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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

Issues with my ex

14 replies

justamama31 · 08/11/2025 21:06

Hey everyone, I’m writing this post as I’d like some advice especially from women.
Me and my ex partner have split up couple of months ago I told him that I don’t want to be with him for multiple reasons.
We have a child together, yesterday I allowed him to come over to spend some time with his son as his house isn’t suitable.
I specifically told him that I do not want to talk about anything to do with us and I also told him that I still haven’t changed my mind about being with him.
I told him that I don’t want any physical touch either.
He came over and straight away he wanted to hug me which I refused, then he proceeded to tell me that the hug will make me feel better and I told him that I do not want one.
Then he proceeded to tell me that it looks like my bum has gotten bigger and if he can have a feel which I refused and asked why does he have to sexualise things all the time he said that he is not.
I went to sit down on the sofa, he then proceeded to come to sit next to me and started to rub my head and my legs which I asked him to stop doing because it was overstimulating for me and I didn’t ask for it.
I kept asking him to stop multiple times.
Later that night his son asked him if he can be the one to put him to sleep and he said okay, he took him upstairs and came downstairs and my son still wasn’t asleep at this point, after half an hour I have asked him if he isn’t going to go back upstairs and put our son back to sleep and he has told me that this isn’t his job as I chose to be a single mother and because he doesn’t live here and we are not together he doesn’t feel like it’s his responsibility to do that.
i ended up going upstairs to my son and putting him to sleep myself.
When I came downstairs my ex partner was clearly in a bad mood because I kept telling him no to the stuff he was doing, then he proceeded to talk about our relationship and my past which I told him I don’t wish to talk about.
I have asked him to leave which he refused to do because he said that I invited him and he wasn’t going to get in a cab home late at night, I then proceeded to tell him to either leave or I will call the police. He then said if I call the police he will do something mad which stopped me from doing that as I do not want my child around this sort of behaviour and I was quite frightened as well. He just made me feel uncomfortable. Earlier that night he also asked me what sort of underwear I was wearing and he was snooping in my bedroom to see what I’ve been wearing when he wasn’t here which I find very disturbing as he doesn’t live here anymore.
I didn’t want to argue with him no more and I went upstairs to get away from him.
In the morning I woke up and I came downstairs to make our son breakfast he was telling me I was being too loud and I was doing it on purpose but I am not going to tip toe around him just because he is sleeping and I also told him if he didn’t want this happening he should of left last night when I asked him too.
I told him that I will not allow him to come over again as when I do these sort of things happen and it just messes with my mental health.
He keeps saying that I’m delusional and that he is the best thing that has happened to me because without him I wouldn’t have what I have today.
I honestly don’t know what to do anymore, I want him to have contact with his son but I am not willing to put my mental health on the line.
He keeps saying that he has shown me unconditional love throughout our whole relationship which isn’t true, because I feel like if he did we wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place. He used to be abusive towards me which left a mark on my mental health and I don’t see him the same. Also he didn’t help me out enough with our son or any chores at home. I always had to clean up after him or clean up in general because it wouldn’t of got done and he always used to tell me if you want me to do things around the house just ask me which I don’t want to do as we both have eyes and we both can see what needs to be done.
Anyway, this is my story and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you x

OP posts:
Lmnop22 · 08/11/2025 21:13

Do not let him back into your house. If he wants to see your son he can take him out to the park for an hour or to a cafe or something. He can pick him up and drop him off and not come in.

This is unacceptable behaviour but you need to draw a line now and stop enabling this man being in your space and keep your home a safe space for you and your child.

Endofyear · 08/11/2025 21:46

Sorry you are going through this OP, please don't let him in your home again. Does he have a key, do you need to change the locks?

If you want him to have contact with his son, I'd suggest arranging handovers in a public place, such as a busy supermarket carpark where there are lots of people around. Tell him he is not to come to your house and if he harrasses you or threatens you, speak to the police. Only communicate with him about arrangements for your son and refuse to engage in any other discussions.

justamama31 · 08/11/2025 22:03

Lmnop22 · 08/11/2025 21:13

Do not let him back into your house. If he wants to see your son he can take him out to the park for an hour or to a cafe or something. He can pick him up and drop him off and not come in.

This is unacceptable behaviour but you need to draw a line now and stop enabling this man being in your space and keep your home a safe space for you and your child.

Thank you for your response, I did tell him that he won’t be allowed in my house again after what has happened.
The thing is that he doesn’t have a job and his house isn’t suitable for visits. He always tells me that he doesn’t have money to take our son out anywhere so the only option is for him to come over to my house and then if I say no he tells me that I’m the one that keeping him away from from our son.
It’s just a never ending cycle, and it doesn’t look like he is doing anything towards bettering his living space to he can have his son over. It’s exhausting.

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 08/11/2025 22:08

Do not let him into your house again OP.

