I'm trying to resolve our divorce amicably. We have a mediation coming up. I am the sole breadwinner and make a very good income. She's been a SAHM for years, but has a good college degree and experience and can get a decent job. We have two children under the age of 12. We are in Texas.

In order to figure out what I'm willing to pay for, I'm trying to figure out the entire range of kid-related things that could cost money in the next ten years, until they are 18. So far I have:

  1. Private school tuition and related school expenses
  2. Sports/extracurriculars/camps
  3. Medical/dental/vision insurance/care
  4. Clothes
  5. Food
  6. Electronics

Are there any major buckets I'm missing?

I am willing to pay for a lot of things for my kids above and beyond child support (which, in Texas, isn't much). At the same time, I want my STBXW to pay something close to her fair share for child-related stuff, too. The divorce (and her affair...) was her idea, and she may be making off with a substantial portion of our marital estate. So I don't think it's fair that I have to pay for every single child-related thing going forward. It's time for her to get a job and start paying for things, too. Also, I don't want to agree to pay for "all school," and have that put me on the sole hook for every possible school-related expense for the next ten years (test prep, college visits, homecoming tux). Or, I agree to "sports," and I end paying for every last shoelace for their cleats. Things like that.

So, any tips on what I should be thinking about? Should I just agree to nothing except the required child support and, on top of that, private school tuition (that's important to me), and we split all other costs 50/50? Something different?

Thanks for any guidance.

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