From what you’re saying it appears that you’re setting a horrible example for your children. You’re exacerbating a rift within your side of the family and you’re getting involved in a fight wherein the only winners will be the lawyers.
Even if you do get the cash, the lawyers fees will detract from the resources used to take care of your children, both now and for the remainder of their adolescence.
Being a happy and productive member of society doesn’t mean not having problems; it means learning how to work through your problems in a mature and efficient manner. Your children will learn their coping mechanisms by example, and the example you’re chortling about here is the worst case scenario.
This example doesn’t demonstrate the benefits of self-reliance and personal resourcefulness – it demonstrates an attitude of external gratification, of vindictiveness and revenge, of pettiness and greed. You are showing your children that if they’re incapable of meeting their own needs their next best shot is to pursue their “entitlements” regardless of the chaos and turmoil it causes at home and within the family.
Your kids will grow up and when they do you will no longer be in control of the relationship. You’ll be along for the ride in whichever direction they choose to go. Your kids will be adults for a lot longer than they were children, and if you poison this well now you will be sorry for the rest of your life.
Considering your chosen profession and its applications in our society I am shocked that you would allow yourself to lose composure in this way.
Mark my words – going down this path will not make you (or your children) happy and it will not make your life one bit better.