William Raspberry’s column on divorced fathers hits the nail on the head (“Divorced fathers speak out: We’re not all deadbeats,” May 24).
Being a single dad raising three teenagers, it took me 4.5 years and nearly $50,000 in attorney fees and child support to get where I am today. At times the strain is more than you think you can bear, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s a long, costly and lonely battle fighting a bitter and vindictive ex-spouse bent on denying “visitation” even for a “joint-custody” parent.
There are a lot of fathers who, rather than withhold child support during drawn-out legal proceedings, continue to obey their end of the divorce judgment.
Federal and state legislation is needed, however, to mandate that the courts simultaneously get as tough with those who violate a father’s visitation rights. It will help end the in-kind retaliation divorced fathers are tempted to make, and give kids the needed parenting they deserve from both mom and dad.
