Shared parenting - Father's refusal
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:46 am
Hi
I am looking for some advice from fellow parents regarding shared parenting following separation.
My daughter's father and I have not been together since realistically before she was born 2 years ago.
He lived with us for the first 4 months but has since then been living back at his house with his mother and brother.
I have continually spoken to him about maintaining good contact with our daughter and have always encouraged them spending time together, however, when I have suggested these times 9 times out of 10, I am met with dismissal, and attempts to not be involved.
He does nursery pick up 3 times a week and spends an hour with her getting her to bed while I am still working. He has recently, after alot of persuasion, started having her every other Friday at his house overnight and for usually no more than a couple of hours, if that, on the saturday morning following.
He has the remainder of his time to himself and does not initiate spending extra time with her.
I have recently approached him with trying to make things fairer between us on the shared parenting front in order to eleviate some of the pressure of my parenting load and mental well being and provide him with opportunities to spend with his child and encourage her relationship with him and also his family.
I will always provide him with transport when he is responsible for our daughter in taking her to his house and their limited activities.
I get every other friday night to myself following work throughout a month and that is all. My social life always involves my daughter so that I can still maintain some form of social interaction and improve my mental wellness.
I have recently asked him to stay on for a few extra hours on one of his evening that he puts her to bed in order for me to attend an evening exercise class. He is refusing to do so insisting that I obtain support from friends or family, which I honestly always do before even approaching him to care for our daughter due to his persistent dismissal and avoidance to do so.
I have expressed to him that the parenting load and responsibilities need to be more fairly distributed but he continues to dismiss my communication regarding this and insisting we discuss it no further.
Would I be within my rights to approach mediation in order to obtain a more professional parenting plan and communication for us and to ensure the responsibilities and load are more even?
If anyone has any advice or previous experience with this it would be greatly appreciated to hear your views, insights and recommendations.
Thank you in advance
I am looking for some advice from fellow parents regarding shared parenting following separation.
My daughter's father and I have not been together since realistically before she was born 2 years ago.
He lived with us for the first 4 months but has since then been living back at his house with his mother and brother.
I have continually spoken to him about maintaining good contact with our daughter and have always encouraged them spending time together, however, when I have suggested these times 9 times out of 10, I am met with dismissal, and attempts to not be involved.
He does nursery pick up 3 times a week and spends an hour with her getting her to bed while I am still working. He has recently, after alot of persuasion, started having her every other Friday at his house overnight and for usually no more than a couple of hours, if that, on the saturday morning following.
He has the remainder of his time to himself and does not initiate spending extra time with her.
I have recently approached him with trying to make things fairer between us on the shared parenting front in order to eleviate some of the pressure of my parenting load and mental well being and provide him with opportunities to spend with his child and encourage her relationship with him and also his family.
I will always provide him with transport when he is responsible for our daughter in taking her to his house and their limited activities.
I get every other friday night to myself following work throughout a month and that is all. My social life always involves my daughter so that I can still maintain some form of social interaction and improve my mental wellness.
I have recently asked him to stay on for a few extra hours on one of his evening that he puts her to bed in order for me to attend an evening exercise class. He is refusing to do so insisting that I obtain support from friends or family, which I honestly always do before even approaching him to care for our daughter due to his persistent dismissal and avoidance to do so.
I have expressed to him that the parenting load and responsibilities need to be more fairly distributed but he continues to dismiss my communication regarding this and insisting we discuss it no further.
Would I be within my rights to approach mediation in order to obtain a more professional parenting plan and communication for us and to ensure the responsibilities and load are more even?
If anyone has any advice or previous experience with this it would be greatly appreciated to hear your views, insights and recommendations.
Thank you in advance