¶1concurring.
¶2I concur with the majority’s decision in this case, but write separately to address the issue of child support and the interdependent support calculation. Since our decision in Prochaska v. Prochaska, 6 Neb. App. 302, 573 N.W.2d 777 (1998), it is apparent that there has been some uncertainty concerning the computing of the interdependent support calculation because we did not specify a particular procedure for doing so.
¶3As the majority notes, the opinion in Prochaska, supra,was premised on the notion that in cases involving a parent’s child support obligation to multiple families, the trial court should consider the parent’s obligation to support additional children from a subsequent marriage when determining the parent’s sup*781port obligation for children of the earlier marriage. See Prochaska, supra.
¶4Since Prochaska, we have seen a variety of valid methods of computing child support interdependently. So long as the principles of Prochaskaare satisfied, no one specific method or formula is mandated. In Prochaska, we noted that child support should be computed interdependently so that a benefit is not conferred on one family at the expense of another. It is within the discretion of the trial court to determine how that is done.
¶5In the present case, the child support worksheets attached to the modification order indicate that the trial court considered Ralph’s obligation to each family in arriving at the amount ordered as support for the children of his first marriage. The amount arrived at is not inconsistent with the guidelines, and because the court conducted a form of interdependent calculation, I find there is no abuse of discretion.
¶6concurring.
¶7I write separately with respect to the matter of child support. How child support should be set when a noncustodial parent paying child support then remarries and has additional children is difficult. While I do not believe the result reached in the instant case is an abuse of discretion, this conclusion is not because I think the trial judge hit upon the “interdependent arithmetic” calculation referenced in this court’s earlier opinion Prochaska v. Prochaska, 6 Neb. App. 302, 308, 573 N.W.2d 777, 781 (1998).
¶8The Prochaskaopinion did not define or illustrate the “interdependent arithmetic” calculation referenced in that opinion. To the extent that the term “interdependent arithmetic” implies a precise mathematical formula which can be used in all of these cases, I believe our use of that term is confusing to lawyers and trial judges. Absent further guidance from the Supreme Court, perhaps via an amendment to the child support guidelines, I believe the appropriate language and rule is that the problems presented in such cases require an “interdependent consideration” by the trial court of the parent’s obligations to the children of his or her now dissolved marriage and the children resulting from a subsequent marriage so that both families are treated as *782fairly as possible. The more information the trial courts provide as to how they make such interdependent considerations, the better the parties will understand the matter, and the more effective will be our review of how the two competing obligations were handled by the trial court.
¶9In the case at hand, study of the record shows that the trial court interdependently considered the competing obligations to the two families and arrived at a fair and equitable resolution. Thus, I find no abuse of discretion and agree that its decision should be affirmed.