Im a 36 year old disabled veteran, and professional chef. Im going through the family court process because my Childs mother first hid, then started to alienate my young daughter from me. I didn't learn about my child until she was 6 months old, at which point my very apologetic ex was letting us spend time together. You see, when our child was conceived, this young woman was still involved with another man (unbeknownst to me). we were both under the influence at the time, and it was very unexpected. Whenever this young woman came around my life, I foolishly welcomed her into my very comfortable existence.I tried to help her in any way I could. I never hesitated to provide anything for my daughter, and tried my very best to provide for her mother as well. In our brief pseudo-relationship, I struggled to maintain my boundaries about her infidelity and poor decisions regarding our daughter. I should also mention my Childs mother is 11 years my junior. I didn't hear from her from the time she was 6 months pregnant until when our child was 6 moths old. (1 year) Our 6 month relationship was filled with accusations, gaslighting, and constant torment. While I was at work, she combed through my house and took pictures of anything she could try to use against me to include my 12-step recovery journals, private diaries, and then blackmailed me to try to force me not to take her to court. I suspect the entire "relationship" was a ruse, and was solely a (successful) attempt to gather leverage on me.

Long story short, it looks like I will be forced to pay an obscene amount in child support, with backpay all the way back to when I filed the lawsuit. Keep in mind that I filed this suit because I felt it was morally wrong for my daughter to be on welfare when I make 6 figures (her birth certificate says John Doe, so her mother gets all kinds of free benefits from the state) and I didn't feel like it was appropriate for my 18 month old daughter to be going on travel jobs with her mother when I have a very nice house, access to great schools, very good insurance, daycare, and an all around better state of mind. The family court system is broken. My daughter is going to suffer because of the antiquated "standards" that are put in place. This system incentivizes young women to extort good men who are doing nothing but trying to keep their families together. It is important to me that my daughter has access to both her mother and father simultaneously, and the court system is hindering my ability to do so. if the courts truly cared about the welfare of children, they wouldn't reward young women for their poor actions. My daughter is going to effectively grow up without her fathers presence because of the (in)actions of the court. it feels like no one can hear me.