Transition Day

There's no point to this post other than to get this off my chest, and declare it to the anonymity of this board. I know many of you are in, or have lived, a similar situation, so your input is always welcome.

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I've been divorced for nearly 5 years now. I've got 3 little ones that I split with my ex-wife. They are now 9, 6 & 5.

I have them 45% of the year, and I've fought dearly for that. I always want them with me, and negotiate with the ex on a frequent basis so they dont miss out on family events.

Even still, on transition day, today, I still get teary when I drop them off. They don't want to leave. I don't want them to leave. I hate sending them back to a woman who has an iphone, iPad mini, iPad and other doodads, but keeps them in 1 room of a 3 bedroom apartment. All 3 of them.

I pay $1700 a month in child support, plus most of their medical expenses. The ex, and her fiancee, have jobs. Not great jobs, but jobs still. What do they do with the kid's money? Pay the kid's daycare bill (which she also gets government money for) so they can spend the rest on electronics that they don't need? Where does the rest go?

Drives me nuts. I hate it. One day soon, my kids will be old enough to realize the disparity in our homes. And not just the income differential (my wife and I combined, even with the child support sucked out of my check, do pretty well). They are going to realize which home nurtures and supports them more. Then, maybe, transition day won't be so hard.