With the start of school my stbxw sent an email today saying that she will be keeping our kids during the school week and I can have them on weekends and see them prior to 8pm on some weekday nights. Of course, for now, she says weekends, but doubtless she will be reserving some weekends for herself.

She argues that since she is closer to the schools, which is true, she should have them for their convenience sake. I reside in the same school district and the difference is relatively minimal in terms of bus rides, etc. I also start work late and have the ability to drive them to school. She is saying she will not allow me to drive them, or have them ride bikes/bus.

This means that I am relegated to the status of weekend dad and occasional visitor because of the relative convenience of a bus route.

I have told her via email that this is unacceptable and have requested them for the weekend plus a few days next week and that she needs to ensure they have their school things ready when I pick them up. This is in line with what we have been doing up until this point. Until this point we have been sharing time on a roughly equal basis.

Can she do this? And if she decides to withhold tomorrow, what should I be doing? I have, of course, forwarded all this to my lawyer, but he won't see it until Monday/Tuesday at the earliest.