My wife of 18 years walked out on me a couple of years ago and our divorce just finalized last week. There was a mutual separation agreement in place and a 50/50 custody split. I've been renting a place directly between where she lives and works, and the kids have been going to school based on my address. She's been having her mom drop them at mine in the morning where they walk/ ride the bus to school on her days, while she or her bf pick them up after school.

Everything was going swimmingly until last week when out of the blue she shot me an email to inform me she was moving in with her bf (also with me directly between house and workplace) and that we would have to change the custody arrangement and kids would go to school based on his address. She wants the kids during the week and for them to spend weekends with me (and that she'll sometimes let me have them a couple of days during the week, but I have to bring them in for school in the morning). All because she can't use her mom to drive them anymore.

The kids don't want this. They are happy with their schedule and their schools. They have friends here. I offered a compromise, to let our youngest finish elementary school so they won't have to go to 3 different elementary schools and then we could talk about changing districts. The custody change was out of the question.

She came back with a no, saying her way is the only way that it will work. At this point I stopped engaging and called an attorney. When I showed him our emails and agreement, he said there was no way in hell. He also pointed out a mediation clause in our agreement, and recommended I remind her of that.

So I did. Basically told her either it stays the same, we go to mediation and share the cost, or mutually agree to legal intervention. She hasn't responded yet.

I didn't want to make life more difficult for anyone, but she forced the issue, and I'm not going to let her walk all over me. Am I doing the right thing here?