I concur.
MA had a better than national average unemployment rate from 2001 thru the beginning of 2008, per the BLS.gov website, so not buying the "jobless economy" as a reason to move to NC, which was several percentage points higher for most of that time.
You made a choice.
Mom won't be in contempt if you aren't making an attempt to pick the child up, which mom should be helping you with.