So my bd is a loser haha like most. We broke up 2 years ago and he does literally nothing as a parent. Literally.
He wants me to bring the baby to his grandmother's house to see him twice a week but with gas and time I will only do once a week or some weeks I'm too busy and offer a video call instead. He isn't able to pick him up and won't keep him more than 1-2 hours at the most. So I'm driving and packing his baby bag and rushing to pick him back up and it takes away time from my life. So that's why I only do it if I really feel like I have time to fuck w it. Lately he hasn't even been asking as much for me to even bring him (nice for me honestly). Went from "visits" 4-6times a month to like 2 times a month and he doesn't seem to mind. The problem now is he is asking for video calls WAY too much imo.
I don't want to say no I'm not video calling and him screenshot it and then I look bad or like I'm not cooperative. But damn. It's bugging me fr. The baby is 1 and doesn't sit still and bd just talks to me (which is probably his goal anyways to check up on me and what I'm up to). It just bothers me because I don't want to see this man's face, or hear his voice, or feel like I'm giving him time that's mine š¤·āāļø.
So we video called him on last Thursday, then Saturday since he asked and then again 2 days ago. And now he's asking again today. It's getting more frequent and more annoying. I'd like it to be once a week if anything but how do I even say this kindly and not look like a bad guy....?
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Learn more about our guidelines.Also to add I do offer him time on weekends. I say I'll bring the baby for 3 hours on a weekend day of he wants if my week is too busy and he ALWAYS says he can't do that.
Me holding the phone for him to see his kid is just getting old fast

I would set boundaries and if he doesnāt like them he can take you to court. Which I doubt he will do because then it will be up to him to find transportation and he will have the child for more than an hour. Youāre giving in too much. This has nothing to do with the child and everything to do with checking in on you and being controlling.
I would set a schedule to do FaceTime calls on days of your choosing ten min before bedtime only. 10 min is ample time to see and talk to a 1 year old. And visits every other weekend from 10-5 or whatever times fit best. If youāre comfortable with overnights thatās better.
āI am trying to keep our child on a schedule and have consistency in his life on top of the daily tasks I have to do for him on my own. I am setting a schedule of FaceTime calls this day and this day for ten minutes at this time (before bed) Iām also offering visits every other weekend at this time (or overnights). If you donāt agree with this feel free to take me to court.ā

itās 100% to talk to you. if he wanted to see his kid heād make it happen even if you didnāt offer. when he does call, do not engage with him at all. say āthis is your time to talk to your child not me, keep anything you say beyond that to your baby āoh look itās dad!ā ādaddyās talking to you lookā donāt engage in conversation with him. more than likely the calls will stop coming in so frequently if at all. also set times say I can these days at this time thatās it.

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Turn the volume all the way down on the phone when on FT š¤£JK.
Great advice given here. You could also say, ācanāt talk tonight, send a video instead and weāll do the sameā. Your child doesnāt know the difference yet.

you never know my BD after I left the state and just was done he would do this shit with me. I did what I suggested to you, as was suggested to me by another single mom friend and instead of less calls he woke tf up, left his entire life behind, got a good job, and is an amazing father now and very active and supportive partner, he allows me to be a sahm and still cooks dinner every night and helps around the house. it doesnāt always end bad, but I am the minority and a lucky one our story has been wild but I attribute sticking to my guns and leaving when I did to the flip around. stick to your guns and he will either step up or he wonāt but either way there will be more peace in your lifeā¤ļø