THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506020012
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
After reading ``Mother's Day is a farce'' (letter, May 21), I feel sorry for this mother. She sounds very bitter. What she doesn't mention is how the divorce laws favor the mother.
I am a single father who does the right thing. I pay child support regularly and on time. I have regular visitation and take an active role in raising my son. My complaint is the divorce laws in this state.
I pay taxes on all my income, yet when I pay child support, the mother receives this money tax-free. Even though I have joint custody of my son, his mother is allowed to claim him as a deduction because he resides with her. I feel as if I'm getting hit twice. Why can't the deduction be alternated on a yearly basis? This sounds fair to me.
The letter writer complains that she is expected to work a full-time job, care for the children, cook and clean. This is ridiculous. Single fathers do the same thing that mothers do for their children.
I know there are a great number of single mothers who have a tough time of it when it comes to ``deadbeat dads,'' and I sympathize with them; but when a father does the right thing, it's just as tough .
MIKE ROMANO
Virginia Beach, May 25, 1995 by CNB