Guess what was in the mailbox when we got back from court?
You got it. A check. From online bill pay. For $711.81.
I got a serious brain cramp over the deal.
We had just been in court, during which Mister Fancy Attorney-Pants (FAP) tried valiantly to use the transaction number to defend his client, but had provided no actual proof of the payment. Of course we all thought that she was using that transaction as another ploy to avoid paying. And the assumption that she had not paid contributed largely, I’m sure, to The Honorable What’s-His-Name’s (THWHN) decision to lump a rather large sum on top of the judgment, because of her contempt.
Why then, if she had actually issued the bill pay, did she NOT just do the EFT? At our bank (which is also her bank, you’ll recall), the funds come out of the account the second you issue the bill payment. It’s not like she was planning to float the cash over the weekend or something… or send a check that was no good… or just try to get by until after court. She actually had to have HAD the funds in her account, and tied them up in that check to us.
Why NOT just do the EFT?
And why not provide proof of it–actual proof–over the next several days before court?
And why not show up in court with actual proof of the payment being made?
And why, when My Hubby offered to get Chase on the phone to verify that the payment had actually been made, did she not JUMP at the chance?
I will never understand her. Her actions will never make sense.
On the upside, we are $711.81 to the good. My Hubby took the check directly to the bank and cashed it… and it was NOT rubber. For that, I am appreciative. It helps offset the regular monthly cost of all of the rest of the kids’ medical.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the $1400 she’s supposed to pay by 5/24. The fact that she paid this one time (before court), doesn’t really indicate to me that she’s suddenly going to straighten up and fly right. In fact, having just dropped a significant chunk of change on a retainer (that didn’t really serve her very well), having just paid out that $711.81, AND having a judgment entered against her for $1044 and some change, makes me wonder where she’s going to have the money for her regular Starbucks visits, let alone a whole $1400 payment. And there’s no looming court date for which to bolster her image now.
Maybe whoever helped her get Miss FAP and Mister FAP will help her pony up the funds for this, too. I hope so.
With everything settling down, it would be a bummer for her to end up in jail.
Won’t it be nice to live in a drama free world for awhile….
I’m so thrilled things are calming down and that the kids are actually winning here!
-d
Amazing!
I sincerely hope she figures out a way to pay the rest of what she owes so she doesn’t have to go to jail. That would really suck for the kids. And for her,too, of course.
I have tried hard to muster some sympathy for her, but I think back to all the things she’s done to sabotage the kids’ friendships, and how she hasn’t attended their events (which is so important to kids!). I recall how she’s screwed up excellent childcare situations and how she’s has lied to the kids and to everyone else over and over and oover again, and, well, I feel for her, but I can’t quite reach her.
For many years she has bent over backwards to make life miserable for you and your hubby. While I don’t believe in revenge, I do believe in consequences.
Wow. It is good that things are settling down. It is weird that she didn’t have proof, knowing that everyone would ask for it… I mean, that is a pretty big thing, it would have been wise to have proof….
::hugs::
I am concerned that if she does go to jail, she will tell the children that Daddy put her in jail, not that her actions, or rather inaction put her there. We all know she will never take personal responsibility for this situation. I pray that she pays.
Tulip Girl,
Those are my sentiments exactly. She will find some way to blame her going to jail on Steph and her hubby.
WAY not good.
I, too, pray that she pays.
Woo Hoo! I was so happy to see stepmamadrama’s post that something good was happening to one of us SM’s..that I rushed right over here to hear the good news! I’m so happy to hear that things have worked out so well for you guys..and for the kids! Yay!!!
Yay, money!! Money is good….
glad you got the money! Bizarre indeed! Just goes to show that she’s so focused on defiance she cannot think clearly enough to save her own butt.
From personal experiene I can tell you that if she ends up in jail the blame will placed on you and your husband. When my husband’s ex broke into our home and we arrived home while she was in the act of destroying his office…. and she then proceeded to physically attack him as he ran in on her……her butt went to jail. That night. To this day the children believe all their mother’s lies and excuses and deflect the blame to daddy. (The children even witnessed her running out the front door and then saw their father’s face and arms dripping with blood.) Not one bit of concern for their father.
Let’s hope she pays and spares everyone the drama. But based on not providing proof at court, I’m beginning to wonder if she isn’t testing THWHN and/or desiring incarceration
Well at least it’s a start. Hopefully she’ll find a way to get the money before her deadline. Jail would not be good.
But she’s dug her own grave and now she’ll have to lay in it.
Oops, accidently hit submit on above entry.
If she ends up in jail she can’t work or pay, and may even lose her job. She’s unstable enough to purposely put herself in that position in order to avoid paying. I think she’s capable of anything.
These are things you shouldn’t waste your time overanalyzing. You just take the check, say “thank you” to something… and not ask “why” any of it.
Good for you.
If she desires to go to jail, even subconsciously, she’s seriously deranged.
Good for you in actually getting the money. Cash it…quick!
We’ll see what happens come 10 days from last court date. Hmm… My guess is Mommy will bail her out.
That’s a relief. It is so hard to feel the heat financially in addition to all of the divorce nonsense.
In my honest opinion, I don’t think she wants to save herself. I believe that deep down, ED is sabotaging herself. While I believe that she does suffer from a mental illness, I think there is another thing at play here.
None of us ever knows what kind of parent we will be until the day we’re faced with that stark reality. Being a stepparent doesn’t measure up to the kind of responsibility we have to our own flesh and blood. I think there are many women these days who marry too young, have children too young and one day realize their not cut out for it.
There is no greater taboo in this society than being a crappy mom. So, these women do everything possible to sabotage themselves (effectively ruining their children’s lives) so that they don’t have to live up to their responsibilities but have someone else to blame for it.
To this day, our BM does this. She filed for divorce, she gave up custody and she has made many choices that have kept her from her kids. But, she has enough confusing court paperwork to make it look like Daddy took her babies away from her.
I don’t think ED will push it to the point where she has to go to jail. Clearly, someone has her back on that one. However, I think she will always fail at her responsibilities to her children and the court drama will continue as long as it serves the purpose of creating the illusion (even if only in her mind) that she is the victim. Fortunately for you, she’s out of wiggle room, so these dramas are going to seem like cartoon shorts.
I think you should take the kids out to Starbucks for hot chocolate…
Steph, I’m glad that you finally got that payment. I will stay tuned to see what happens next. I hope that ED finds a way to continue to support the children.