xW sent me an email last night (two actually, the other on a different matter). The judge had signed our consent decree early last week, making our parenting agreement the "law". xW specifically agreed to settle her lawsuit and leaving our custody at 50-50 -- if I made some concessions and agreed to additional terms to be put into this agreement. One of those terms she asked for was that we both agreed to use a parenting coordinator (PC) to settle disputes we cannot settle amicably between us. Since my own L had offered the possibility of a PC during our original negotiations back in February, I had no problem with that particular requirement.
We got notice yesterday that the hearing to assign the PC was requested for Sept. 18. In response we found out that xW's first choice of PC is seeking 4k in retainer fees to be split between us. Ouch. I knew this candidate was going to be expensive and this just proves it.
Last night's email from xW was another doozy. She is now asking me whether a PC is really necessary if she and I can manage to just get along. Obviously she recognizes the expense of her choice in (1) requiring a PC and (2) the particular person she chose for this role.
I haven't responded to her. It is just more crazy-making nonsense from my former spouse. She was the one who wanted the D, who wanted to break off from negotiations when we failed to agree on child care provisions, wanted to file the custody suit against me, wanted to spend beau comp dollars on L fees, and then wanted to settle if I agreed to her stipulations including the PC. Now, she wants to waive the PC, even after we have signed the agreement?
I give up trying to figure her out. Just when I think she can't get any more ridiculous in her line of thinking, she does something to flabbergast me all over again. It's just so pathetic and disconcerting that I want to cry in hysteria sometimes. The pity is that I am so darn broke now because of her selfish attempts to eliminate me from our S's lives -- I entertain the idea of skipping the PC, but I don't think we really have a choice at this point. If only she had the wherewithal to think before she acts, neither of us might be in these straits.
So much waste, so much anguish, so much senselessness.
Eventually I must get to where I am numb to her. I sincerely feel I will get there, some day in the near future.
