Yet Another LBS w/ WAW pt2

[hongaku]

Not so great. I came back home on Friday afternoon. My W had already left the home with the kids, boarded the dogs and had filed a request for hearing to claim I had deserted the family (and a whole litany of baseless accusations to paint me as a potential danger to her and the boys' safety), and asks for immediate divorce on those grounds.

So, I don't know where my kids are and I'm just very shocked, hurt and confused by the over the top, melodramatic show my W is putting on. I don't think the hearing will go down like she is hoping based on my conversations with my own attorney, and it may not even happen at all.

My W called me on Sunday and we spoke for 2 hours. My basic pitch was that we had previously discussed being amicable and taking the mediation route, and that the actions she is taking are not helping anyone - especially the kids. I made clear that I accept her decision to end our relationship and that all I want is to make sure we can cooperate for the kids. She kept trying to steer the conversation back to relationship talk, said she still loves me but doesn't think I can change, etc.; I just kept trying to steer it back to that I accept your decision to D and how we can move forward without making things an ugly fight.

She texted last night that she doesn't think it's a good idea for us to be under the same roof (because she thinks that we'll just interact the same way as we did post BD - which I already know won't be the case from my end) and has secured a place for herself. I don't know how this can be financially viable. I want her to come back to the house with the kids and at least give things some time to show that things can be perfectly amicable for an interim period and that things don't need to be unnecessarily complicated and financially burdensome as it is suddenly becoming. Neither of us can afford lawyers, and my parents helped me retain mine. I believe her aunt and uncle have helped her with hers and will have to help her with being able to afford a second place. I have a solid case for spousal support, but I don't want to keep escalating the situation. It has gone off the rails with the reactionary way my W responded to my coming back home.

At any rate, the last week has been awful. I haven't seen my boys for over a week, school started for them this week and as far as I can guess they're living out of a hotel. She has practically kidnapped them in the sense that she did not inform me that she was taking them anywhere and I have no idea of their whereabouts. I'm trying to keep my head up and I have two in-person interviews tomorrow to try and focus on getting prepared for. But I'm honestly incredibly stressed and frazzled right now.