Mom Demands That Ex Pay Half of Daughter's Irish Dance Trip That She Will Attend, He Refuses Because He Doesn't Want to Pay For Her Vacation

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Jun 12, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

What is a co-parent obliged to pay for compared to their ex?

Breakups are already complicated when they only involve two adults, but put kids into the mix, and things are taken to a whole other level. When you have a dependent to think about, the responsibility and the expense are far higher. You can't just leave your former partner behind; you have to collaborate with them to make sure that any children come first.

Even with the most amicable of separations, this can come as a challenge. There are always going to be times when each parent has a slightly different idea of what they are going to be contributing, and this is a topic that is ripe for arguments. The disagreements about caring and providing for kids when you aren't together anymore can be more troublesome than the ones that you have in a relationship.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to what you add financially when you co-parent a child, such as income, legal obligation, and what has been agreed between parents. Even if it feels like you have thought about every possible situation, there is every chance you may be thrown a curveball to deal with.

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In this story, a father whose ex had remarried was told that his daughter's mom, her partner, and his daughter would be going on a trip to Ireland with her Irish dance studio. The mom usually paid for their child's extracurricular activities, but she was expecting her ex to fund half of the vacation that he would not be joining them on.
He disagreed with this, as he did not want to pay for his daughter's mom and husband to take the trip as well. However, he was worried that if he refused, he would not be looked upon favorably for failing to make the payment.
Would I be wrong for not paying for my daughter's trip?

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