How low can he go?

I picked my girls (10 and 8) up from school yesterday after being with their dad for 4 days. They were really rude and stroppy, which really got to me.

When I told them off and explained how upset it made me feel, I got a bit upset. Then they told me that their dad had told them;

• Mum is too busy with her new boyf to see you a lot
• When you go to your grandparents its because Mum wants to go to see her boyf
• Her and her boyf want to move away and take you out of your schools

Girls are aware of new boyf (5 months I have been seeing him) I told elder one who is fine with it, STBX told younger one in a bid to upset her. She is fine with it (or so she tells me, she is a bit young) I have not introduced them until they ask and definately don't do any of the above - STBX is demanding them all the time and wants 50/50 access, then tells them that he has them a lot because I am too busy.

I was devastated that he has stooped this low. When he left us for another woman, no-one told the girls the harsh truth, we just said that we didn't get on anymore etc. (Although recently he has admitted to them that we had split up because 'he kissed another woman at work and Mum cannot forgive me'

He uses emotional blackmail to get them to stay with him longer (cries and says that he needs them) they are both scared of telling him that they don't always want to go or how they feel. He boasts about what a great job he is doing with them and what a fantastic father he is.

The elder one told me that she knows that its not true, that she knows that they come first and that I love them, that she has told him that she does not want to discuss me with him anymore (he always questions them about me) and that she wants me to be happy and just wishes that he would get on with his life.

Was so upset yesterday that I did tell them the real version of his statements to them. Elder also said that she had told dad 'thats not true, I want to go to grandparents its not about mum'

I have avoided getting involved with this parenting competition that he is intent on having - and all the vile and vicious lies he tells anyone and everyone that will listen. I felt like going mental at him. But that plays into his control freak hands. I just need to reassure girls, love them and keep their lives as unpressured and stress free as I can when they are with me. They are scared of me telling him what they have told me.

He is making such a mess of this for him and his children and yet no-one would believe that he is capable of this. He does such a good PR job on himself and as ever its ALL about his image of being a great guy and the best dad in the world as far as everyone can see. My elder one said yesterday 'well, hes not doing a good job of it.'

She now has him tapped I think. The younger one is interested in the here and now and goes wherever the treats are. Both don't want to be at his house so much being shunted about. Both are scared to tell him, and he just issues 'I AM having them 50% I need them and want them' If I say its not about him its about the girls I get about two days of abusive rantings.