Need advice
So my child’s father and I have our child close to 50/50. I hired an attorney early in because coparenting was such a nightmare and was hoping a set schedule would fix any conflicts. But it is still such a struggle to communicate. I try to stay direct, to the point, and only talk when it’s about her. But he will often refuse to participate in direct communication and use information - in the past even where I can pick her up he’d refuse to tell me - until I talk to him about other things like why I left or won’t give him another chance. He gets belligerent and attacks my character and then gaslights me when I tell him he’s being inappropriate and we need to stay on topic. Ignoring him doesn’t do any good either because then he doesn’t communicate at all. He’s gotten more possessive the last few months and began getting angry if I was at work, or me or my child was busy such as them being at their friends and we couldn’t talk right away. I set the boundary several times that he could call once and leave a message if he needed and we would, and always have call back so they could talk before the end of the day. I warned him if he kept disregarding that I’d have to block him while I’m at work so my phone didn’t vibrate constantly (and I leave it on vibrate in case my other children have an emergency)or even if I’m just home and my child isn’t there still, inappropriate.
He got so upset he refused to let me talk to her for two days last week, and were allowed daily phone calls per court order.
Most recently, she got fluid in her ears last week so I took her to the doctor and she was prescribed medicine. I sent it with her when she went, but when I got home from picking her up Sunday, it was not in her bag. She said she hadn’t taken it yet that day either. I let him know immediately and he said he was going out but would bring it in the (yesterday) morning. Then I could not get ahold of him.until yesterday evening, and he wouldn’t give me any type of response other than repeating “I’ll work it out” and he still hasn’t. So I contacted his mom. And she said I’ll have to buy a new bottle. So I told him he’s going to have to pay me back and he thinks that idea is insane and it’s not going to happen.
It’s not the first time either. I’ve had to buy her multiple pairs of snow boots for example, and when she was you her she would NOT sleep without a specific blankie and he’d keep that and withhold it as well, so I ended up buying her three extra ones because he’d hoard them and refuse to send them back. He also invalidates her when she’s sick - she is close to her therapist and he’s like you don’t it, it’s going to mess you up. He tells her she’s fine when she’s fine while I she sick and ignores it then when I tell her I’m taking her to the doctor he’s like bullshit I wonder why she’s o nly sick with you etc. he does the same to hire feelings, always just you’re fine.
What Can I do to make this smoother? I’m so tempted to take it back into court to modify order for full custody but I simply don’t have the resources. It would take months to save up for attorney.
I truly want her to have that relationship with him but he’s also just so impossible to communicate and doesn’t really care I feel about any of her medical things or social things and it is such a barrier when it comes to things like needing to exchange medicine.
I dont have any advice but I'm really sorry that he acts like that, it's terrible and you and your daughter don't deserve that at all. You're doing amazing and I hope you are able to figure it out ❤️