Payment – or non-payment – of child support may affect children in ways that go beyond money and are, sometimes, unintended.

For noncustodial parents who are struggling to meet their legal obligations, it may mean children making do with less during visitation – and the rest of the time too.

For parents fighting about child support, it may mean children experiencing misguided guilt – or anger and frustration – toward one or both parents.

Children may act out.

They may empathize with the nonpaying parent.

Or they may experience denial of a deadbeat parent’s delingquency – or resulting low self-esteem.

Or it may affect them years later.

Children may imitate a responsible parent – or an irresponsible parent.

And they may learn the value of a dollar.

Read more in this South Texas Monitor article: For children, child support can’t buy peace of mind.