Michelle, The subject of the OP is about support for the children, but since you have brought the safety issue up, and it's been brought up a number of times before, I hope you and other readers don't mind my responding to your post. Because, while I certainly agree with the cautions you and others have raised, I think it's unfair to reject out of hand the possibility of friendship developing--even with someone met through Redbook. Certainly, no one should ever bring home someone they've just met, children or no children. Whether they met on RB or at the mall or at a bar (I recommend renting "Looking for Mr. Goodbar." Now there is a cautionary tale if there was ever one.)
Developing a friendship with someone met through RB may be rare, and certainly should be entered into with great care,but there are a few of us who have developed friendships this way, and the rewards are rich (I'm not talking about the sex part, either)
It can only happen after trust has been built over a period of time and demonstrated through consistently positive, tangible, mutually beneficial support and responsible behavior. It isn't a planned or manipulated process, it just happens, intitially because two people are just having lots of fun together, like to be together, and enjoy each other's company beyond the physical intimacy and financial part.
But, of course, there is--and should be--the awareness of possible danger signs along the way. I have been honored with being invited into a provider's home, meeting and spending time with her daughter, and I have invited them into my home. I've taken them shopping, out to eat, the daughter to day care, and taken family portraits which she proudly hangs on her wall plus provided a bit of financial support. I haven't seen her in the provider/hobbyist way in a long while, but I am honored that she considers me a friend. BTW, she is no naive newby, either. Quite intelligent, and has survived more than a few hard knocks without becoming jaded along the way.
I happen to be single and in no committed relationship. I raised three wonderful children who I adore, and, for me, while getting started on Redbook was a way to satisfy my sexual drive, I am, by nature, more of a one woman kind of guy who just hasn’t happened to meet the “right one.” Thought I had a time or three, but just didn’t work out—another story. So, here I am. That’s just me. And, I suppose I am setting myself up for some real flaming here. So be it.
I would submit that the cautions one should take before becoming close to another, with or without children involved, are the same outside of Redbook as in and must be closely adhered to. And, for some, maybe most on Redbook, it's just not something they would ever consider by personality, experience, narrow objectives (no interest in anything more than sex for money) or personal circumstances.
Within Redbook Craigslist, or anywhere within the world of sex for money, a person, both provider and client, should be even more attuned to the potential risks. Obviously.
And beyond that, both parties should be comfortable with the idea of friendship developing and always attuned to the other’s comfort level, because what starts lightly can change.
But we are not all woman- or man-hating, obsessive, jealous jerks. In fact, some of us guys are really quite nice and “normal” --at least normal except for liking the company of a beautiful young woman. Oh, wait, that is kind of normal, isn't it?
The rare, and really quite special friendship--with attendant boundaries that must be willingly accepted--is possible, and I'm disappointed to see so often that the valid warnings segue into admonitions that friendship should NEVER EVER be allowed to happen under ANY circumstances. One size does NOT fit all.
Do I have a trusting nature? Yes, I've been told I am gullible. Have I been actually taken as a sucker? Yes. But, I went willingly, and, after the disappointment that she turned out not to be who I thought she was, got through it without bitterness and learned something about precautions--and myself--along the way.
Yes, close friendship may be of interest to, and possible for, only a few here. But, I have received the great rewards of friendship in spite of—no, because of--meeting through Redbook.