I could call the goon squad!<P>Not really but it is a stress-relieving thought.<P>X is an electrical engineer with a public utility and his employer has a history of paying well. As in at or above median for their salary surveys. Has been with them for a long time. In other words, he's not doing too badly.<P>And he does pay his alimony and child support on time.<P>Last spring he agreed to help me pay for d's girl scout camp to the tune of $60. Have I seen it yet? <P>Last pair of new glasses s got, he paid $25. I go to a good place to get glasses for this child who is now 8 and has been wearing glasses since he was 16 months. So we are talking $300 for good frames and high-index polycarbonate lenses.<P>Now, we have another pair on order. It's been 2 years. <P>So guess who says that since the divorce decree doesn't specifically say eyeglasses are covered, he doesn't have to pay. And anyway, he says he doesn't have any money. <P>He's married and they both work. And I know his living expenses - rent and utilities - are way lower than mine. <P>And it's time for back to school expenses. <P>Need to pay d's before and after school care. S's school supply and activity fee. Plus school supplies for d. And I'm fixing to leave the office for the day. Payroll checks need two signatures. One person is here to sign them. And I mailed my checks for my bills yesterday. <P>Really not a happy camper.

Hey! My husband is an electrical engineer also at a power company. He too pays alimony and child support....on time. He also pays 100% of the insurance payments and 50% of all co-pays (including glasses). I would guess that his ex may look at us and figure we're loaded because we live in a new, large home and she lives in a duplex. I know once she asked him for money towards school supplies. Truth is, he pays her 2,000 per month and she makes 50,000 per year. She drives a company car which means no car payments/insurance. He has a truck payment. In our State child support is suppose to include school supplies etc...In fact, my ex doesn't cover half of what my husband does to his ex, I was in a long term marriage and turned down spousal (my husband was married 5 yrs and agreed to spousal for 6 yrs)and my child support isn't even a 4th of what my husband pays out. I wouldn't dream of asking my ex for more money. In fact, if he has special things planned for the kids on his weekend I send money with them to cover the expenses!

Hi Cinderella:<P>I think that is awful! Further more, you can do something about it. Do you budget and keep track of how much you spend on all that stuff a year? Keep receipts and log everything.<P>I would take him back to court. I have a friend who had this problem. The courts decided her XH was not providing enough balanced support for the kids and cahnged the agreement. He still pays child support and alimoney, but now he also, must pay for a minimum of 50% of all documented child expenses over and above, food, water and shelter. So if the kids need glasses, he must pay and my girlfrined then reimburses him 50%! It included all doctor bills, glasses, medicine, clothing, schooling through college and some other misc stuff.'<P>It might be worth looking into.<P>Good luck!<P>Michelle

Well, folks, I'm looking for a new job. That will help. A lot. I'll take all the prayers possible. <P>And as soon as I have the new job, I'll talk to an attorney. And I'm hoping that Monday's interview will be first in a parade of interviews for a job I really want. I am the woman for that job. I just hope they know it.

Best wishes at the interview!!<P>Hey, just a note about your son's glasses... he's been wearing since 16 months? My middle daughter had crossed eyes, and they put glasses on her at six months. It was sooooo cute, because they looked like little old man glasses... I mean, what's stylish for a 6 mo. old? <P>I would be made about the glasses too!!! <P>What kind of places are you looking for a job???

He was so cute wearing those glasses when he was little. He looked like a little old man. Bald or scraggly-haired and tottery on his feet. I miss those days. But I don't want to go back to that life. <P>The job I want is at a local university. Great benefits. I want to work for them for the benefits - tuition assistance when the children get ready for college. It's my first choice for an employer right now. Convenient to the rest of my life. At least for this year. Gonna have to figure out next year later.<P>But this job was in the human resource services department. Not the division I would most like to work in but, basically, I have done this job for another employer. I do hope this will happen.<P>Everyone keep your fingers crossed on that.<P>But, I am really tired of being stiffed by this man. But my state does not demand a whole lot of fathers.:roll eyes:

NOw d wants to take strings this year. Rent or buy a viola. Not a violin. Add this to ballet twice a week. Piano following ballet - at the same place, no less. And a ballet performance group until December. And maybe girl scouts and homework. I don't know when she'll practice both instruments. YIKES!! I think I need someone to organize my life.<P>And who is going to pay for the viola? If her father won't even reimburse me for prescriptions, who do you think will pay for the viola - if that happens.