That is scary.
That's the thing, protection order doesn't always protect. It scares some off, but would only incense others. I will find out about legal custody; I worry he will contest everything, make everything difficult. Though in his case it is a toss-up. I feel like because of his power/control issues, he would wrestle and fight on the custody stuff but because of his addictions in full tilt and his growing ambivalence toward any amount of parental responsibility, the last thing he would actually want on his hands to "deal with" would be four crying children who are mad at him and asking where's mama.
Thanks for the advice; I will see what I can find out about custodial stuff since he is out of the home and I am their full-time parent anyway.
~emp919