The custody case is over.

At the end of November, my ex's lawyer scheduled a status meeting for 1/5 to find out if the GAL needed more time to make her decision. My ex said he wanted placement to stay 50/50 but realized "significant action" needed to be taken to resolve the issues. A week before the meeting was to take place, he revoked his position and decided to give my daughter what she wanted - full-time with me. She'll spend every other weekend and every Wednesday overnight at his place.

He told my daughter's therapist that he's sad about the decision and wants to go to counseling with her to find out what he did wrong for things to get to this point. (Any of you who have been with me through this since last March know that for him to admit that he did ANYTHING wrong is a huge thing).

There are just a couple of contingencies. Her F and D grades need to improve to at least C's in order for the court to not step in after the 2006-7 school year and do a reevaluation regarding placement. I said, in that case, the neuropsychologist needs to complete her ADD eval by getting my and the teacher's input so if there is a diagnosis she can get the help she needs in school, since medication is out of the question.

No mental health medications are to be prescribed or administered without input from both parents. (Fair enough).

Custody remains 50/50 (but no more of me being able to voice my stance while he does want he wants anyway. It's REAL joint custody this time).

Neither of us can hinder access to her therapist. (He seems to be under the impression that I'm the one keeping the therapist from telling the ex what goes on in session. Guess he doesn't easily grasp the concept of therapist/client confidentiality).

And if there are any disputes, we have to go to mediation. (That paragraph was typed in all caps. )

It's been a really quiet past month. With some major things happening in his family life, I suppose he didn't have the energy to bother me. Now, to keep up that lack of contact. T says it's up to me to continue it by setting boundaries and enforcing them. He didn't stick his nose in my business, make phone calls or send emails, or try to get in long conversations when it was time to drop off the kids, and the world didn't fall apart for it.

I'm on Lexapro and I'm not jumping down everyone's throats like I was on Wellbutrin. My daughter seems to be settling down; she doesn't even need me to sit with her nonstop while she does homework any more. On the downside, my son seems to think he needs to step up to the plate and take over the chaotic role. Have to nip that one in the bud.

So, that's what's been going on around here for the last several weeks.