Paying child support can sometimes leave a bad taste in the parents’ mouth. In turn, it is not uncommon that the parent paying will feel as if they do not have to contribute any further than that. But we’re here to tell you why you should be contributing more than child support. Child support is not an all-encompassing system, and there are plenty of other ways to get involved, as well as to contribute to the day-to-day operations, aside from finances. You might think you do enough, and that’s understandable. But, if you will, hear us out.
Contributing More Than Child Support: Why You Should
Child support covers the bare minimum
If you payed attention in court, you know what’s included in child support and what’s not. Basic needs consider four categories: shelter, health care, food, and clothing. That’s it. But, if you have a kid, you know there’s a lot more to it than that. They have field trips, prom, soccer, track… interests abound. While you do not have to be contributing financially to be a part of these experiences, helping that extra bit can be both helpful, and show your willingness to be more involved.
If Mom/Dad needs help purchasing something for the child, and you have the means, do it
Take for example a prom dress. A prom dress can cost anywhere from $100-$700 dollars, sometimes even more!! While we’d all like to hope that our children would head for the lower end, sometimes it doesn’t happen. And rather than tell them no on their senior prom, maybe that other parent reaches out for help. Saying “didn’t I just pay child support?” Or, “I’ve given you enough already,” instead of helping can cause a strain between you, the other parent, and possibly even the child.
Ultimately, a parent should not be defined by their financial status, but by how they contribute
No matter how we lay it out, there is always the potential that you just, plain can’t contribute any further financially. That is okay. The key is being there, creating experiences, giving your all for your child. While contributing more than child support can be strictly financial, it doesn’t have to be. Money is not the center of the universe, especially for your children. Do what you can, in any way. The key is being close to your child and being there for the experiences.