For only being a quarter of a century old, I feel tired. This year alone has just been a whirlwind for my husband and I. We moved across country from Norfolk, VA to San Diego, CA. His deployment was extended by a month, and we just received orders to move back to the East Coast in 3 months time. I travelled to Japan, Australia, and Hawaii all in hopes of spending a few days with him. In the meantime, I visited a small community outside San Antonio, TX four times in an effort to keep tabs on my wonderful stepson. I drove across country in a Ford Focus with my mother. I love my Mom, but there is something to be said for too much of a good thing!

I grew up the oldest of three girls and was always put in charge of my sisters. This was a double edged swords my friends. It looked cool to my younger sisters and made them jealous all the time, but I didn't see that jealousy when I was getting in trouble for the two of them not doing their chores! All of us are adults now, and share a close relationship mainly because we were allowed to fight to the death as children. Unless there was blood, if you tattled everyone got a spanking. We found many methods of pain and cruelty that never drew one drop of blood!

I do have a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from a small liberal arts school in Virginia, near where I grew up. I had a promising career with a large manufacturing firm, but decided the lack of morals and ethics in Corporate America were not for me. Though it sounds totally Ozzie and Harriet, my life now revolves around my husband. I enjoy taking care of our home, the bills, all errands, the moves, my stepson when he visits and care packages to him when he isn't here, and all else my husbands grueling work schedule won't allow him to do. Besides, most things (outside of physical sports) come pretty easy to me, and housework is the only challenge I have due my crippling perfectionism.

My passion is ...

learning. I read probably more than the food I devour. Just about anything and everything interests me, and my memory allows me to recall all too much of it.

I know too much about ...

loneliness. My husband has been gone far more than 70% of our marriage, and more than 50% of our relationship. If you are looking for the expert on how to keep busy during military deployment, you are looking at her because it is something I've done since I was born.

My parents always told me ...

there is difference between having sex and having children. If you don't know the difference, then stick to cuddling and hand holding.

My childhood ambition ...

was always a big dream and to not be anything like my mother. Now that I am adult I realize how lucky I was growing up that she stayed home and hope I can do the same for my kids.

My favorite memory ...

is June 2, 2003 3:00 AM.

Why I write ...

to stop the sea of thoughts in my head from spilling over into my ordinary life. If I could just sit and talk to someone all day, it would serve the same purpose. Instead, writing into the void is my solace. I wish it was for far more altruistic reasons, but it's not so no use pretending anything different.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

I listen to mainly hard rock, watch period movies, and read anything in print.

My first job ...

was as a Guest Service Associate at Fuddruckers.

My best moment ...

was holding my tongue as my mother and father in law yelled and screamed in my face about a subject they were grossly misinformed and ignorant about.

My inspiration ...

is my family. My husband, stepson, parents, sisters, other in-laws (like my sister in laws and grandparents in law), and my friends. The other main inspiration I have is my education, and always being taught to question everything and answer what I can.

Relationships & Family > Children & Divorce Child-support issues after a divorce

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Child-support issues arise because a feeling, something that can't be quantified, is intertwined with money, something that is quantifiable. Divorce creates very strong negative emotions: hate, loneliness, pain, regret, doubt, and many others. Child-support then easily becomes a tangible object to channel those feelings. Depending on which side the injured party is on, he or she either feels they deserve more child-support, or shouldn't have to pay as much child-support. So how do you resolve these issues? The key is communication.

The first thing a divorced couple with children involved...

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