The journey begins

[ClingingToHope]

It will likely get ugly. The central problem is this: I want joint custody, which also means a lower child support payment since we'd be splitting things, and I'm not going to budge.

I'm the one with the flexible job -- I can come and go as I please and work from home -- while she has to work at least 50 hours a week, including late nights, early mornings and Saturdays.

But W is going for sole custody because she can't afford the house with less than what she's getting now.

She threw me out. Why should I scrape by -- and have the girls see me scraping by -- while she lives in the big house?

But the house is underwater -- by a lot -- and I cover real estate and know the market is going to head down another 10 to 15 percent over the next year.

She'd have to go the short-sale route to get out of it, but that would mean having to move into a rental property and likely having to get rid of most if not all of the pets. They have a dog, cat, hamster and a fish.

Her argument will be that I'm forcing the girls from the home. Mine will be this was her decision. I never wanted to leave and even at the same level of support she won't be able to keep it. It's a true money pit. There are about two dozen things in need of improvement or repair.

And on and on it will go.

Side note. I sent W a text after the play saying the costumes looked great. She's on the committee and had to sew three dresses. I'm not sure which ones were hers, but I know she takes great pride in these plays.

I thought it would be a nice gesture.