In her mind the children BELONG to her. They are HER kids. When they are born they REPLACE YOU as the center of her world, and often they replace you after she kicks you out of her life. Her children rapidly become her best friends and her favorite companions. After a couple years you no longer register on her radar, at all. The law agrees with her, as you all know. They are her kids, not yours. But you get to pay for them for years and years. Even if you don't get to see them.