Any suggestions - I haven't seen my children in 2 years !!!!

[mikeb73]

My name is Michael, I have been divorced for 2 years and my ex-wife got sole custody because she upped the scheduled court date for the divorce but didn't send me a notice of the change, I didn't find out the divorce was final until 1 month later, when I tried to call my girls.
Since then we have been back to court for setting up visitation 5 times and each time my ex is not willing to set up any times and since she was given sole custody the judge isn't pushing the issue. The judge ordered we go through mediation, my ex states she can't afford it, I was willing to pay for the entire mediation cost. My ex will not return the mediators calls and refuses to allow me any visition. The judge stated the her final decision was for us to go to a mediator and come to some sort of agreement. How can we do that if my ex is unwilling? Is there anything I can do since she apparently has all the rights and I have none. I really miss seeing my children and I want to be a part of thier lives while they are still small (8 & 4).
Any help is greatly appreciated. I can't really afford to keep paying an attorney for nothing.          :(

[MYSONSDAD]

I would start camping out in your attorneys office until he filed another motion. If this was court ordered, she is in contempt.

If this attorney is not doing his job, get another one.

Will the mediator testify on your ex's unwillingness to comply?

You might want to post this on Dear Soc's board if your going this pro se.
Follow is mandated guidelines.

[SadStepMom]

I truly feel for you.  When my step sons were 3 and 5, my husband was deployed for 6 months and then it took another year and a half to see the boys (they moved without notice), so they were 5 and 7 the next time he saw them.  I have to say, in that time, their mom did a lot of damage, but not as much as she has done since then.

I think my husband's biggest mistake was not fighting as hard as he could at that time (of course it would have been a big help to have know about this website), kept thinking he could work it out with his ex, etc.  She has never since cooperated and steps up the alienation each time he tries to see the boys.  They are now 10 and 12 and think their Dad is a horrible person who does drugs, wants to kidnap them, etc.

So my advice to you is to follow Soc's advice to the T.  Fight as hard as you can right now.  And as everyone says:

Document
Document
Document

[olanna]

met him after school and spent time with him for many years in this very way.  Maybe not the best way to do things, but as time ticks away, and you wait for the courts to see how important you are in your child's life, you could be a grandfather.

Yes, yours are young. But the time to let them know and plant those seeds of doubt are right now. If you show up and tell them how much you miss them, how much you love them, no matter WHAT they are told otherwise, they always remember that you made the effort to tell them that.

My son is coming back to live me with this year. Matter of fact, 21 days and counting!  It really can work.

Best to you!