.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/08/2025 06:16

Op has also raised concerns re his mental
health and drinking. If this man is indeed an alcoholic then op should stay well away from
him.

Bellevue85 · 20/08/2025 06:27

I do think your son has the right to the opportunity to have a relationship with his Dad, and I applaud you for being open to it.

Personally, I would not have even mentioned him having your son alone in the future. He is so far from that it isn’t funny.

As PP stated, ‘Why now? What do you intend to do differently? How else do you intend to contribute to his life other than visits? How do you see this panning out long term?’

Elektra1 · 20/08/2025 06:54

A friend of mine has had a similar thing with her ex (not an alcoholic, just chronically petty and unreliable) so that their child didn’t see him much between the ages of 2-5. Then the dad seemed to turn over a new leaf and suddenly wanted EOW again. The parents managed to agree a gradual schedule of eg a few hours every Saturday for 2 months, moving to including Saturday night when it was clear that it was going well and dad was being consistent, moving to adding in a weeknight. Taking it slowly and led by how the child is coping is the right thing to do, and I hope it works out for you and your DS.

unhappyconstellation · 20/08/2025 08:25

I don’t want to just say a flat no without giving him the opportunity to prove himself - it’s not on me to keep him from my son unless he gives me a reason to. He has so far agree to everything I have asked od
him and contact will be slow, with my supervision and at my house initially.

If he still has an issue I’d imagine that will become clear quite quickly.

I’d love to just tell him no and leave it at that but it’s not about me and if there’s a small chance my son can have a good relationship with his dad then surely I have to try?

I did ask him why now - he said he has wanted to for a long time and thought I would say no, he said he didn’t want to cause trouble between the relationship his other child has with my child either. I’ve asked him what his long term goal is with this and what sort of contact he foresees and he said he just wants to be a part of his life.

If he messes up just once then that’s it for good there will be no more chances this is absolutely last chance saloon.

I’ve asked him to come armed with answers to the questions like maintenance and future contact etc when he sees him.

My son currently has no idea what he is missing and he has great role models in my dad and brother. I want to do right by him whilst still making sure it has the least impact on him if it goes wrong.

I’m dreading seeing him at the weekend, wish he had never got in contact but it just feels wrong to dismiss. It’s hard to know what’s the best thing when I know nothing about his lifestyle.

OP posts:
Lennonjingles · 20/08/2025 09:22

Can you ask a relative or friend to be with you when he comes round, might be useful.

Gettingbysomehow · 20/08/2025 09:25

I would not have anything to do with him. My son's father let him down over and over again and really messed with his head.

BeeCucumber · 20/08/2025 09:41

Don’t waste your time with him. He will inevitably let you all down and forget your son when something new and shiny comes along. Let all his messages go straight to the automatic delete box.

yellowbuzzybee · 20/08/2025 09:48

I would let him See the child because you never want your kids to go up and the dad to say I tried to see you but your mum stopped me. The one thing that has always meant that DS Dad has been present in his life always is that I have never stopped him from seeing our DS despite when things were really turbulent between us.

I wouldn’t ask for money in this message. I would save that for another time but I would go with everything else that you’ve said but maybe tweak first line to say something like ‘I have no problem with you seeing your son however…’

hopefully, he can stop causing drama and be consistent.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 20/08/2025 10:12

@unhappyconstellation straight word = no!! why the hell have you allowed any part of his family to be involved in your baby's life?? is it just to make your life easier and give you a break???

unhappyconstellation · 20/08/2025 10:29

Lennonjingles · 20/08/2025 09:22

Can you ask a relative or friend to be with you when he comes round, might be useful.

My brother lives next door but one to me that’s why I’ve arrange for it to be at my house

OP posts:
unhappyconstellation · 20/08/2025 10:31

yellowbuzzybee · 20/08/2025 09:48

I would let him See the child because you never want your kids to go up and the dad to say I tried to see you but your mum stopped me. The one thing that has always meant that DS Dad has been present in his life always is that I have never stopped him from seeing our DS despite when things were really turbulent between us.

I wouldn’t ask for money in this message. I would save that for another time but I would go with everything else that you’ve said but maybe tweak first line to say something like ‘I have no problem with you seeing your son however…’

hopefully, he can stop causing drama and be consistent.

Yes that’s exactly why I want to - I want to be able to tell him when he’s older that I didn’t stop his dad from seeing him. It may not work out but I can give him this one opportunity to turn it around

OP posts:
unhappyconstellation · 20/08/2025 10:33

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 20/08/2025 10:12

@unhappyconstellation straight word = no!! why the hell have you allowed any part of his family to be involved in your baby's life?? is it just to make your life easier and give you a break???

Why wouldn’t I let my child’s sister be a part of his life? She’s done nothing wrong and she absolutely adores her little brother and he adores her. She covers one day a week childcare for me whilst I work yes.

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/08/2025 10:34

You’ve never actively prevented him
from seeing his child and his past behaviour towards you and in turn his son is nothing short of appalling . He’s chosen not to engage and for some reason he has decided on now.

unhappyconstellation · 20/08/2025 10:34

Gettingbysomehow · 20/08/2025 09:25

I would not have anything to do with him. My son's father let him down over and over again and really messed with his head.

That’s what I want to avoid - I’m sure it will become clear quite soon what his intentions are

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/08/2025 10:35

What direct evidence do you have that he can or will turn this around?

OldandTired66 · 20/08/2025 11:19

What is his relationship with his daughter like? That should give some clues as to his consistancy.

unhappyconstellation · 21/08/2025 08:06

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/08/2025 10:35

What direct evidence do you have that he can or will turn this around?

I don’t have any direct evidence he’s had nothing to do with us for the last two and a half years

OP posts:
unhappyconstellation · 21/08/2025 08:07

OldandTired66 · 20/08/2025 11:19

What is his relationship with his daughter like? That should give some clues as to his consistancy.

He has a relationship with her but she tells me he’s not been a great dad although he thinks he has been. Her parents were very young when she was born she’s in her twenties now and there was a lot of effort put in by her mum to keep dad in her life whereas I’ve had the opposite approach and it’s taken this long for him to reach out

OP posts: