Hi All,
I need something explaining to me because I have to be missing an obvious point somewhere.
I have recently split up with my girlfriend of which we have joint parental responsibility for two young children (1 & 2). She has left the family home as she wanted to create her own family atmosphere. Although I was gutted there is absolutely nothing I can do about the way she feels.
The relationship in the past has always been a good one, I do have a fairly well paid job which I worked hard for my position prior to even meeting my girlfriend. I paid for 90% of all household expenditures including luxuries like 2-3 holidays per year for the last 3 years, I have ensured the kids got the best of the best without over spoiling them. My girlfriend spent the most money out of every family member on clothes and nights out.
Now, and to get to the point, she has realised she is unable to afford any of life’s luxuries and instead has applied to the government for benefits and In addition to this she is expecting me to pay £100 a week in child maintenance.
The confusing part for me is that we have agreed to 50/50 child care. So they will be living in both houses for an equal amount of time and costing us both the exact same to feed but if anything I will be paying more as my job does pay me well. My ex girlfriends response was that it wasn’t fair that I could still afford these luxuries whilst she cant, I fail to see how this is my issue?
She believes that if she didn’t have the kids she would work full time, the reality is that she would get paid more by staying on benefits then she would working full time. I suggested I take full custody of the kids and pay for childcare so she could work, this didn’t go down well.
Someone explain to me what I am missing here, surely this is just life and not everyone can afford to live by themselves these days.