I got a letter from my lawyer today. A GAL has been appointed and they need $500 from each of us within the next five days.

I want to drop it because my daughter asked me too, and she's the one who wanted the visitation changes. My son doesn't want anything to change.

The more I think about it, what is really going to change if I continue this fight? If we spend our whole summer putting money into legal fees and sitting in court, we'll have nothing left for anything else. My ex might get slightly put in his place in the courtroom, but it's been done before and all it does is make him emotionally manipulate me more afterwards. It won't change how he acts in any positive way at all. I still have at least 6 years to deal with this guy. The mediator said the majority of the things I want addressed need to be handled in post-divorce counseling, not in court. The ex won't do it.

I want to drop it, but on the other hand I feel like I'll be losing even more of my dignity to this guy by backing off Mind you, I'm not backing DOWN, I'm not giving IN, I'm just trying to think of what's best for everyone at this moment.

He wrote up a new parenting agreement and it seems reasonable (and isn't worded like his last one of "if you follow these requests, I'll show you the same courtesy), and it's going to be signed and witnessed by 2 other people (and I'm guessing notarized).

He might gloat to friends and family of how he "got" me to drop the case. He might not. Who's to say? For once, I'm not letting HIS scare tactics get to me. I'm a little nervous about the whole GAL procedure, but that's it. Chances are, it would end up staying 50/50 just like it is, because Wisconsin laws have changed a lot since 2001. Unless there's irrefutable evidence that the children are in danger with a parent, visitation isn't limited. Enough time has passed without any further questionable behavior on the ex's part that the past isn't going to hold much water.

The hard thing for me right now is how to gracefully close the case while letting it be known I wasn't bullied into it. I don't want to reinforce his thinking that if he applies enough pressure I'll cave to his demands.