Initial consultation with a L yesterday afternoon. The highlights:
I like her a lot—she has a good attitude (some spark / spunk), but also does not want to over-litigate if it can be accomplished, which is nice.
With respect to W’s parenting plan, L says that I DO NOT have to go anywhere, at any point (in other words, I don’t have to vacate to begin the time-sharing / bird-nesting, except for a court order in the instance of abuse / violence). That said, L does caution that if I do assert that to W (I probably won’t in those terms, but her perspective gives me courage / strength internally and I can then craft a message for W), then there is always the risk of W taking the kids elsewhere and I probably can’t do anything about that (unlikely she uproots the kids but youneverknow—where would she go, and then I wonder wouldn’t SHE become the flight risk?).
Explained dynamics where W is gone for work a lot (previous trainings / outings, but also her anticpated outing this fall where she will be gone for 3 months); L has a hard time reconciling with fact that W wants to be gone as often as she does, for as long as she does (3 months, really? Yes, really.)
In light of explanations of W being gone for work so much (overnights / late-nights, days, weeks or even months): L told me I sound like the primary caregiver for the kids.
From what I explained, L believes that W has a case of grass-is-always-greener syndrome; usually that doesn’t last for those spouses.
