Mediation

[Before you can make things better, you have to stop making them worse...]

Last planned mediation session.

She started mediation stating that she wanted me to stop contacting her and that she had decided she doesn't want to co-parent with me or parallel parent.  Spent 90 mins trying to get agreement for our pattern of childcare- and we only got as far as New Year.  She stormed out once "I'm not staying", although she left her phone bag etc behind! Called me derogatory swear words/names a few times.  Then as I was leaving made sure to tell me that she wouldn't go back to mediation. 

Holiday cover has been really hard to negotiate with her outside of medication. 

She is planning to attend a class assembly tomorrow-her birthday- my suspicion is that she will take her affair partner with her.  I can't attend as I have to go to a conference.  I have the kids until Monday morning. 

She wants our son to attend a overnight camp in January.  I don't want him to go.  She has advised he is going anyway. 

She told me that she hoped I settle down with someone as then I could have everything boundaried and controlled. 

At least we have a parenting plan now, which hopefully she will sign.  I'm happy to.  Let's wait to see if she signs.

Our divorce is ready to go... .just one person holding it up.  It could be agreed any day soon.  We are no further forward than a year ago.

[SES]

Last planned mediation session.

She started mediation stating that she wanted me to stop contacting her and that she had decided she doesn't want to co-parent with me or parallel parent.  Spent 90 mins trying to get agreement for our pattern of childcare- and we only got as far as New Year.  She stormed out once "I'm not staying", although she left her phone bag etc behind! Called me derogatory swear words/names a few times.  Then as I was leaving made sure to tell me that she wouldn't go back to mediation. 

Holiday cover has been really hard to negotiate with her outside of medication. 

She is planning to attend a class assembly tomorrow-her birthday- my suspicion is that she will take her affair partner with her.  I can't attend as I have to go to a conference.  I have the kids until Monday morning. 

She wants our son to attend a overnight camp in January.  I don't want him to go.  She has advised he is going anyway. 

She told me that she hoped I settle down with someone as then I could have everything boundaried and controlled. 

At least we have a parenting plan now, which hopefully she will sign.  I'm happy to.  Let's wait to see if she signs.

Our divorce is ready to go... .just one person holding it up.  It could be agreed any day soon.  We are no further forward than a year ago.

[ForeverDad]

By January your son should be 8 years old.  Is it a school-sponsored event?  Are there group leaders?  If yes to both then the overnight camping would likely be viewed as positive if presented to the court or other professionals.

In my case, there was a 5th grade class overnight school field trip to a local children's camp in autumn, supervised by the teachers.  I said Yes and paid, Ex declared No claiming it ended on her time.  (Hmm, her time trumped the field trip, where was her concern for son?)  By then I had full custody but the GAL had resisted changing the equal time.  So his field trip started on my time then shifted into her overnight time.  Well, you guessed it, she drove across town some 40 miles away to retrieve 'her' son.  She created a bit of a scene of course and since it was her time school relented and she took son home with her.

Those who camped overnight were not expected to return until late the next day just in time for the bus return home.  Those who didn't go on the trip were required to attend school.  Well, you guessed it again, she kept him home the next day and he was marked absent.

At the time I was already back in court, having filed for majority time that had been nixed the year before.  It was about a year later before we had testimony in court.  Some teachers testified.  They admitted she created a scene but predictably downplayed it.  However, the magistrate ruled I would get majority time only during the school year.  The summer schedule remained split equally.  I believe that was one of the school-related incidents that helped my case, with her looking more concerned about her time than son's involvement with school and his schoolmates.

That's why I asked about the overnight details.  The details of the camping (sponsors, supervision, school or daycare related, etc) may be a factor to favor the trip, or not.