an open letter to the IA DHS........

Dear women............

I say women, because after suffering what I have there's no way any men work there.
If they did, I, as a fellow member of the male race, wouldn't be allowed to experience the travesties put upon me.

You claim to have the "best interest of children", when in fact you don't really give a damn because if you did, single fathers like myself would be allowed to assist in the raising of our children as well as provide for them as we see fit.
But instead, you take the mothers side and gouge us for every penny we have all in the name of "what's best for the child".

So tell me, oh great and powerful ones, why is it that your "sisters" are granted the power to do as they will, which often times will be to use our court ordered amounts to pay for exotic trips, high end clothes and jewelry, and all the primping and pampering they wish? NOT, for the children of course, but for themselves all the while providing our children with the bare minimum including step siblings hand-me-downs.

I submit to you, that the letters D. H. and S. do NOT stand for the Department of Human Services, but rather the De-Humanizing of Sons.

I am about to be thrust into a monetary situation that could very well jeopardize my ability to maintain a home situation for my children, a home they have enjoyed since they were born.

When I told you that the insurance being provided through my employer was going to increase outrageously, I meant it.

Since my young son was still covered under a state provided policy, one that not only did you switch him to, but my low income qualified him for, I was able to obtain a policy for my other son and self at half what it would cost through my employer.

However, for what ever reason, you have deemed that that is not good enough and are forcing me back onto my employer's insurance policy, one which I told you i could not afford. But that doesn't matter now does it.
It doesn't matter that paying child support along with this obscenely high health insurance, will leave me about $60 weekly to attempt to live on, and provide food for my children when they are allowed to visit.

And here's the rub:my younger son turns 18 in 11 months, and graduates in 18 months. Even though my court decree says that support shall end (to my ex....i won't stop supporting them. i'll just know where my money goes), when he turns 18 OR graduates.....you've already told me you'll be going by turning 18 AND graduating high school.

Now, why is it, mothers can do all sorts of heinous things like, running off, but then coming back years later, or, leaving an infant child in a locked car during the coldest day of the year while hanging out in a bar, or even doing heroin while their child sleeps in the next room......all of this and yet they are STILL allowed to keep their children, not work and live off government programs sucking the American public dry, but when a single father tries to provide for his children AND keep a roof over their head and food on the table he gets punished........

I don't live a posh existence.
I don't hang out in bars, or go shopping for personal trinkets, or even buy myself clothes more than once a year.

All I try to do is keep a roof over our head, food on our table, and provide whatever they need.

All you do, DHS, is create turmoil where there should be none.

You obviously have no clue what is best for our children..........