First time ever with late child support...

[Mommy Piadosa]

Hello~

I was never married to my 6 yos father, and for over 6 years he has been on time with our agreed upon child support of $600 a month. We have a custody agreement through a paralegal. He is a contractor and apparently times are really tough for him, so he was late last month and hasn't paid this month. My account is now negative, but I feel like a witch harassing him about the money. He has had our ds for the past week and I get him back tomorrow night, I really need the money before the bank closes on Christmas Eve, should I ask him about it? Or just wait and see?

[singin'intherain]

Tell him it seems like times are tough for him, and that if he can't pay the regular child support, you want to work with him. But you have budgeted for the child support he always gives you, and now that he hasn't paid, you are running short of money. So could he please pay you part of the child support right now?

I know how it feels having to ask for money from ex, I have had to do this a few times since our agreement hasn't been court ordered yet. It feels icky, but just steel yourself and remember it's not for yourself! It's for ds, and ds is supposed to come first for his dad- not after everything else has been paid. If he were raising ds in his own home, like you are, not paying for what he needs would never even come up for question!

[root*children]

Of course ask him about it - you can do that in a non-bitchy, non-nagging way :)  I mean, someone owes you money, and they are late giving it to you - what's the harm in asking about it?  You can just tell him you need it byxmas eve and ask if he thinks he'll have it by then.  If he doesn't, there's nothing you can really do about it immediately, but at least you'll know one way or another.

[SoulJourney]

I agree with PPers...definitely ask him/discuss it with him, but do so in a productive, neutral manner. If he has always been prompt with C/S and is truly having financial issues you will only ruin any effective forms of communicating and/or trust that exist between the two of you if it's not handled delicately. I KNOW it sucks to not have money you depend on but if he doesn't have it then he doesn't have it. {hugs}