Wish I knew then what I know now

I have two sons. When their dad and I divorced, he was attempting to get Social Security disability. He wasn't working and I was begging his mother for money every month to pay our bills. Luckily she was a caring and thoughtful woman. My youngest son, who was close to his dad, begged me not to take his dad to court for a lot of child support.

I asked my lawyer what the least amount was and she told me $50. So dumb me, that is what I agreed on. I am sorry now that I ever did it. He didn't pay for the first 5 mo. and probably wouldn't have if the state didn't threaten to take his liscense.

He finally got approved for disability and I went to child support to try and raise the child support for his kids care, but I was told that it couldn't be done for 2 years! His income had changed, but that didn't seem to matter. I then signed them up for social security under their dad's benefits. I was supposedly still entitled to the $500 in back pay.

Well, when each child recieved back pay for their social security, I was told that I would not be recieving any back child support. Needless to say, my worker told me that social security and child support were two different things. My advice to divorcing parents is as follows: You cannot support 2 teenage children on $50 a month. Do not let the other person force you into feeling sympathetic for them. I think that this system needs to take a long hard look at their laws. If it wasn't for my kids' step-dad, they would have been living on the streets.

Please get an amount that is reasonable for you to take care of your children. $50 was my first mistake.