Desperate

[concereddad]

My ex and i have been separated for over two years but not divorced. We had a mutual verbal agreement to keep our daughter in one school for continuity. So tonite I get a call from my ex that she just moved our daughter away about 40 minutes away without waiting for mediation without waiting for us to decide which school is best for her. I currently live in Brandon and she has moved to Tampa. She has relocated even though I objected to her moving our daughter from her current school. I've signed a lease three times where i"m living to maintain continuity for our daughter.
My ex works 12 hour shifts three to four days a week those are the days I have my daughter. I usually have her an average of 54% a month sometimes more. I take her to day care or dropped her off at school in the morning and I would pick her up no later than 5:20pm on the days I have her. Now being 40 minutes away if I was to pick up Bella I would have to drive to Tampa in rush hour get there close to 6PM to turn around and drive with her home another 40 minutes "plus" to get home by 7pm "If i'm lucky". then get her fed, homework and ready for bed. Now the next morning to wake her at the crack of dawn to take her to school 40 minutes away and turn around and drive another 40 minutes so I can go to work. I think this is totally parental interference. And if i don't pick her up my ex's boyfriend would get Bella these days. Now this is a seven year old girl who is going to be with an adult male whom I have no idea who he is, getting her ready for bed because my ex works 12 hour shifts and won't get home until after 7PM. My daughter was born premature and has fine motor issue so she needs help bathing getting dress, and even going to the bathroom.. Am I being Illogical here??
She wants to put her in a Catholic school, other than the obvious of being so far from me and the added expense, here's my argument. My daughter has been attending a Blue Ribbon school one of the best public schools in the state for the past two years, She receives physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy because she has limitations. This is all provided by the State and if she goes to private school she will no longer have these benefits. She's already established here. As far as child support I have been giving her $600 a month even though I have her 50% of the time and we make about the same salary. Until I found your web site i could never find anything that would give me an idea of what my obligation was (THANK YOU). I often find myself struggling to find things to do with my daughter because financially i can't afford it.
We have mediation coming up soon what should I expect, should i be bracing myself for disappointment.
Thank you so much for taking you time to read this..

[Attorney Howard Iken]

I agree with everything you said. That is not fair.

You may want to trim down your child support and insist on only paying the guideline support amount - not any more and not any less.

Also, if you two are separated that far it may be less practical to split the school week. You may want to explore having all weekdays and compensating by giving up other days.