I (40m) moved away from my ex (37f) and our kids to take a new job a couple of hours away. She was dating someone who lived pretty close to where I moved to, so I knew it was only a matter of time before she moved closer to me. We agreed that because she was only with her boyfriend for a few months, she wouldn’t move in with him. After that agreement, she lost her job and was having money issues, so she couldn’t afford a place. Her parents said she was too old to let herself get into these types of situations and refused to let her move back in with them again (she had done this multiple times before. I offered to take in the kids, and she can move into her boyfriend’s apartment, but she refused, stating, "What kind of parent would I be if I left the kids?" Umm, that’s exactly what I did for months, but I’m still heavily involved with them.
Despite our agreement, she moved in with the kids to her boyfriend’s apartment, stating it would be cheaper for me because I wouldn’t have to pay for daycare, and they would be provided for. It’s only been a month, and I’ve had the kids a couple of weekends. Now she’s demanding I give her money and is upset that I haven’t offered. She sent me a long text giving me the business, and I told her that if she asked for something, I would consider seeing what I could do. After thinking about everything, she implied I wasn’t a good parent because I moved away, moved the kids in with her new boyfriend, which I strongly opposed, and told me they would be provided for.
Before you say anything about how I’m not stepping up for my kids, I offered to have them live with me, and I would have them in daycare. Now she doesn’t have the time or money for the situation she put herself in and blames me. The kids are on my insurance, and all of the Christmas/birthday gifts they’ve gotten have been from mom and dad (to be fair, she picks them out and I buy them, so that’s true). Yes, I could easily just give her money, but I feel like she’s just looking for the easy way out and wants me to fund her while she gets everything else she wants, the kids, living with her boyfriend rent-free, and now child support from me. I don’t want to be unreasonable, but I don’t feel like I should give in to her. AITA?
UPDATE: First, I apologize for not making this clear in the original post. I am not on court-ordered child support. I would never let my kids go without, today was the first day she asked and my gut reaction was to refuse but I wanted to get some opinions, i.e. why I’m here. Second, I’m not upset that she’s living with her boyfriend. I’m happy she found someone that makes her happy, I met him once, he seems like a nice guy. That said, I met him ONCE and I didn’t want my kids essentially living with a stranger. I probably should have taken legal action sooner, that’s on me.
UPDATE 2: This was in the original post but I feel like it needs said again. I had a job opportunity that was beneficial to everyone. After taking this job I was able to pay for the kids daycare and send weekly grocery orders to them while I was 2 hours away. The kids have been on my insurance and I pay for all of their medical needs and after she lost her job, I’ve supplied literally everything for the kids. We just had Christmas and both of their birthdays within 2 months. I understand she’s struggling and I wasn’t going to try to sway the kids favor by indicating dad got this and mom got them nothing. All the presents were from both of us. There are a lot of comments about how I’m a deadbeat that I disagree with, but I understand that because I didn’t provide context how it could be viewed that way.
PROBABLY FINAL UPDATE: So I’ve tried to understand, genuinely, why I’m the AH from some of your comments. Here’s what I’ve gathered. I’ve been called a deadbeat and told I don’t provide for my kids because I’m not on court-ordered child support. It’s true, I’m not. However after I moved I still paid for 100% of their daycare and sent groceries to them weekly. This was while she was still working. When she lost her job I provided for Christmas and their birthdays. They’ve been on my insurance since they were born. Financially, I’m not a deadbeat.
Next, I was told I’m the AH because I’m not present in their lives. On a typical week, I have them 2 or 3 days, usually over weekends and it’s subject to me travelling for work. In my opinion, I have a great relationship with my kids and I talk with them every day they aren’t with me.
The last reason I’ve been told I’m the AH is because I haven’t gotten a court order to prevent the kids from living with someone that we barely know. This I agree with. I feel like I failed my kids in this regard and I plan to take action on this.
Most of the other comments are usually 1 of these scenarios or a combination of them so I won’t be replying to those. Thank you collective reddit. I honestly appreciate all of the perspectives.
YTA for not going for full custody at this point. “Offering” to take the kids so they wouldn’t live with a stranger frankly isn’t good enough.
YTA and a criminal, child support is not discretionary
Go get your kids dude
Are you paying child support? It’s not optional.
YTA. Yet another man who doesn’t pay child support.
~~INFO: do you or do you not pay child support?~~
What does the legal child support/custody agreement say?
If you have court ordered child support, stick with that. If she does not like it, she can ask for more via the court system.
ESH
There are tables for child support based on jurisdiction and income differences. You should’ve paying whatever that calculation shows.
Your statement of we agreed she wouldn’t move in with her boyfriend is gross you don’t control any of her decisions. Your option is to demand full or joint custody if you feel that your kids living with the boyfriend is not in their best interests.
Your post does not appear to address the best interest of your kids only dollars.
Your ex should also not be rapidly moving in with her boyfriend and should be suing you for child support
None of you are looking after the best interests of your children. Be better
Go to court and get your kids.
Her living rent free with her bf is entirely irrelevant to whether or not you pay child support. The child support is for you to… support your children. Those are not her personal expenses. Those are your children’s expenses. YTA
INFO: Do you have a legal child support/custody agreement? Why did you move further away from your kids and what is the extent of your involvement with them?
Your evidence for your “stepping up” is a total hypothetical. Offering to have the kids live with you takes 0 effort and has no material effect. Actually taking them and/or advocating for what’s best for them is what matters.
You have fallen into the classic mistake a lot of guys make by thinking of child supporr as money for _her_.
Child support is for YOUR KIDS.
They still need to eat whether she lives with a bf or anywhere else.
Pay for your children. Get legal advise and file for full custody if you think they are in danger at the bf house. But pay while you do. (I doubt your real concern is about the safety of your kids, you seem more bitter that it’s what your ex wants instead of what you told her to do)
YTA
Do you not pay child support? If she is the custodial parent, you owe her a certain amount of money per month to provide for the kids. She could easily contact DSHS (or whichever program is in your state) and have your wages garnished. It sounds like you’re a decent dad, but that’s what will happen unless you have custody of the kids.
All I can think of is you’re trying to rationalize not paying child support, and you came up with every excuse you could think of.