michellecathleen, your story is just like mine. I made the same mistakes and am payikng the same price. You could always request another meeting with the child support enforcement agency if that is who you went through. Or did you have a lawyer? I am in the process of terminating his parental rights, which in my state you can do if you can prove abandonment (no contact in 6 months and no payment in 6 months).

$56? Wow...Does he pay support on any other kids? That just seems rediculous. If we could raise kids on $56 a month...I'm just floored at the ammount the courts ordered.

quote:

Originally posted by michellecathleen:
[qb] what do you do when the father of your 2 kids has never, and will never, pay ANY child support? [/qb]

You start a club. You and I can be the first members, I can bring my child support check for last month for $7.77.

Seriously, I've just reached the point of utter apathy. I laugh about it. It's the only way to do it. I guess you could fume about and get angry, but I believe it's always easier to laugh. Work hard, do it alone, hard earned success feels more gratifying. I'm with you.

quote:

Originally posted by CrystalC:
[qb] $56? Wow...Does he pay support on any other kids? That just seems rediculous. If we could raise kids on $56 a month...I'm just floored at the ammount the courts ordered. [/qb]

Well, technically since the court assumes both paretns should be supporting the child, the court thinks that a child can be raised on $112.00 per month and in Leftie's case $15.54! I amazed by the efficiency of our court system sometimes.

I suggest that the name of the club be the "Why did you even bother?" club.

Hey, you know we could all send our kids to Ethiopia... Sally Struthers and the Christian Children's Fund says you can raise a child on 70 cents a day there.

BTW, I laminated the check. When I get to a scanner, I'll post it here, then we can all share the joy. Dad's miniscule payments are his way of staying out of jail. As long as he pays SOMETHING every month, he can't be held in contempt.

How funny is that!!!! Leftie you crack me up! What a jerk! (the dad not you)

I'm not sure what to say. Does he want to be part of their lives in other ways? My kids father doesn't pay the court ordered child support either. Oh and get this, this is the latest update: he called to "negotiate". He will take the 17 year old to NY with him to live, if I "do something" about his arrears and current child support. What a friggin' loser. I told him to call me later because I suddenly had an urge to laugh out loud and the idiot did call me later, but I didn't answer the phone. Geez, where did these men get their cojones?

Hey MC---something to think about. This is what made me go for a termination of rights....

If something were to happen to you, would you trust him with your kids? If you get remarried, do you think he should be able to contest an adoption of your kids by the new hubby? These are both things that could and would happen.

Even if he has never seen the children, the court usually (unless there has been abuse of children or he was a predator) gives the children to the parent by blood. It can be contested by a relative in court but while it was being contested (which could take months) they would go to the father.

Just something to think about. I still have not gone to court yet but it should be fairly soon. His deadline to reply to the paperwork was Monday.

Hey Michelle, I'm glad you were able to have a chuckle in there. It helps lighten up the load a bit. Well, now that you've resigned yourself to that reality don't fall back on that decision. Move forward and do the very best you can with what you have, but most importantly, try doing it with a smile. It makes a big difference when your outlook on things are positive. Trust me! Your attitude about everything changes. Not to say that you won't have your down days and when you do, then we'll be here for you.

Yes, he's a jewel... God's gift..

Bah. They just get free lawyers. Is your child support case through the res, or the county you live in?

Oh girl, why you thinking that way? Nothing is going to happen to you...by the way, have you thought about a living will?