I am known by 393896. That is what I have been reduced to.

In the circles of the child support ring, where an absent father owes $20,000 plus in arrears child support, that's all that I am ...a number.

I call and leave messages at an office of support. I call and get transferred. I call and get refferred to a different person. I call, and call, and call. No answers, no call backs, no information.

I receive paperwork every four or five months that states there is a court date.

Since I am the sole supporter of three children...I can't go.

He/she appears the day before court at the child support office pays the 10% of nothing and again we are back to the beginning. How easily a number is forgotten.

A system that is paid for by my taxes has thus far failed me.

They are as unreliable as the non custodial parent and just as inconsistent.

The system never takes it upon itself to go forward with the case unless hounded constantly. I am fighting for a better life for my children...but I am only a number.

They don't care that we have had to split cheese sandwiches so we could buy Goodwill jeans to wear to school, or that when we asked for help was told to quit our jobs and become a faceless part of the welfare system.

"The child support agency does not guarantee success of any action or results within any specific time frame."

(http://www.state.tn.us/humanserv/cs/cs_handbook.pdf)

Days, months, and years mean nothing to them. They have no incentive to help me. They get paid regardless.

Read the handbook, it's informative.. and not in a good way.

I know there are so many other faceless numbers out there going through the same ordeal. Will it ever stop? Will we ever become important to the system?

From number 393896 to all those others...good luck!