Thank you everyone! I just dropped my girls back off with their dad. I really tried this weekend... I put on my "happy face", smiled and laughed, tried my best to stay engaged with my girls. I think I was successful, but I couldn't shake the funk. At least Mama left me alone. Secretly, I was comforted that it drizzled during the parade. Sounds bad but misery does love company. I was doing ok today, but then I dropped my girls off and my ex-husband cornered me. He asked if I had found a job, and I knew what was coming next...or so I thought. I told him I hadn't yet fully expecting the next words out of his mouth to be, "well I need money for the girls". He didn't say that though, instead he asked if I was even looking. Of course I'm looking, you ***** (my response in my head). Then he asked if he could claim both girls on his income tax this coming year. Our divorce decree and PPP states that we each claim one girl each (he claims the oldest and I the youngest). My initial thought was "yes".. after all I don't really support the girls. In the PPP I'm supposed to pay so much a month but we never went by it (I lost my job and I've never really gotten on my feet enough), but I always gave him what I could when needed. (yet another way I fail the girls as a mother laying my claim as worst mother). He claims he wants to use the money towards bills for the girls (ortho). So my initial thought was that this was a way of "making up for not paying consistently". Then, like a switch, I instantly thought "hell no!" He knows the agreement- one each! It's not my fault he's over extended himself by getting engaged ($4000 engagement ring), plus took them (his new fiance, her two girls and our two girls) all to Florida on vacation, now a big wedding. I'm NOT paying for (or contributing towards) HIS wedding! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! Then again, this is supposed to be for the girls...and that's what the money from the taxes IS actually for.. it's not meant for me, but for the girls. This back and forth went on the whole ride home... my teeth clenched, hands tight on the steering wheel. Even after I got home I ranted to myself as I did a few chores. Then I called my boyfriend and as I talked to him I came up with what I feel like is a good compromise. My thought, at the moment, is not to let him claim my youngest. Instead, ask him to give me a copy of the bill he wants to payoff. Then I can pay it directly. That way I know that it's really going towards the girls and NOT his friggin' wedding! If he truly wants the money for the reason he claims then he shouldn't have any problem with this! Any thoughts?