Variation for child with long-term sickness

JulietAmber_2

Thanks Kellogs - that's what we have suggested and they are considering it. I had to send in my bank statements and earnings so they could see what we could afford.

FBaby - I appreciate your comments and you sound like a great mother. As you can imagine - it's a very emotional time for me. I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be involved with the CSA. As I said, maintenance was never an option for me and looking after my children's emotional needs aswell as financially has been my main priority over the past 6 years.
My partner, to give him his due, never thought it would be the case either. He's always paid for his children and we were slowly building a family - all 8 of us! He thought, naively, that he'd continue to pay 25% of his wages, as he's always done and that would be the end of it.
I am struggling to manage, emotionally, with the CSA and juggling our finances - aswell as my resentment over his ex and her little games.
I think I need to take a step back and see how things pan out - concentrate on my children, my relationship and just let the future be.

FBaby

Resentment eats you inside, I know I have been there, the stress that I internalised fully to spare my kids resulted in such symptoms, I had to be referred for tests to rule out multiple sclerosis. I learnt my lesson then. I am currently battling against it all again (won't go over the story, but it is full of injustice, not just financially!).

You are right, you need to take a step back because in the end, you won't change the system and all you do is hurt yourself. I hold on to the fact that by being fair and reasonable, I am bringing up my children with good values and that is priceless. My ex and his partner are selfish, unresponsible and profit from anything they can. This attitude often pays off in the short term, rarely in the long term. You have a child who needs a happy and smiley mummy (and the others of course) and taking a step back is your present to them.

JulietAmber_2

Thanks - I'm beginning to see the light!
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