George, w spoke briefly this morning on the Regular Guys show. I didn't want to give full details, because it's kind of a weird situation. The long and short is that I want to be seen as a 100% equal parent in the eyes of the law and school system.

At the time of our divorce, my wife made $90k and I stayed home with the kids while working on starting on my own business. She was awarded primary custody and child support after a long and costly hearing. Shortly there after, she chose to be a stay at home mom and have a third child with her third husband. So she stays home and collects child support from two dads, while her third husband supports her latest family addition.

I took a corporate job shortly after the divorce making roughly half what she made. Now, she wants to more than double my child support payments based on what I now make. that would also be double what her first husband pays in support, because he hasn't had a job in the 7 years I've known him. His father actually pays his child support for him. That means two kids, in the same house, with the same mother, incur two wildly different support payments. How does my child's life spend twice as much as his brother in the same house? It doesn't and that's the problem with treating everyone the same.

Moreover, I am an active and involved father and I fought to have as much time together as possible, but I'm not asking to remove my son from his mother or his other siblings. I'm just asking that he be allowed equal time with both of his families, so he is allowed to flourish with both. It's sad, but he grew up knowing the life of two families. His older half brother was gone every other weekend since day 1, so he sees it as normal. If it were my decision, I would have his brother with us as often as possible, but that's the last thing my ex can truly control. No one that spoke out against her in the divorce is allowed to have anything to do with my former stepson. It's truly awful what she's put him through. Until my son started riding the school bus last Fall, I hadn't been allowed to speak to my former stepson but twice in two years. It's gut wrenching.

Anyhow, I found this petition online and it voices pretty much exactly how I feel: http://www.petitiononline.com/usncpr/

I want to be an equal parent, with equal say in both legal and school matters. I volunteer in his classroom at least twice a month, but I recently found out I'm not even allowed to pick him up early from school. His mom filled out the registration forms and listed me as the father, but that doesn't give me the privilege of picking him up for a doctor's appointment or anything else. In fact, they wouldn't even let me look at the registration or emergency pickup list. The attorney for the Cobb School district told me to re-file my own registration this year , because I'm supposed to have final say in school related issues. However, my ex received the form back on one of her days, filled it out and turned it in. Now I'm in the same spot as last year.

I simply want a fair shake and the chance to be the dad I can be without having to give a third of my income to a woman who makes a business of collecting child support.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. I have spent the last two and a half years in an emotional grinder and I want it to end. However, I won't simply give into the system that is obviously flawed, at least in this specific case.

Thank you for hearing my long winded tale and thanks for helping the community via the radio.

I feel your pain! It looks like she’s abusing the system. You should definitely get a consultation with a family law expert. Call Bill Morse, who is a very fine family law attorney. His number: 770 426-4468.