What did I do to deserve this?

by Brad
(Pa)

I was a single father after my wife left me while I was deployed in Iraq. Upon return she had filed divorce while i was deployed and left me with 3 small children. I got out of the military to raise the children, without recieving an ounce of child support from the mother for 4 years. When i was set to remarry, my ex walked back into the childrens life and decided she wanted to be a mom again. We went through years of court battling and ended up with a 50/50 custody arrangement. I was court ordered to pay for all insurance, $700 per month PLUS half of my youngest child's pre-k tuition which was an additional $250 per month. And on top of it all, my ex is not obligated to work at all. I have no idea how a court system can deem this fair by any means.

Because of the child support order my wife and I along with my step-daughter moved in with my in-laws because we could not afford to make bills plus provide for the kids. I do not understand how the court system doesn't care if you can put a roof over your head or your family's head as long as the mother ,who refuses to work, basicly gets to as much rights as a father without the obligation of helping to financially support them. SOmething has got to change in the state of Pa. Fathers who work and work to provide for the kids should be punished for working. Some fathers yes are dead beats and some mothers do work hard, but not ALL fahters should be punished.