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Relationships

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Is my co-parent doing the bare minimum for our two-year-old?

8 replies

ChrissyMT · 27/05/2026 13:04

Advice please - is my 'co parent' a bare minimum parent?

He moved to North London when we split before my son was even born (I live in South West London).

He sees him every second weekend at his mums in North London (I take our son friday morning) he gets there friday night just before bed and leaves on Sunday at 3/4pm to drop him home.

When he has him he takes him to family members or a park or shopping centre (our son is 2).

Inbetween visits (11 days) he will video call inconsistently and only whilst he is driving to or from work so he us mostly distracted anyway. Some days its morning and night, some times it will be days inbetween. He sometimes calls after his bedtime. He never ever calls on a weekend and if he does its the most random time. If I dont pick up, he wont text to rearrange he will just say nothing.

He complains he never sees him, so I offer him to have him for more time and he always has an excuse. He never asks to have him extra. He uses his annual leave strictly for holidays with his girlfriend, he never takes a day iff when our son is unwell. Its always on me and I have been pulled in at work numerous times because of this. Often asks to swap weekends. Rarely remembers appointments and recently doesnt ask about him as much inbetween visits.

He moved to Wembley to be 'closer', yet he is still an hour away, still doesnt see him more and I still have to treck to North London to drop our son off. He works 20 mins from us, yet refuses to move despite spending 5 days out of the week in the area and his son living here.

His girlfriend lives on the complete other end of london (East) however he sees her most days. She reckons hes super dad because he's 'involved'.

He said he would take him swimming and teach him, still hasnt. He asks me to take him to get a haircut when he thinks it needs a cut - is this not a mans pride and joy taking his son to the barbers? If I ask he will do it, but its like he cant be bothered.

Our son comes home sometimes with long nails where I forgot to cut them, like hes waiting for me to cut them even though he can?

Whenever I raise a concern about parenting or our son, I am told I am too by the book, too serious, overthinking, etc when my concerns are valid - or I get vague answers as opposed to a conversation, for example 'yeah' 'sure' 'ok' 'ley me know'.

Just because he jokes around, plays with him and is nice to him does this make him a good parent? He seems to think hes responsible and a good dad, I beg to differ after speaking to various other single dads....

I have stopped giving updates and only communicate for logistics

OP posts:
SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 27/05/2026 13:08

I got to here
He moved to North London when we split before my son was even born (I live in South West London).
He sees him every second weekend at his mums in North London (I take our son friday morning)

He is doing the. bare. minimum. a man can do before being considered an absent father

He sounds like a butlins dad (which is a Disney dad without the frills)

TomatoSandwiches · 27/05/2026 13:12

He is a shit dad no doubt.

TheseWordsAreMine · 27/05/2026 13:18

He has no conscience it seems.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 27/05/2026 13:30

If this is an informal arrangement I would stop the weekly trek to north London. If he is that bothered about seeing his child then he can see his child in a contact centre.

Watercooler · 27/05/2026 13:31

You've not got a co-parent there. You've got a mildly fun uncle.

whyohwhyisitalwayswet · 27/05/2026 13:54

You know the answer - he isn't even doing the bare minimum. Did I get this right - you take your son to your ex's mother's on Friday, spend the day with her and he arrives in the evening? You are bending over backwards for this man and his family to have a relationship with his son. It's his responsibility to build a relationship with his son, not yours. He should be collecting him and dropping him off at the very least. I hope atleast he's paying his fair share of the costs.

ChrissyMT · 27/05/2026 14:02

whyohwhyisitalwayswet · 27/05/2026 13:54

You know the answer - he isn't even doing the bare minimum. Did I get this right - you take your son to your ex's mother's on Friday, spend the day with her and he arrives in the evening? You are bending over backwards for this man and his family to have a relationship with his son. It's his responsibility to build a relationship with his son, not yours. He should be collecting him and dropping him off at the very least. I hope atleast he's paying his fair share of the costs.

His mum doesnt drive and I refuse to spend my weekend driving. So Friday it is. Even in mediation it was declared fair that we do one lift each. Although he decided to move. He gives me CMS which is for our son but I guess is supposed to pay for petrol too. I want this to change but how can I justify all these changes out of the blue? I also have to pack a suitcase everytime with clothes.

OP posts:
Wishitsnows · 27/05/2026 14:03

Yes, he is a shit ‘dad’ probably one of those that tells everyone else that you stop him from seeing his son very often. He is doing no parenting. I wouldn’t bother anymore with your proactive updates. Unbelievable he uses his annual leave for holidays without his son too.

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