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I know that there are a lot of fathers that refuse to pay their child support. What about the ones that quit their jobs so they won't have to pay or pay a very basic $35 a month? That is what my ex-husband did. We were married for 14 years and had four children. He has had his freedom for 6 years and I am left holding the proverbial bag. Now like most single parents, I have learned to make ends meet and learned to save every dime. Why should my children have to suffer for his ignorance and plain stupidity?

Men like this make me sick. We lost our first child at the age of five, so you would think that going through something like that would make him love his other children more. Wrong! We have been divorced for over six years. In that time he has made 6 attempts to see our children, made broken promises to them and refuses to let even his mother contact the children. What kind of father is that?

It took two years after the divorce to finally locate him, because he moved at least once a month, in order to get him into court for child support. He gave the judge his hard luck story, lost his job and had no where to live. The judge then ordered that he pay a minimum of $35 a month. He was pleased with this. I would like to know what $35 a month is going to do for my kids. Guess what? I can buy a few loaves of bread and a couple of gallons of milk. BIG DEAL!

He then got a real job, bought a new house and new truck. I don't have the money to take him back to court. Now I have to deal with raising the children by myself. I don't have a lot of money. I work double shifts and even got a second job on my days off just to give them what they need. I have asked him for more child support and you can probably figure out his answer. He would hang the phone up in my ear after giving me a few choice words.

What's the point? I quit trying to get it from him. It has been four years, the children have heard form him a dozen times, probably not that many. The children are now 11, 12 and 13. Not one of them want to see him. He hasn't made an attempt to contact them in two years. He visits his friends that live only 15 miles away from us. He is a true dead beat dad. He doesn't even deserve the title of father.

Who suffers the most? Him? The children? Myself? The answer is all of us. In my case I believe that he suffers more. He is the one missing out on three wonderful children. They make my life worth living and there is not enough money in this world that can compare to the love that I receive from them. He has missed the school plays, picnics in the park, watching fireworks, going camping, swimming and just being there to spend quality time with the kids.

I may have to pay for everything that we have, but there is an up side to this. I have my children. They are loved and they give that love back. They are content with what they have and the little hand-made gifts that they give me are worth more than money can buy. I can't stand the way that he has done them, but at least I know that they are safe and happy.

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