I'm going to be soon involved in a court action against my ex for contempt of court orders to pay child support. He's in arrears by almost $2000.

I have a very hard time dealing with conflict with him. He's pretty much looney tunes... midlife crisis and addictions. He's gone so far as to cut his kids out of his life and his own parents.

I have a sneaky feeling this is going to get ugly. He'll try to punch some of my buttons by trying to blame me for this divorce, blame me because I have "custody" so I should be the financially responsible parent, anytning and everything he can say or do to make me into the villian. It'll upset me and I'll start crying. Then I'll start arguing with him.

Anyone got any hints on how to just be immune to this stuff? I have to do this, I need the money desparately. He's being a deadbeat parent, and I know I'm going to have to chase him to make him pay up. I'm dreading this, and I don't want it to pull me back down. I've struggled a lot to pull myself up and am in a place where at least I'm not unhappy... not really happy, but at least comfortable and adjusting ok after a bad divorce and being able to start concentrating again and sleep again.