Is this mental abuse when a father tries to turn a 5 year old against his mother ?
My son is five years old and I split from his father four years ago.
We were sharing custody but after his father refused to bring him home, there was a few months where he did not see his son as I asked for him to sign a bit if paper saying that he shared time with our son. After seeking legal advice I was told without this I would have a hard time getting my son back if he decided to take him.
My ex refused to sign anything and left it 6 months before he decided to take me to court.
I won residency of my son without even applying as the court seem to distrust my ex as much as I do. Plus shouting at the judge and my solicitor didn't do him any favours.
My son has been told by my ex not to talk about my boyfriend and when he has his father has told him 'i don't want to hear about it'.
My son asked me to speak to his dad as this was really upsetting him.
My son never knew what he could or couldn't say and withdrew into himself at his dads.
His dads response was to yell and moan at our son asking him constantly what is wrong and getting cross when he didn't answer.
Our son is so scared of upsetting his dad as he can be aggressive in his attitude.
My son see's his dad every other weekend and for half the holidays by court order.
My son came home yesterday and said he had a worry (which is our way of him telling me problems and then we blow them away).
He said on the way home daddy had told him the reason he didn't see him for a while was mummys fault and he had to speak to a special man who could tell him when he can see him.
I explained its no ones fault and he shouldn't worry about these things as mummy and daddy both love him and will always be in his life and that's all that matters.
My sons response was to ask me if it was his fault.
This was heartbreaking and of course I told him its never his fault.
He often says daddy says nasty things about me and my ex has sent me texts saying he will tell our son how nasty I am.
I have never bad mouthed his father and refuse to as I know this would upset him.
I really don't know what to do for the best my son is now not sleeping and its causing him a lot of stress at 5 years old'
I have tried talking to his dad but he is aggressive and refuses to listen and says if he wants to be childish its his choice.
How can I protect my son from all this hurt his dad is causing him?