Contact and maintenance

My son has not long turned two and has just started seeing his father again. It started off him coming round every day for about a month and a half then he was having him Saturdays all day and then every Friday overnight for 3 weeks 5pm Fri till 5pm Saturday. I however stopped this and told him every other Friday as every Friday I felt was too much then he could see him in the week whenever he wants. He’s now refusing to pay me maintenance and refusing to see him until I agree to every Friday that he wants. He now hasn’t seen him again in 3 weeks. I’ve set up mediation I had my first one this week he’s got his next week then we have a joint one. He agreed last week he would do every other Friday then the next day he’s said no he wants every Friday again as everyone is telling him it’s only fair as I have him 6 days and he just wants him 1. I don’t want this as my family live at least an hour away from me so I would never be able to go anywhere on weekends. He’s also really nasty when he speaks to me and all his mates shout down the phone calling me names. Am I wrong for him not wanting to go there very Friday? I feel he’s too young at the moment also, and he has never been consistent enough to have every Friday. I just don’t think he’s going to budge on this even at mediation so I don’t know what to do. He’s going round telling everyone I’ve stopped him seeing him again now too 😩😩

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To start with, he is being extremely petty and childish in dealing with this situation. You still have to pay for you kid and see your kid even if you’re mad with the other parent, that’s just making the kid suffer for no good reason. I do however think you giving him one day a week and then taking it away could make him feel upset, I know ide want my child more then ones every two weeks. But I do understand you have family out of town and leaving Friday for the weekend is easier, so idk if y’all could just agree that week it’s happening that you need him this Friday, instead of changing it permanently to every other week? Or a month in advance tell him the dates you need him? Or whatever it is, because life happens and plans change for both parents and should be handled respectfully. But him doing all this probably won’t look good for him in court, and idk the entire story with him so definitely keep documenting everything.

If mediation doesn’t work and it goes to court, then courts like alternate weekends for contact for the exact reason you’ve given - so the child has quality time with both parents and they can go away etc especially when they start school. Also, if mediation is successful and you reach an agreement just be aware that it isn’t legally binding like a court order

Claim maintenance through CMS and in mediation give your reasons. He will have to take you to court if he wants any different. Be aware though, they may agree with him and it’ll be court ordered and you have to go through with it. From what you’ve said, he’s had had him overnight and they seem to have an established relationship. It’s very likely that the court will side with him or build up to an overnight arrangement after a few months etc. Unless there is a history of violence/abuse or a very good reason why he can’t do overnights