StepDad seeking Parental Responsibility

It is a while since I posted and life in our household has had its ups and downs!
For those of you who remember or read bakc my childrens father has found it difficult to put his children ahead of his new life.
Last year was noted with a 2 hour visit to see his daughter, and an 18th birthday card to his son. (the first contact in 3 years).
X now has a job but I do not ask for financial contribution to his children as I was told when he got the job £50 was all he would possibly offer and that depended on his circumstances.

This weekend is probably the saddest in our story as for the first time it impacted headon the "baby" in our family - my 11 year old daughter.


On the 4th X contacted me and asked to see his daughter on the Friday. All fine with me - "pick her up/bring her back at your leisure - we'll ensure she is free."
As X ususally cancels didn't tell D until 9am on the Friday.
9.20 I get an email (fortunately have a smart phone now!!) and X has cancelled as he has a cold.
D is upset and contacts her father(via email as noone has his mobile number, who says he'll try and see her at Easter. D then asks for pocket money and a sooner visit (they know which button to push don't they).
Culminates with father saying that whislt he has a job finances are tight and he cant spare anything, that he is working away from home and whilst he gets weekends and holidays GF gets priority.
In more or less the exact words!
Heartbroken small person.

So StepDad has decided to go to court to get official parental responsibility. D and StepDad have discussed what this means.

Will let you all know how it progresses.

It saddens me to read on here of all those parents who strive to see their children and are blocked by others - who knows what damage this might do to my little girl going forward. She isn't an angel, but she is a giver with a big heart who has had it broken by her own Dad.

(Rant over)

We have a similar situation here. My ex saw my daughter before Christmas, told her that he would get her presents, and that he would give them to me next time he saw us. We arranged to meet up for him to give them to her. Went to the place we were meeting, waited for him, he never turned up! So arranged again for a few days later, he again never turned up. Neither time did he cancel or say he couldn't come, he just didn't come. I then text saying I wouldn't be making any more arrangements before Christmas, and he told us he would leave her presents at my mums house. He again hasn't done this.

It's been over a month since he saw her last, and he will leave as long as he thinks it will take for her to forget about the presents , then will ask to see her again (probably end Feb/early March). Now shes getting older, she DOES remember though, and its not fair on her.

Me and my partner have been together 4 years now, and are getting married in less than a month. We are hoping to apply for Parental Responsibility for him. My ex doesn't have it, and isn't on the birth certificate, so I think we can just go ahead and do it without and problems, but i'm still looking into it.

Hope things start looking up for you and your daughter.