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Baby daddy using

16 replies

NoahsArkxx · 20/06/2017 12:34

So my son is now 10.5 months and his dad has had over a year to stop taking drugs and sort his life out. I smoke weed he smokes weed and in my honest opinion I don't feel it's an issue if my son is in bed and he's not around it. We never smoke it when he visits. He lives with his mum and she tries to drug test him each week but some weeks hes been refusing. On the odd occasion she has said shes found crack in his room. He's tested positive for cocaine which I know he takes and disagree with. On so many occasions I've told him if he's taking drugs I will stop him seeing our son. His mum has told me alot of things about his mood swings and different drugs found in the house but I've always taken it with a pinch of salt because she's abit odd and also I've never been able to prove with physical evidence. Yesterday he was supposed to go to a course then come and see us. He text me around midday to tell me he would be here around 4.50 after the course but never showed. When I spoke to him last night he said he didn't go because he slept all day which meant he had also lied to me. I asked what he was doing the night before that made him unable to do anything he needed to do. He said he smoked a joint before bed and took a co codamol because he had a headache. I asked if he had been prescribed it and he said no. I told him he should take paracetamol for that and to take co codamol for a headache is ridiculous, especially when he knows he needs to get up. I have banned him from seeing our son until he can prove he's been clean for a month. He thinks I'm being unreasonable. I would like to add that when we met we were raving and doing a lot of drugs and also throughout our relationship but I had stopped when we broke up in September. I got pregnant in november but didn't know until I was the end of April which is when we got in contact again. He's had over a year to sort out his life and isn't allowed to take him son for even 10 minutes without me. I've tried to help him so many times and he's convinced he hasn't done anything wrong which has actually made me realise for the first time that he is an addict. I'd just like to hear some opinions on whether you think I'm doing the right thing and some advice on maybe how to handle the situation. I didn't want to post on AIBU as I find it pretty unhelpful with people just critisising and not being constructive. Please bare in mind that I have given him so many chances to do the right thing and not just in relation to drugs. Any help and advice will be really appreciated.

OP posts:
tiktok · 20/06/2017 12:41

Difficult situation but of course you are doing the right thing in prioritising your son's safety. Someone who can't get out of bed in time for a scheduled appointment and then a meeting cannot be safe to look after a baby. Are you in touch with a social worker? Have you thought about exploring a parenting plan together? Any court orders about visiting or residency? Does your baby's father have parental responsibility?

mrstomriddle · 20/06/2017 12:48

But it's ok for you to smoke weed?

I understand your frustrations with the father of your son and it must be very difficult but I don't think you should be doing drugs either

ThanksMsMay · 20/06/2017 12:52

"Drugs" is a really shit catch all term.

Weed and CRACK aren't really comparable.

Alcohol is a very strong easily misused drug. Cocodomol is a drug.

Wolfiefan · 20/06/2017 12:56

Stop using illegal drugs.
Don't allow your child's father access unless he can do the same.

mrstomriddle · 20/06/2017 13:04

They may not be comparable but that doesn't mean she's right to be using drugs whilst has sole charge of her son.

talkingtofrank · 20/06/2017 13:13

I think you need social services involvement to get help with the issues that both of you have to be honest. I would not have someone like that around my child and if social services knew that both parents were substance abusers then I'm sure they would be very interested. It sounds like you both have an addiction.

blueskyinmarch · 20/06/2017 13:27

I am a social worker and i am going to try and unpick this with my SW head on.

Firstly you are smoking a bit of weed. Not in itself a major issue in the eye of social work. Many people do it and bring up their children just fine. Not ideal of course and if you could stop it would be better. it would also give you the upper hand when it comes to your partners issues.

Your partners drug issues sound more extreme in terms of what he is taking and how it affects his day to day functioning. He sounds like he cannot be trusted in carrying out any care duties in relation to your child.

Is he on the birth certificate? That would confer parental rights and responsibilities on him. Does he work and pay anything towards the child? What future do you see for both of you?

If you want him to step up and take some responsibility for the child when he has to want to do this for himself. There is probably little you can do to influence this. if he hasn’t bothered in the past 10 months why would he bother now?

What is it you want advice on exactly? Have you got support from friends and family and have you got any agencies involved beyond your health visitor?

NoahsArkxx · 20/06/2017 18:29

So to answer most questions, at this point no one is involved like social workers or anything like that and he's not on the birth certificate. I don't smoke a lot of weed, probably once a week. I'm not saying it's right but I don't let it effect my job, family or relationships. Bluesky, he's not my parter but my ex.. thank god haha. He only started paying 3 weeks ago. We agreed 40 every other week and he still owes money he said he would contribute towards the buggy so he's paying 60 at a time. He got fired for being late all the time last week so he's currently doing uber eats but today his bike got stolen so he can't do that. His whole life is one excuse after another. I've started a job 2 days a week and I'm looking to go full time after the summer when he turns 1. Without trying to sound like I'm tooting my own horn, I've set my goals and I'm sticking to them and succeeding so far. I just want peoples opinions on whether I'm doing the right thing or if I am being harsh. Not long after I posted this he asked if I would drug test him at the beginning of each visit and if it was positive then I would have the right to send him home. Three strikes and he's out and if he argues then I can get a court order against him. I would never suggest doing that but I thought it was one of his better ideas. What's your thoughts? My family are really supportive, I stay at home but a lot of the time I don't agree with what they have to say and almost force their ideas on me which is why I'm posting here as I just wanted to see what other peoples views are. I really appreciate everyone's responses whether or not I agree with them

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/06/2017 18:31

Smoking weed could see ss involvement.
Get your own life in order.
Get a formal contact agreement in place.

blueskyinmarch · 20/06/2017 18:36

I am not too bothered by your weed smoking. Your choice as long as it doesn't affect your ability to care for your child.

With relation to your ex (sorry about my mistake) if he isn't on the birth certificate then he has no parental rights and responsibilities. You can then call all the shots. You need to do the right thing to protect your child. It sounds like you have your life on track and don't need your ex dragging you down.

NoahsArkxx · 20/06/2017 19:50

As I said Wolfie I didn't post on AIBU for a reason..

Thanks for your opinion bluesky really appreciate it especially with your knowledge x

OP posts:
tiktok · 20/06/2017 21:47

Ludicrous idea for you to drug test him.

He's a waster.

If you want him in your son's life you and he should sort out a formal order inc contributions to care.

Good luck :)

NoahsArkxx · 20/06/2017 22:15

Thanks tiktok I think we might have to look into that x

OP posts:
tiktok · 22/06/2017 09:57

Noahsark, hope it goes well. Being a parent is not a hobby which he can indulge in when he feels like it. It takes time, commitment, a change in lifestyle and cold hard CASH. It sounds like you know this, but he doesn't. Don't settle for it!

He can be a father, or just a fair weather friend of the family. He can't be both :)

NoahsArkxx · 22/06/2017 21:52

I completely agree tiktok! Funny thing is even he knows this he's just a complete twat and he's all talk no actions. Thanks x

OP posts:
tiktok · 22/06/2017 22:55

So are the ideas here similar to your family's ideas? You say you feel they force their ideas on you. It's good you're working on ways to reach your own decisions. But you still thought drug testing him was a possibility - and it really is a terrible idea. He needs to take responsibility for his own drug abuse - you're not his private police officer. If he cannot do this, then he cannot be a father, surely.

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