MUST I LET HIS MUM SEE OUR BABY?

Dear Coleen

My partner and I have two children. My son is two-and-half and not my partner’s and we also have a six-month-old daughter together.

My problem is that my partner doesn’t get along with his mum at all, and she really dislikes me and doesn’t respect me as her son’s partner or as the mother of his daughter. His mum now wants contact with my daughter, even though we don’t see her and my daughter doesn’t know her.

Where do things stand?

Coleen says

Legally, you’re in control here, and if she got a solicitor and went to court, I think it would be hard for her to win access to your daughter given there’s no relationship there.

I don’t know what’s gone on between your partner and his mother, but it saddens me a little now I’m a grandparent myself. I think it’s a shame for your daughter to miss out on having her grandmother in her life because the adults are being childish and unable to put differences aside.

So I’d think carefully about the situation and what you want for your daughter. I never really knew my grandparents and envied other children who had those lovely relationships in their lives.

It’s your call and, for all I know, the situation might be completely toxic, but if it’s just a case of falling out over trivial things, give it some proper thought.