..to ensure that the non-custodial parent maintains the best relationship they can? To clarify...
Since we broke up, the ex has not called the children once, despite me telling him he is absolutely allowed to, I'd hand the phone immediately to either child. He claims that the children should call him. (6 and 4 at the time, 8 and 6 at the present) I say that the kids are young, have a fixed schedule, and historically he has worked a lot. Therefore, it makes more sense if he calls first as we don't know if he's at work or not.
He regularly cancels his time with the kids and doesn't make it up, despite me chasing him to nail down dates. I'm getting tired of insisting he spend his time with his kids. In addition to that, he always cancels at the last minute, and I'm left scrambling.
While exercising his access, at least half the time he is leaving them with babysitters. When I raised issue with that fact, that I should have first rights of refusal, he told me that it was none of my business what he does with the kids on his time. I agree... to a point. If they aren't with him, they should be with me. Conversely, if they're not with me they should be with him, but I manage to work my schedule around when I have the kids and when I don't.
Lastly, he is berating me for not making Father's Day a priority and making sure the kids saw him. He texted me once on Thursday that said 'Are the kids going to the trailer this weekend?' I answered back 'Maybe, and we were thinking about the zoo on Sunday.' He didn't reply at all to that. Now, keep in mind that I'm a holiday idiot and had no clue it was Fathers Day on Sunday. In fact, I ran around ON Sunday to scrape together a gift for my own father. Wugh. Anyways, my point is that if he wanted to see them, he should have said 'Can I see the kids Sunday from *blank* to *blank*' instead of relying on me to be his secretary.
So... wise ones... should I be contributing more to him seeing his kids? I'm burned out from the two years of effort already, but if I'm wrong I'd be willing to put in more. For the record, I've NEVER badmouthed him to the kids. If he's cancelled his days with nary an explanation, I explain that he's working hard, etc.
Since we broke up, the ex has not called the children once, despite me telling him he is absolutely allowed to, I'd hand the phone immediately to either child. He claims that the children should call him. (6 and 4 at the time, 8 and 6 at the present) I say that the kids are young, have a fixed schedule, and historically he has worked a lot. Therefore, it makes more sense if he calls first as we don't know if he's at work or not.
He regularly cancels his time with the kids and doesn't make it up, despite me chasing him to nail down dates. I'm getting tired of insisting he spend his time with his kids. In addition to that, he always cancels at the last minute, and I'm left scrambling.
While exercising his access, at least half the time he is leaving them with babysitters. When I raised issue with that fact, that I should have first rights of refusal, he told me that it was none of my business what he does with the kids on his time. I agree... to a point. If they aren't with him, they should be with me. Conversely, if they're not with me they should be with him, but I manage to work my schedule around when I have the kids and when I don't.
Lastly, he is berating me for not making Father's Day a priority and making sure the kids saw him. He texted me once on Thursday that said 'Are the kids going to the trailer this weekend?' I answered back 'Maybe, and we were thinking about the zoo on Sunday.' He didn't reply at all to that. Now, keep in mind that I'm a holiday idiot and had no clue it was Fathers Day on Sunday. In fact, I ran around ON Sunday to scrape together a gift for my own father. Wugh. Anyways, my point is that if he wanted to see them, he should have said 'Can I see the kids Sunday from *blank* to *blank*' instead of relying on me to be his secretary.
So... wise ones... should I be contributing more to him seeing his kids? I'm burned out from the two years of effort already, but if I'm wrong I'd be willing to put in more. For the record, I've NEVER badmouthed him to the kids. If he's cancelled his days with nary an explanation, I explain that he's working hard, etc.
Comment