Dh has a HUGE interview with a large bank Monday morning! This is the most promising lead in a year! His old boss called him to have drinks and told him there is a position he thinks he would be great for. The guy under old boss would be DH's boss. He has 2 long interviews Monday morning. The fact that this guy's boss is giving DH the thumbs up will, I hope, work in his favor. Fingers crossed! This would be amazing.

DH also has his first court date with BM2 to lower child support. Technically this first step is mediation. The judge reviews everything and says "Look, this is how this looks to me. Odds are, if you go to court, you are going to get $X. You can either take $X today, or spend $10,000+ to get $X a month from now.

DH offered currently pays $2,900 per month and has been unemployed for 15 months. He has NEVER missed a payment or a visit (although we have had to visit less frequently due to costs) and we call or facetime the boys every day. He offered $1,200, which is based on an income of $100,000 (his income is $0) and said he would negotiate within the $1200-$1750 range, which is the state cap. He told BM2 that the most money should would get was right now, with him directly. If he had to keep paying a lawyer and go to mediation, he would push for a lower number and if she rejected that, and made him pay even more for the lawyer and court, he would fight her tooth and nail for the lowest possible number.

She came back with $2,500 and a huge BS email about how he's LUCKY she didn't go after him harder in the divorce (they were only married 2 years and she walked away with $150,000 cash payout $2,900 a month in child support) among other veiled threats. She said that we should be "defaulting on our car, our rent, and any other bills before we should consider lowering her child support" :jawdrop: :jawdrop: :jawdrop: She is insane and entitled. She is DISGUSTING

The lawyer thinks DH has an excellent case. He's been unemployed a long time and can't find a job paying anything near what he was paying, as the last 15 months proves. He even enlisted BM2's help in getting a job to no avail (she is in HR consulting). He has never missed a payment, to our detriment. We sold our big house and are living in a one bedroom apartment. I walk or bike to work so I don't have to pay the $1.80 each way for public transport. We plan out meals in advance and clip coupons. We have the bank records showing our savings dwindling and dwindling with each CS payment. Even his ex-wife, BM1, said she would be a witness if we needed her.

The lawyer said the judge presiding over mediation is one who he has worked with before and is smart and reasonable. I'm really hoping DH can settle this that day and be done with it. Even better, if he gets the job, I will probably cry for days with happiness.

Our first year of marriage has been the hardest of my life. I feel like I've aged 20 years, and I'm only 29.