Thank you all for your support. It is a difficult position to be in because I have always been the bad guy and it seems as though I am held to a higher standard than mom. I am not allowed to get upset at anything. I keep trying to tell the kids that I wanted to save the family and fighting is not something I want to do. She is the one who sued me and made a long nasty fight out of something that didn't need to happen. Even the attorneys mentioned that. The kids think I should have to work, while they and mom do absolutely nothing. I cannot even get them to pick up around the house without a fight. It is depressing. I think if I tell them their mom is the one who sued me and that is the reason we are in this situation, they will deny it or make excuses for her.
The reason I need to take her back is because she refuses to work (currently drives for a rideshare company at her leisure)and become self-supporting as ordered by the courts. She said she wants to move on and wants me to leave her alone, but wants to have her claws in me and control me forever.
I do believe that the real reason she is angry is because she is scared. Her mother even told me after she left me that she doesn't believe she (ex-w) can make it on her own. It is for that very reason that she can't. Mom and dad do everything for her and support the idea that everything is everyone else's fault.
Regardless of who comes out looking better in the courtroom, there are no winners here.
Although she has always had anger issues and is very spoiled (and at 44, is still coddled by her parents), I keep running across pleasant e-mails and texts between the two of us over the years and I cannot figure out why she is so bent on fighting. She is really good at making me doubt myself and question whether or not I am right. In this case, I think I am, but it is so hard.
I meet with my attorney on Monday and we go to mediation on Wednesday. We shall see how it goes.
