I thought my first divorce would be amicable. I never tried to take anything from him, or have him pay any support to me. I agreed not to ask for any child support. I was too deeply in shock to make the best decisions for myself. Meanwhile, he became a different person. When we divorce, we are not divorcing the superman who had agreed to protect and love us at all costs. We are divorcing a man bitter at what we put them through - the same usually goes in the opposite directions. Divorce brings out terrible traits in people fighting for their spirit, sanity, pocketbook, kids, things, future.

This person that for your kids sake you want to remain friends with - he will want respect from you. If you choose to fight him on the divorce, he will possibly begin fighting you back... your mental health state will be the first thing that comes into his mind to attack.

His wanting to divorce you may just be a desperate feeling of the moment, and you may be able to halt this in court as you hope. But first try to halt it through both of you talking of your needs, or through counseling. An attempt to force him into staying in the marriage via the court should be the last thing you turn to.

I am not trying to freak you out. And I am only speaking through personal experience. Divorce can have very different outcomes with different couples.

Best of luck to you Cash.