"Justice At A Later Date"

The various comments made concerning the Tennessee Child Support System are remarks that I am familiar with. In my case I truly believed that my child's father would be willing to take care of her. So often, during my pregnancy he reassured me that he would provided for her and be the perfect father. Once she was born, he chose not to comply with the responsiblities he had agreed too. For him, helping with necessary items such as diapers, milk, tempra drops (for pain) and even clothes for her had become a problem for him. You know, I could see if he did not have a job. But he was working and living with his parents, as well. However, because he had become so reluctant in providing any support for her. I began to receive government assistanc for my daughter from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. My next move consisted of a trip to the Juvenile Court seeking help for my daughter. Fortunately, this trip was a success. And the statements made in reference to the father reimbursing the government for monies allocated for the child prior to the child receiving support, is true. Once that money has been paid back monthly payments began for the child from the father. For about a year, she received under a hundred dollars a month, WOWEE!!! However, when I learned how the child support system operates, I filed for an increase. This was handled by both of us having to appear in court. When the judge set the increased amount, her father responded by saying that he had other bills. The judge's response was, I guess you have made other bills, around what you have been paying a month. Her father was not happy with this decision, at all. Afterwards, his visiting stopped and he became very distant with our daughter. Over the next nine years, every two weeks the payments were paid on time. By the time she turned twelve years old he began to make partial payments or no payment at all. In trying to seek help, I cannot count how many times I called that child support number. Nevertheless, the countless trips I made to Juvenile Court trying to get some assistance. It seemed as if he had an inside connections of some sort. He lived here in the city and had been employed at the same job for the past eight years or more. At some one point, for five years he made no payment at all. I had just about given up on receiving and seeking any help for her. Until I spoke with an acquaintance, who provided me with some updated information on her father. I used this information, by calling the Child Support Division in Nashville, Tennessee. I received even more information by mail concerning the monthly payments that he would be making and about his second job. I guess he thought that after she turned eighteen it would all go away. My daughter is twenty-one years old and the payments come regularly. Case in point, he could have been finished paying child support three and a half years ago, however, he choose differently. Do not get me wrong, I sure there are some fathers who are more than willing to take care of their child and I salute you all. Unfortunately, because numerous fathers abandon their responsibilities, Child Support Systems have been into place as an advocate for the child. However, the monies will never suffice for the overall care the mother has provided for the child.