Do I get ex a Christmas present from the kids if he hasn’t paid me maintenance this month?

[thefourgp]

They’re both under 10 year old, this is the first Christmas since we separated, there’s no reason or excuse for him not paying maintenance (he works full time), he’s just not paid it because he likes to make my life difficult. I’m teaching them we buy presents for those we love at Christmas. It wouldn’t be much, just a tenner each but it really annoys me that I have to spend my money on him when he hasn’t given me a penny for our children. I don’t bad mouth him to the kids so they don’t know about the maintenance. Should I be the bigger person yet again? It would make the kids happy to give him something.

No, but I never do this anyway.

Love it JellyBabiesSaveLives

I see that lots of people have got in ahead with suggestions of making something very glittery, but have to say that 50p and free run of the charity shop is genius.

Get the kids to make him some chocolates by melting normal chocolate and put in fancy shaped ice cube trays then set in the fridge.

Mix some exlax into it when they’re not looking 🤣

Love the suggestions on this thread. When my ex first started dicking around financially, my DD bought him an aftershave from Poundland for Christmas . It was still more than he deserved.

Would the kids like to make a lovely salt dough ornament for his desk? They can bake it, paint it and add extra glitter so he gets glitter at work too.

Don't you think that's quite a lot of effort for a dickhead who can't be bothered to pay the legal minimum towards his children?

While it's probably very tempting to do some of the above and I totally get it, he is their Dad and they love him.

Dsc Mum has behaved appallingly this year (SS involvements etc) but she is still their Mum, so DH and I took them shopping to get her some gifts that she will enjoy. Our satisfaction (call it revenge if you like) comes from being the bigger people and knowing that we are doing right by the children.

As annoying as it is, I would.
My parents had a messy divorce, and I used to try and save pocket money and birthday money to buy presents for both of them for Christmas.