Angela and Her Baby Daddy
RED: Anger, Insecure BLUE: Sad, Despair
Angela, is a thirty-two-year-old single mother. She has 5 year-old twin children. Angela does not receive child support from the father of her children and works a 9-5 job receiving minimum wage. She lives in public housing and receives food stamp assistance. Angela has a high school diploma and her children attend public school and are enrolled in a free and reduced-price lunch program.
Albert, is Angela’s ex-boyfriend and the father of her twins. They met seven years ago. Two years into the relationship Angela got pregnant with the twins. Albert works as a mail carrier making about 30,000 a year. He is always telling Angela he doesn’t have money to help take care of the twins.
Scenario: Albert refuses to help Angela financially take care of the twins. Although at first Albert seemed to like the idea of being a father, Angela could sense him becoming more distant. He began staying away days at a time and often coming home drunk. Angela finally had enough and told him she wanted to end their relationship. The court has ordered Albert to pay child support but he is always giving Angela some weak excuse for why he can’t pay it.
Please share which response you think is the way Angela should respond and how you would respond in her situation, in the comments section below.
RESPONSE A: You know what Albert, I have had enough of your shoddy excuses for not stepping up to help take care of your kids. Why don’t you act like a real man and be more responsible. I have had it with you!
RED: Anger, Insecure RED: Anger, Frustrated
RESPONSE B: Here you come again with your lousy *** excuses. I don’t have time to stand around listening to you whine I have two children to raise and a job I am trying real hard to keep. Bye!
RED: Anger, Insecure GREEN: Disgust, Disapproval
RESPONSE C: Albert why do you continue to treat me this way. I am trying my best to take care of the kids and keep my job. The least you could do is help pay some of the child care expenses. I am the mother of your children, show me some respect.
RED: Anger, Insecure BLUE: Sad, Despair
