Single Parenting Support Group

Well my ex left us over three years ago now, and when he initially left he really left, was just basically gone. So I went to court and got sole custody with visitation as agreed upon by the parents. Thus far this has worked great. He doesn't have his own place, has bounced around a bit, isn't very responsible, likes to party etc. Well recently he had another baby, and suddenly he is Mr. Responsible. Which hurts me because he's been inactive in our kids lives for three years. He doesn't come to school events or sports events because its to hard or to far bla bla bla. Well anyway, he text me today, a tuesday and asked if he could take the kids an hour away to see the fireworks at the fair grounds and I told him absolutely not. I am usually pretty goood about saying yes to things, probably to good. But it is a Tuesday night and I work in the morning and both my children ages 6 and 4 spend the day in either daycare, or summer camp, where they are playing very hard all day long. They get up at 7a.m. to get ready and out the door so that I can be to work by nine. I can not have them out until 11 at night on a "school" night. Besides, I'm trying to get them back on their school year schedule with the start of school approaching and them needing to be in bed by 8. All of this worries me. I am worried he will somehow use it against me or try and take me to court. I have pretty much always just let him do what he wants without saying anything because he is good at intimidating me and threatening to take me to court. Everyone always says a father has rights and should be allowed to see his kids whenever he wants. Which I accomodate, but this is just not a good idea. Should I worry or did I make the right call?
Posted on 08/14/12, 05:55 pm