The *&%^&(^%(%&* system!

I took Andrew's father back to court to request that he pay a portion of the daycare bill. It was my understanding that each parent is to contribute 50% towards childcare and medical care. Well, it's not. This is how court went this morning:

JUDGE: "And Mr. _______, if you're not working right now, how are you making your child support payments?"

ANDREW'S DAD: "My parents pay it"

JUDGE: "Wow, you deserve a lot of credit and several pats on the back for paying your support when you could have had it modified due to your not working. You're a good stand up guy!" then looks at me and says, "he deserves a lot of credit because you've been overpaid".

I was like WTF???????? Didn't he JUST tell you that his PARENTS pay the support, not him and you're giving him a pat on the back and you're saying that he deserves a lot of credit for not getting a job and letting mommy and daddy pay his bills for him at 33 years old!

JUDGE: "So, Mr. _______, can you pay $10 towards childcare?"

ANDREW'S DAD: "No, MY PARENTS are having all they can do to pay the $50 a week child support."

JUDGE: "Okay, how about $5 a week?"

:::::::I'm shaking my head at this point:::::

ANDREW'S DAD: "No, MY PARENTS can't afford it."

::::::::I'm still shaking my head::::::::::::::::::

JUDGE: Looking at me, "Well then, we can reduce the support from $200 a month to $25 a month and no childcare payments at this time."

::::::::shook my head again:::::::::::

JUDGE: Looking at me, "Do you have something to say...?"

ME: "I'm trying to do the right thing here by working. I went to college got a degree so I could get a job and make a better life for me and my kids and I can't barely put food on the table for them now." (at this point I'm near tears and the judge interrupts me anyway....

JUDGE: "This guy deserves a lot of credit for not modifying the support payment order and paying you $200 a month."

UM, AGAIN, didn't you just hear him say that his PARENTS pay his support and he also said that his parents are paying the rest of his bills too??????????????

JUDGE: "Well, Mr.______ is below poverty level and that entitles him to only have to pay $25 a MONTH in support. We will make a future date to give him time to get a job, but until then, he is not obligated to pay childcare expenses."

UM, HELLO. I'M ALSO STILL 200% below poverty level. And he didn't even address Andrew's father's not having a job, other than to say, we'll adjourn to see if you can find one. Never asked him WHY he doesn't have one now. He doesn't have a job now because he lost his drivers license due to several aggravated DWI charges and cannot drive to work. The system is disgusting and I'm appalled and disgusted! I'm doing the right thing and the judge tells me what a stand up citizen Andrew's father is. I even looked at the judge and said, "Geez, I'd be better off sitting on my butt and collecting welfare rather than working." and he said, "Well, you got a job and this man deserves a lot of credit." And I don't? I work 10-12 hour shifts which takes away from time with my kids. I see them get on the bus at 9am and most days, don't see them again until after 11pm and they're sleeping. Don't *I* deserve any credit for doing what I'm doing? No, apparently, you have to be a loser who doesn't have a job and have mommy and daddy pay all your bills for you. Well, according to our County Family Court Child Support Judge anyway.