I’m so sorry. Really, I hope you find your peace soon.

My condolences.

I NEED 2016 TO SIT THE FUCK DOWN

I swear to god after Bowie my heart can’t take these types of news stories without going into crisis mode

I work two jobs, a security guard and part time as a stocker at a grocery store. Between the two I pull in 39k and some change. Neither of these jobs require degrees. Neither of them require experience.

But at least his children’s bills were being paid when he was a UPS driver. Now he can’t even pay his own bills.

I almost want to place bets on how quickly he finds a decent paying job after his youngest turns 18. My dad always complained about having to pay the child support he was required to pay ($500 a month) because my mom had remarried... dude that shit wasn’t alimony, and even though my stepdad was happy to pay for my…

I don’t think anyone said find a better job. I think everyone above has said the harsh reality is you have to take crappy jobs for your kids sometimes.

Exactly. He’s a deadbeat who wants approval. He’ll get none from me.

He also doesn’t mention being any part of the day-to-day labor of raising a child. I would have had a totally different reaction to this piece if he had said “I don’t make enough money to pay child support, but my flexible schedule means that I do all the after-school pick-ups, sick-day care-taking, etc...” Instead,…

This didn’t happen overnight. He has THREE kids. No excuse for that selfishness.

I have a kid. And I have a job that is so far from my dream career it isn’t even funny, but it has good health insurance, pays the bills, and flexible time for childcare emergencies. You better believe I’m grateful as fuck to be able to show up every day.

You sound just like these assholes that skirt their responsibilities.

And? If you’re serious about caring for your children, be the UPS driver whose wages are garnished 70%. That’s still more money than “I get paid a couple hundred dollars once or twice a year to write a rambling and unsympathetic think piece for websites like Jezebel”.

I used to process garnishments at my last job, granted not for CA but for several states and there is a limit on what they can take and it was well under 70%.

I don’t buy this, because it happens all of the time (both out of necessity and choice). My mother switched careers at 45 because her employer laid her off. She had no money, and utility companies were calling her demanding money or they were going to cut her off. But she made the choice, and scraped together what…

Ditto. Another out of work writer ergo not a good writer right? You chose to have kids, so support them. Seems like a nice guy but the pity party is not something I'm buying.

My HS just hired three new teachers who are in their 50s. None have taught before

Also what in heck is wrong with working for UPS? he didn’t want to work that job because it paid too little to HIM even though it was apparently providing his kids with money.

That was my takeaway. Boo-hoo. What about the women you stuck with your kids that now have to take on added financial burdens because you won’t find a job?