Did I do the right thing?

Hello,
I have posted before but my situation has gotten worse. If some of you remember my ex was arrested for a pot pipe found in her car (along with her boyfriend). My ex also smokes meth. I am going to Emergency Custody not only because of the drugs but for what has happen in the past 3 weeks. I live in AZ.
Ok, the last 2 weeks I have gotten the police invold because of the way my ex treats me when we exchange the children and for her calling me,yelling and cussing me on the phone. (note: this has been a on going thing since our divorce in July of 98.)
The children are now living (last 4 months) with me at there request and because ex wife was being evicted at the time, she also knew she had a warrant at the time of the request so she did agree to there request. I have been letting her see the kids (twins ages 10) every other weekend. The weekend of the 6th she came to pick up the kids. My ex wife started yelling, calling me names and was acting violent. I dailed 911 I had the phone in my hand at the time because I was told if she acted like this again to start reporting it so I did. My ex wife told the kids to get in the car and she left before the police showed up. She past the cops on there way over. I made a report and they told me nexted time try to keep her here if you can.
On the 21st I called my ex wife about picking our kids up. She was mad because I had woke her up at 8:00 am. I asked if she would not mind picking the kids up at my house instead of me taking cloths for them to change to the football game that day. She said yes thats fine you &^%$#@. I said goodby and hung up before she could say anymore. My ex wife called back and started cussing me and yealling at me. I hung up and she called the third time and my wife answered. My wife told her to stop cussing and yelling at me. My ex started cussing my wife and my wife hung up. I called the police and they came to take another report. The cop went to her and told her do not call your ex husband house again.
On the 21st she emailed me and told me to pick up the children at a near by park at 5:00pm. She told me to come alone because all 4 of us needed to talk. The other two was our two children which I did not want them invold in any conversation between us because of the way she acts. I went to the park and the children got out of her car and was going to get into mine when she went off. My ex started yelling and cussing me. She was out of control once again infront of our kids. I asked her to please not yell and cuss me because of the kids. I did not raise my vioce or call her anything. My ex wife was giving me the finger and yelling cussing. I told the kids to get in the car which my daughter did but my son was standing there confused because she was tell them to get back in her car. I got the kids in the car she was still yelling and cussing. I drove off and stoped to pull out of the park when she drove by giving me the finger again. I came home and I called the police. They came and talked to me took a report. Then they talked to the children and took a roport. The cop asked me if I wanted her arrested I said yes. They was going to arrest her anyway for the facted the children was present for domestic violence and disorderly conduct. My ex also told the children at the park that your "A@@hole dad was also arrested for drugs about 10 years ago". It was not drugs I bounced a check when I was 22 it was before I was even married and the children was born. I could not believe she said it like she did and plus lied. Anyways she is out jail and her hearing on the matter is the 31st. She has two counts of domestic violence and disorderly conduct because of her actions while the children was there the State is going to push three since both children and myself was present.
I have mixed feeling about this. One my children had to talk to the cops. Two feel bad because I do not want the children to feel they put mom in jail. I also think I did the right thing because this has been an on going thing with my ex. It not only happen infront of my children but my wife and my step son. She has been cussing my wife for the past couple of months and my wife has never done anything to her she stays out of it. I know the drugs have lots to do with her violent behavor but let me tell you there has been times I know if my ex wife had a gun in her hand I would be dead because of her out of control behavor. My ex has threaten to kill me before yes I did report that too. I just wish our children did not have to be apart of this but I had no choice this has to stop for them, if anyone else. This situation has happen almost everytime I pick up or drop off the kids. It happens when I call her about the kids. I told myself when the children came to live with me that I was not going to let them go through her yelling and cussing me anymore. I started reporting it and I told my wife if it does not stop while are kids are present I was going to press it with the law. I just have thoughts of if I did do the right thing, my gut and my heart tell me yes I did, that one day our children will understand. I did go to court today to sit and know when her court date was and I asked the judge that I would like to exchange the kid from now on at the police station which she thought was a good idea plus the cops stated on the report that this would be the best way to exchange them. While I was in court and she was sitting there chained up she kepted on looking at me smiling and liping "this is a joke". Then when the judge was done with her case I was leaving she stuck her tougue out at me. This is the kind of person I am dealing with like a teenager person who is getting her kicks because she was arrested.
I guess I just want some input on the situation. Good or bad I would like to know. Any advice is welcome for I am going to Emergency Custody in two weeks. I know in my heart I did do the right thing because our kids nor can I not deal with this type of thing anymore. I have my own life now and the kids do not have to suffer her from her abuse on me and them again. Thank you for your time.

If you are just needing someone to tell you that morally you have done the right thing, well here it is.. You are doing what is in the best interest of the children. I would suggest you try to get them counselling. I have a feeling that the reasons they probably feel bad about making reports about mom is because they are feeling sorry for her, it is more of a role reversal. They feel like they should be taking care of her.

So, sit back take a deep breath and just relax... Always remember you are doing what is in the BEST INTEREST OF YOUR CHILDREN.

[LegalBeagle]

Hey dude, Refuse all visitation until your court date. Your kids do not need that. Also, ensure that with the custody petition is also a petition for supervised visitation only. There is no way this women should be allowed unsupervised with any child.

Also, Your in AZ so record all telephone conversations. Real prove of an abusive nature by one parent is worth its weight in gold. In AZ, you do not need to tell her you are recording the call.

I agree with everyone else, do not feel sorry for what you have done. She obviously has some problems regarding you and she shouldn't act on them in front of your children. Talk to your children to see what is going through their minds about the whole thing.At age 10 then they can surely tell you how this whole ordeal is making them feel.

Thanks for the posts!

I don't feel bad for what I did I just feel for our kids because they love her. My ex wife told the children if she get in trouble again she will go to jail, this was after she got arrested for the drugs. My ex then tells the children that if DADDY ever calls the cops on me I will go to jail, so when I did call the cops the children got very upset. I know I did the right thing because this has been going on long time and she does it everytime the children are around. My ex starts yelling and cussing, I buy the kids love, that I don't love or care about them and put me down every way she can. I knew I had to do something when my son was standing there listening to her yelling and the confusion on his face who to go to, broke my heart. I did it for them so they would not ever have to be put between us by her anymore. I did not call in the past because I did not want to hurt our kids. I guess I feel bad for not doing it 6 months ago. I just worry about our kids is all. They will grow up someday and understand I did this for them. I had a cop tell me I could record the phone but that was a few days ago. I did not know I could do that, kinda upsets me because I would of had 50 tapes or more of her doing this, I am not kidding. I went through this when we was married also the last two years of our marraige was like this. My ex was not always this way, but like everyone tells me drugs can change a person, make them evil. I have to go to court twice next week, on my ex wife and Emergency Custody. I think its just been stressful waiting for the custody court date and then this happen. Everything coming to a head I guess. I am doing ok now and I am ready to do what I have to for our kids. My kids do tell me how they feel when this does happen, they feel mad at times because they do not understand why mommy acts this way. The problem my ex is having with me is I am not letting her walk all over me anymore. I am protecting our kids and she does like it. I have been away from her for over a year now and she will not treat me this way from now on and she will not do this while my children are around either. Thanks again.

Not to make light, but *damn* it sounds like you were married to *my* ex She's exactly the same way. Only difference is, they gave her custody and she ran. ;(

Jason

------------------
"I have sworn upon the altar of God: Eternal Hostility toward All forms of Tyranny over the Mind of Man." --Thomas Jefferson