[Solved] Contact Changes

My daughter is soon to be 13 and I have had her every weekend since birth for either the Sat or Sun. During this time I have been very flexible with regards to arrangements taking fully into account that things can crop up as well as family events, friends parties and such things and until recently this was reciprocated in a way. I have also bent over backwards to make things easier and been more than willing to pick her up/drop her off at different locations at different times when needed. This worked well as I work shifts and so can be on nights the Fri into Sat. We also have season tickets for our team which means that usually every other Sat is spent at the match together.

Around Aug last year my Daughters mum split with her husband (daughters step dad) and soon afterwards they both moved in with new partners. Since then they have been at each others throats. Initially my daughter saw her step dad every other weekend at the same time as her brother (step dads son with her mum) which I didn't have an issue with.

I have only just gone back to work after being laid off in mid Dec and despite no money coming in and having Xmas, a New Year trip to Rome (daughter came with us), a baptism (my daughter with my now wife) and a wedding (see previous) I have paid her the same amount weekly which I was paying when working. This is a third more than I would be expected to pay if through CSA and she has had the cheek to practically demand I increase the amount until I pointed a few things out to her.

this led to me having to text her last week and say that for one week only I literally could not afford the petrol to get down to pick my daughter up. I have only twice missed out on weekends through illness in 12 1/2 years. At first she seemed to accept and appreciate my position. Until I got a text at 23:30 that night ripping me to pieces and saying I should be spending more time with my daughter. Half asleep and after a couple of cans (wife was on night feed duty) I stupidly went off on one and said I would have her every other weekend and she could stay over without thinking about the practicalities of it. A few more texts down the line and she had what I reckon she was after all along. To be able to say to her ex-husband that my daughter wouldn't be seeing him anymore and that she now has a free weekend to swan off out with the new squeeze.

In the cold light of day I see that I was hasty and that for numerous reasons it is not a practical idea. Firstly there is nowhere for her to sleep unless it is on a camp bed in front room or squeezed in down side of the cot in nursery. The weekends arranged will mean missing half the games left of the season as it would not be my weekend along with many other activities (just bought a tent). She won't see her grandparents or cousins anywhere near as often as she does now. Her mum claims it means we can spend more time together but it doesn't add up. I'll be spending the same amount of time just in a fortnightly sense as opposed to every week. Plenty more reasons it is not practical but running out of time before I have to head to work.

Got to the point where her mum has said not discussing it which sounds to me like it is being dictated to me. Also got a strong feeling that new fella has had a few words to say to her which is why she is pushing it.

Anyone else had an experience similar and is it worth me looking into getting some legal advice.