I think I know the answer to this one but I wanted to ask for thoughts if anyone wants to share theirs
A few weeks before Christmas I was seized with a vision of Ds1's father and how he should be there for the Nativity play.
He stopped visiting or answering my messages about 3 years ago.
Before that we had had a few difficult access visits. They stopped when I was told he had been lying to me and was living with someone new, and I needed to get over my anger. He had been very unreliable also - refusing to give me a phone number/address etc. and being late. Anyway it was all very raw and I was relieved when he stopped coming, but I got over it to a degree and invited him back several times, no answer to anything.
I had an idea where he lived, which is only 1-2 miles away, and the other week I just drove there. It was his house. His new wife answered the door, he returned shortly after, we spoke for about 20 mins and I invitied him to the play. It was very amicable but nothing was agreed - he just said he hadn't ever wanted to be a 'back door dad' and (I think) that's why he thought it best to be all or nothing about it.
I kind of understand. But Ds does ask about him and I struggle to answer, saying we'll find him one day I expect. Ds doesn't know I found him and I guess it would be horrid to know his father had refused to come to his play - we left it that ex would think it over, but I haven't heard anything since.
It makes me very sad. I believe ex is afraid of emotional ties and commitment, despite being married and having been married before (when I met him ) - I also believe it is best for a child not to be ferried between unhappy parents/argued over. But at the age of four, I would now be better prepared to let him see his dad, if only once a year, so he knows who he is.
Trouble is, would that hurt more than not seeing him at all?
How do you explain to a four year old that daddy has a new wife and family now, that he hasn't time for you, that he isn't the dad you want him to be?
Should I be doing anything about it all?
Please advise as it is breaking my heart a little bit.
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What to tell a four year old, if anything, about his father not being bothered about him
27 replies
FlllightAttendant · 29/12/2007 14:08
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