Child support costs are very different between Sweden and the USA. While you can get by easily taking care of a 4 years old boy with about SEK 5000.00 (that's about USD 657.00) per month in Sweden, I'm beginning to understand that costs between USD 1000.00 and USD 2000.00 (that's about SEK 7600.00 to SEK 15200.00) is considered normal (the lower end would be considered low).

Talk about different expectations and different ways to live! No wonder salaries in the states are so much higher (at least in my profession), it's needed to live well!

So, here I am, currently with a salary that's high in Sweden but not so high in the states, with the expectation to support a child under conditions that do not match the Swedish standards of living. I have no problems supporting my child (I love him!), do not make the mistake to think I do. It's just a bit frustrating to do the math and see exactly how little is left in the end, and trying to match that with things I need to pay (like loans I needed to take to survive)...

I'll stop whining now...