Can I ask you a favor? I don't know if it's possible... but could you put a spanner in the works of her plans? Those days in February... can you take leave? I mean... something always comes up urgent at work doesn't it? How about finding something that coincides with her days and say... "Sorry W, I can't. I have a course scheduled for that week and I can't cancel it." ... See where I'm going here? Shirt happens IRL. If you don't feel like going to the course, you can always cancel it at a later date.
Come on Future! You're NOT projecting an attractive option to her. Your words back to her were a little on the wimpy side. Become more assertive. Become demanding. PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN dammit! Don't back out of mediation!
Do you want to know what makes me FARKIN ANGRY about your W? She didn't have money to pay for the mediator right? So where the fark did she find this money now for an all expense paid funfest in Europe? If she's got money to burn... let the lawyers burn it. Your attitude should be, "Listen here you little hussy, don't come to a gunfight carrying a knife." From now on I get what I want, when I want it and if I want it. This is D. I'm putting ME first.
Sorry for the spew... I'm just trying to give you some pointers and hopefully stir you into action.
If I refuse to watch the kids while she goes, she'll just make other arrangements that will be harder on the kids. They'll stay with one of her friends or something.
I hear you though, and I am getting dam* fed up with her. Perhaps I should reply like this:
W, you realize you're not going to have any time with the kids for two and half weeks?! And this is after you BEGGED me not to take them anywhere after Christmas because you couldn't bear the thought of being away from them? And how are you paying for all this? You must have plenty of money, so I don't think you need the increase in support I was offering.
Also, know that if OM is in any way involved in this, you've just lost any chance of ever getting the kids passports, since you obviously lied right to my face when you said it was over and you weren't involved with him any more, and proved I can't trust you to be truthful with me."
