Co-parenting after divorce can be quite challenging.

The following story involves a man who shares a home with his ex-wife to give their kids stability.

They decided early on to split the cost of damaged things around the house.

But when the couch needed replacing, a simple suggestion turned into a heated conflict.

Let’s take a closer look!

AITA for not splitting the cost of a new couch with my ex-wife?

My (44M) ex-wife (43F) and I do co-parenting.

While our kids (13M and 5F) stay at the house.

She and I cycle in and out during the week, so they have stability.

They are not going back-and-forth between houses.

This man and his ex-wife agreed to split “wear and tear” things in the house.

We’ve been doing this about 3 years, and while it has worked, it’s getting more difficult.

In the divorce settlement, she got the house even though it’s still under my name.

This was so we can keep our sub 3% mortgage rate.

Under the many line items in the agreement, we agreed to split “wear and tear” things around the house.

When we discussed it, it would be like if the toilet seat broke or something along those lines.

I know we should have been so much more specific. We weren’t, so lesson learned.

The couch needed replacing, but he implied that it’s not a priority right now.

Well, the upstairs couch needs replacing now.

And she asked me if that’s considered wear and tear.

My response to her was, “You have thousands of dollars in debt you’re trying to pay off.

I have thousands in debt I’m trying to pay off.”

It’s tight right now for both of us.

She responded with a sarcastic question.

But I reminded her that we have a $4,000 couch in the downstairs living room that never gets used.

It could easily come upstairs.

She responded to me by saying, “So your kids deserve to live like white trash?”

I stopped responding.

Now, he’s wondering if he was in the wrong for not paying for a new couch.

Now, I’ve found out that she’s getting her parents to finance the couch for her.

She informed me that they both hope that I get my priorities straightened out.

And tonight, she informed me that I shouldn’t be surprised if her parents call me to talk about this situation.

AITA for recommending we move the other couch upstairs so it’s not another bill added to the plate?

And not splitting the cost of a new couch with her?

Let’s check out the comments of other people on this story.

This person shares their personal thoughts.

This user would have suggested the same thing.

She’s a bad example for the kids, says this one.

People are siding with him.

Finally, short and simple.

It’s not about the couch… It’s about the comfort of your children.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.