W has met with a mediator and is ready to sign the fee agreement, have the mediator file for D and move forward. I am checking out the mediator to see if he is legit. If so I will agree and off we go.
We are talking about a custody schedule and W wants one where we each get 2 days a week then alternate weekends, so I guess that is 2-2-3.
W: "I think 2-2-3 for custody, so we alternate weekends."
Me: "I don't like that. It means I will not have the kids for 5 straight days, and that will happen twice a month. Too long of a separation."
W (getting agitated): "Well that's what everyone does, they alternate weekends."
Me: "Who's everyone?"
W: "Everyone who I have talked to."
Me: "Who?"
W: "Okay, well what do YOU suggest?"
Me: "I like 3-4-4-3. We each get the kids the same 3 days every week, and alternate 1 day. And we arrange it so we split the weekends in half - one of gets Friday night and Saturday day, and the other Saturday night and Sunday day."
W: (very agitated): "I have never heard of this splitting weekends in half. I want the kids for an entire weekend and then to have an entire weekend free. Everyone alternates weekends."
Me: "Who's everyone?"
W: "You're going to make this difficult, aren't you?"
Me: "Because I want to see my kids a part of every weekend? It's the only large chunk of quality time available, the weekdays are too hectic. I don't want to go 2 weeks between quality time with them. If you want them for a full weekend every now and then that's fine, and I'm sure vice-versa. We can work that out."
