Hello and good morning all. I work a job which are shifts, so for consistency i applied for a fixed rest day, any day. My workplace gave me a Wednesday. Most of my shifts are a 1845 finish time, meaning i will be at my daughter's mum's house for no later than 1900hrs to collect her. I proposed that i have her every night before my rest day and the night of my rest day, dropping her off before work at her mums/childminders/breakfast club for 0730 hrs. I genuinely believe that for consistency that this is good for my daughter, knowing where she is and when. I also have her in my care every other weekend. My daughter is 4 1/2 years old and attends reception.
My ex-partner states that picking her up at 1900hrs is too late and waking her up 1/2 hr earlier on the Thursday and dropping her off @ 0730 is too early, so has refused to let me have her on these times, she also states that it isn't quality time, surely any time is quality time! I get to bath her, put her to bed, read stories, get her up in the morning, feed her and take her to school. Surely this is quality time! My ex is very good at saying 'what's good for my daughter' and what's in her best interest. Surely time with me is good for her also! She did, however offer me to have her every Friday evening (shifts dependant) & every Sunday evening (shifts dependant). I did air my concerns about every Friday/Sunday evenings as this would give me absolutely no spare time for me to have any kind of life outside of work and my daughter as currently all i do is work/see my daughter and nothing in-between. Obviously i don't not want to see her and i don't want her to hold this against me for declining her 'offer'. Where do i stand in wanting her on the days i have suggested? She states that she isn't refusing me from seeing her, my shifts prevent this.
Any advice appreciated! Thanks.