Dear Christine,
I AM writing this letter with tears in my eyes for my son who wants to travel to London to further his studies at university.
He has great grades but needs some financial assistance as the student revolving loan is not enough.
I contributed $7 000 and his girlfriend’s mother, who is financing a life-threatening operation, also contributed $5 000. However, there is a shortfall of $10 000 and my son approached his father for assistance. His response was, “Is that all your mother gave you?”
He added: “She should give you all the money”, finally saying he could not help because he had a legal bill pertaining to a court case. This legal bill, by the way, is one for ownership of half of my house, even though he has one of his own.
Despite his refusal to help he is very pleased that our son has ambition and has been all over the place telling people about how intelligent he is. But instead of putting his money where his mouth is he prefers to give his money to lawyers to fight for half of my house rather than assist his son to obtain one of his own.
Christine, can you imagine how my son feels, especially knowing his father has $90 000 stashed away in the bank?
Since our recent divorce he has been so busy being spiteful that he is blinded to the fact that he is losing his son.
He is a very bitter, vindictive old man. Thanks very much for reading my letter and for any response you care to give.
– HURTING FOR MY SON
Dear Hurting For My Son,
It is the bitterness that follows a break-up of a marriage which is what makes matters worse when the children suffer from the break-up.
I guess there is nothing you can do to have your son’s father help him to fulfill his dream. What is sad about the situation is that it seems he is in a financial position to do so. One day he might regret it.
Now the problem with your property. I do believe that property shared by a married couple now separated can be challenged for mutual ownership. This is a matter for legal representation, which I hope you have.
– CHRISTINE