If your baby daddy is being disrespectful it’s going to cause all kinds of issues within your current relationship (if you’ve split), with your child, and more.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that you can’t carry on being disrespected by him.
You’re going to have to take the initiative and take steps to let him know that you’re not going to put up with his behavior.
To do this, here are 10 tips on how to deal with a disrespectful baby daddy and make the best of your situation:
10 Tips On How to Deal With a Disrespectful Baby Daddy
1. Set Healthy Boundaries
When anyone is being disrespectful towards you, your baby daddy or otherwise, the most important thing is that you set some healthy boundaries in place.
You need to let him know what kind of behavior is and isn’t acceptable, and make it clear that you won’t tolerate being treated in a disrespectful way.
This can be done by calmly and assertively telling him how you feel when he behaves in a certain way, and what you will or will not be tolerating in the future.
Along with what you’ll do if he doesn’t respect your boundaries, such as not speaking with him unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Related – Here are some tips for setting boundaries with baby daddies and mamas.
2. Show Him You’re Not Messing Around
When you’ve set your boundaries with your baby daddy, it’s important that you stick to them and show him that you’re not messing around.
If he’s been disrespecting you for a while, it’s possible that he’s pushed the boundaries and is comfortable doing so.
It’s time to put a stop to their behavior, and if that means changing your attitude towards him in a big way, that’s what you’ll have to do.
If he steps over the line again, don’t hesitate to follow through on your consequences.
This will show him that you mean business and that things are going to change.
3. Set Rules Around Your Co-Parenting Duties
Obviously, the dynamic that makes it more difficult to deal with a disrespectful baby daddy than a regular person is that you share a child together.
It’s not right, but this is what most baby daddies and baby mamas use as a way to manipulate their partners or ex-partners.
So, it’s essential you set rules around your co-parenting duties as a way of protecting yourself against your baby daddy disrespecting you this way.
4. Make It Clear You Won’t Tolerate Disrespectful Comments
There are few things more annoying than disrespectful comments, whether they’re about your parenting, your appearance, or anything else.
It’s important that you make it clear to your baby daddy that you won’t tolerate this kind of behavior from him.
Again, you can do this by calmly and assertively telling him how you feel when he makes a rude comment and that you’re walking away if he persists.
5. He Doesn’t Get to Use Your Child as An Excuse for Anything
It’s a sad fact that some baby daddies will use their child as an excuse to get away with all kinds of bad behavior.
Whether it’s being late to bring your child back, being short on child support, or anything else, if they find a way to blame it on their child they’re being disrespectful.
6. Have an Open and Honest Conversation About how His Behavior Is Affecting You
It’s one thing setting boundaries and making it clear that you’re no longer going to accept his disrespectful behavior, but this alone might not really hit home for him.
You need to have an open and honest conversation about how his behavior is affecting you, both in terms of your relationship and your mental health.
He might not suddenly regret his behavior and turn over a new leaf, but it’s better to have this conversation than not.
And, you never know, he might become a changed man!
7. Don’t Let His Behavior Affect You
On a personal note, and I know this is easier said than done, it’s important that you do your best not to let your baby daddy’s behavior affect you.
I know it’s not easy, but try to rise above it and remember that his behavior says more about him than it does about you.
If you feel yourself getting wound up when he’s not around due to his behavior, take a step back and do some breathing exercises or other things you enjoy that’ll help you unwind.
8. Never Take It Personally
No matter how personal his attacks might seem, if you can distance yourself and not take them personally, you’ll be in a much better place.
It’s not easy, but try to remember that his behavior is more about him than it is about you.
If you can do this, it’ll be much easier to deal with a disrespectful baby daddy.
9. Find out What Issues He Has That Is Making Him Disrespectful
Sometimes, the reason a baby daddy is disrespectful has nothing to do with you and everything to do with him.
For example, if he’s going through a tough time in his life, it might be causing him to lash out and take it out on you.
Of course, this isn’t an excuse, there isn’t really anything that excuses your baby daddy disrespecting you, in my opinion.
But it can help if you find out what’s making him treat you this way, it’s going to go some way to explain it at least.
Related – Here are 10 ways you can make your baby daddy regret leaving you!
10. Accept that It’s Not Your Job to Change Him
Ultimately, whether you know what’s triggering him or not, why he’s being disrespectful, and if you can do anything about it – it’s important to accept that it’s not your job to change him.
You can’t make him into the man you want him to be, no matter how much you might want to.
And, frankly, you deserve better than a man who disrespects you anyway!
Image credits – Photo by Katie Emslie on Unsplash
Phil lives in England, UK, and has around 20 years experience as a professional life, career and executive coach. He started this blog to help others find and define their own self development journey. Blogging about a wide range of topics to help facilitate a better future.