There are multiple free options he can take your son to, the park, the library, if a town then a free museum etc etc.
It's not on you to solve it your not keeping him away.

justamama31 · 08/11/2025 22:09

Endofyear · 08/11/2025 21:46

Sorry you are going through this OP, please don't let him in your home again. Does he have a key, do you need to change the locks?

If you want him to have contact with his son, I'd suggest arranging handovers in a public place, such as a busy supermarket carpark where there are lots of people around. Tell him he is not to come to your house and if he harrasses you or threatens you, speak to the police. Only communicate with him about arrangements for your son and refuse to engage in any other discussions.

Thank you for your message, yes he does have a key to my house which he refused to give back multiple times. I will contact my landlady to see if she can help me change the locks.
When it comes to visits in public he always complains that he doesn’t have the money as he doesn’t work right now. I told him that he could get on the bus and take his son to the park for a little bit but he isn’t willing to do that.
Our son started nursery, reception and now school almost three years ago not once he has taken him in or picked him up. He also doesn’t come to parents evenings or anything that our son has going on at school.
Last year our son had his Christmas concert at school and I was the only one to attend and I felt so sad for my little one, also at that time we was still together and he was living at home he just decided not to get up in the morning when he clearly knew of the Christmas concert. I’m exhausted having to tell him what he needs to do as a father.

OP posts:
TitaniumTess · 08/11/2025 22:14

Contact a local domestic abuse charity.
Google 'The Freedom Programme' too. Once you see the patterns of behaviour, more of it makes sense.

AlphaBravoGamma · 08/11/2025 22:14

Your son is better off without this deadbeat in his life. Stop enabling your ex

justamama31 · 08/11/2025 22:14

Scottishskifun · 08/11/2025 22:08

Do not let him into your house again OP.

There are multiple free options he can take your son to, the park, the library, if a town then a free museum etc etc.
It's not on you to solve it your not keeping him away.

He always has an excuse why he can’t take him to these sort of places and it’s always about money. He has lost his job due to mental health and he blames it on me and he hasn’t looked for a job since. Even when he was living at home he hardly took our son out and the responsibility was on me and when I mention that to him he says that it’s not true and I’m making things up.
Im definitely not going to let him into the house again, our sons birthday is coming up and I’m just struggling to think of a way to make sure he gets to spend time with him.

OP posts:
Odiebay · 08/11/2025 22:29

justamama31 · 08/11/2025 22:14

He always has an excuse why he can’t take him to these sort of places and it’s always about money. He has lost his job due to mental health and he blames it on me and he hasn’t looked for a job since. Even when he was living at home he hardly took our son out and the responsibility was on me and when I mention that to him he says that it’s not true and I’m making things up.
Im definitely not going to let him into the house again, our sons birthday is coming up and I’m just struggling to think of a way to make sure he gets to spend time with him.

This is not on you to solve. You need to get out of this way of thinking. Your sons future looks like this:

A dad who is in and out constantly letting him down and making him feel worthless because as your son gets older it will be harder and harder for you to shield him from who his dad really is. Take it from the child of a similar dad.

You must stop. Change your locks. Tell him the days/times he can have his son. It's much better for your son to detach now when he is younger instead of leading him into believing his dad does actually care about him.

If he can't take him out..not on you. Just don't get your sons hopes up. He's got no money? That's his problem not yours. He has the opportunity to see his son her is not taking it. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

NPPUHinged · 08/11/2025 22:32

With respect OP, you are doing all the legwork for this man to see your son. If he really wanted to have a relationship with his son, he would do anything to see him.

Are you aware that touching you when you have said no is assault?

You really need to put some boundaries in, because at the moment, he has absolutely no respect for you or your son.

SapphOhNo · 08/11/2025 22:52

I cant believe what I'm reading. It's not your job to fix him or solve his issues.

Let him accuse you of whatever. Just do not let him in your home.

ohyesido · 10/11/2025 19:50

I am horrified reading that. He has no right to touch you or refuse to leave your home.

outerspacepotato · 10/11/2025 20:00

His problems are not yours to solve.

He's not allowed in your house period. He sexually assaulted you in your home.

Get legal custody sorted. Arrange for pickups and drop offs at the police station parking lot. Only contact with him is via an app that is court admissable, like My Family Wizard or what you have there. You only talk about your child, nothing else.

You are in a high conflict separation with a man who's determined he can sexually assault you despite your saying no and threatens to be "mad" if you call the police to make him leave. If that means violent, you should have called anyway.

Get those locks changed ASAP.

OurChristmasMiracle · 05/12/2025 16:47

Seeing as he is unable to prioritise his son and is continuing to abuse you (and what he is doing is abuse even down to you allegedly stopping him from seeing his son when it’s only on his terms) I would suggest a contact centre for visitation.

I would even go so far as speaking to a solicitor and getting a letter sent stating that “due to ongoing coercive behaviour and sexual harassment of mum, contact will be offered in a contact centre”

I would also be tempted to text and say “following your visit to our son last night and the events that occurred- including inappropriate comments and refusing to leave- I will no longer be offering contact at my home. I am therefore proposing that contact will need to be at a contact centre.

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