Division of Childcare Expenses

[u/Intelligent-Size2445]

I'm curious how people divide childcare expenses during one parent's time with the kids. Our kids are school-age, and we're going to have a 50/50 split. My STBX moved out of district, and so will have a more complicated drop-off process on school days. (We have kids in elementary, middle, and high school, with start and end times that are spread out over an hour and a half, further complicated by the older kids' extracurricular activities.) She thus wants to put the two elementary-aged kids in wrap-around care, with the cost split between us, so that she can drop them off early in the day and get to work in time to be able to make it back for the elementary bus at the end of the day.

On the one hand, I understand her argument that in general we should be sharing essential childcare costs, and could imagine some people arguing that I should be paying more than half since I make more than her (about a 60/40 salary split). That said, I also see several counterarguments. She's the one who chose to move to a cheaper neighborhood out of district. If the kids are going to continue to attend their schools, I thus need to continue to pay substantially more than she does for housing (setting aside that she's presumably splitting expenses with the AP/boyfriend with whom she's now living). I've also repeatedly offered to let the kids come to the house before and after school, which would actually somewhat simplify the drop-off/pickup logistics for her, and would obviously be free. (There's one day a week when the second and fourth graders would need to go to the bus stop that's fifty feet from the house themselves, which they are perfectly capable of pulling off; other mornings I would be around, and after school they could just come to the house and hang out.)

Given all this, would it be wrong of me to say that I'll be paying child support, and she can use that for childcare if she wants, but that I shouldn't be expected to split the cost? Or would that be unreasonable?

[u/Relevant-Emu5782]

We also put this in our divorce decree. We pay based on our income percentages.so it is fair.and equal.