Jennifer and Mike are married, and have one child who is 6 years old. Mike and Jennifer get divorced, and both want physical custody of their child. Mike has become a male stripper during the divorce proceedings and earns over $100,000 per year. Jennifer is a teacher and earns $40,000 per year. Mike claims that his environment would be more suitable for the child, disapproves of the stripper lifestyle, and says she will be home with her child more (particularly at night which is when Mike would be stripping). Mike claims that he wants his child with him, and he earns more money so he should have custody and Jennifer can kick in support from her salary and have visitation.
Neither has a criminal record or a known drug or alcohol problem. They will not agree or compromise, they want you to be the judge.
Who should get physical custody of the child?
2007-02-23 10:03:56 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Jennifer should get custody. She's the Mom, much more stable job, better influences(come on now, a male stripper taking care of a child), gave birth to her, and could "teach" her more, plus more wholesome things. No way a male stripper needs to raise a daughter on his own.
2007-02-23 10:28:47 · answer #1 · answered by olderbutwiser 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Having been divorced for 10 years, and remarried for 3; and having 3 kids by 2 different husbands...here's my advise:
What does your 6 year old want? It's not about money. It's about trying to give your child as much security and love as you possibly can. The best situation would be for your child to be able to be on a regular schedule and see both parents, as much as possible. I truelly believe ( and my ex huband and current husband agree) that a childs place is primarily with their mother. A child recieves the majority of nurturing from the mother. The father is equally important, and has a great impact to the development of the child's self esteem. Personally, I would not let who makes more money be a valid factor. Each parent is responcible for the welfare of the child. More money doesn't make you more fit. I think the teachers work schedule is more accomidative to the needs of a child. But since the other parent works in an industry that is swing shift-the child would be in daycare during the hours after school and into the early a.m. hours. I do not see how this would be the ideal situation, for the child. It's really not about who has "custody", at least it shouldn't be. That's just a power struggle. Take an honest evaluation of who provided the higher percentage of care for the child during the time they all spent together; who bathed the child? Who fed the child? Who does the child run to when hurt, bad dreams, ect.
It's not that hard to figure out who the primary care provider is. That should be the person who the child resides with, the majority of the time; that is who's house is home. A judge would award this person custody. And if you cant agree for the sake of your child, then you risk a judge making you toss your child back and forth one week on, one week off- then you have both succeeded in custody; at the expense of cutting your child in half, and leaving your child with a backpack, and no home.
2007-02-23 11:06:41 · answer #2 · answered by Erin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was the judge the mother would more than likely get the child. She would provide a more stable environment. Maybe they could have shared custody and the child could stay with the father weekends. The father would have to pay child support so the fact that he makes more money wouldn't really be a deciding factor. The important issue is what is the best environment for the child, if the father is not home in the evenings because he is a stripper won't move the court to take a child from their mother. She has a more solid career being a teacher. The court would not take a child away from the mother unless she is an unfit mother. Therefore, the mother should have custody.
2007-02-23 10:30:55 · answer #3 · answered by Elle 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am an old fashioned person who believes that a parent should spend as much time as possible with a child. Both parents appear to love this child and both have things to offer. I believe it is important forr a child to have a parent in the evening if possible because this gives them stability before they go to bed and I feel they rest better. The lifestyle fo the stripper is not a big deal unless the child is going to work with them. Who will be watching the child while the father is "working". Is it just a job or is it a lifestyle? Does he bring his work home? It seems the mother has a more stable lifestyle. My grandchildren are children of divorce. Both parents love them and I have seen how hard it is for a child as well as a parent to be without that close relationship. Money is important-but it isn't everything. The father may want custody to avoid paying part of that "big money" in child support.
2007-03-02 01:37:45 · answer #4 · answered by GrammieN 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jennifer should. She will be home at night with the child and since she's a teacher, she will basically have the same days off that her child does when they don't have to attend school. With the money Mike makes, he should not have a problem paying child support and on time.
2007-02-23 10:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Money does not mean everything! I raised my daughter on a whole lot less than either of them. Why not a creative custody they are doing more of those now when in the best interest of the child. If they really want what is best for the child the two of them somehow can create a plan that works best for the child. If they are to selfish for that Mom should due to her traditional work schedule it has nothing to do with the type of work either do. It is just so much easier on the children if there is traditional setting helps keep normalcy
2007-02-23 10:14:33 · answer #6 · answered by nancy g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since Jennifer is home at night & the child will be home at night also since kids are in school during the day, She would be better off with her mother as the primary parent. Also dad makes way more money than mom so why would he need child support? He should get the visitation & pay the support.
2007-02-23 10:12:11 · answer #7 · answered by Sandi Beach 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 6 years old, Mommy's are still more important to young boys than Daddy....so the majority of the child's time should be spent with Mommy, that's not saying that Daddy shouldn't be around and spend as much time as possible with child. But pretty soon, having a good male role model will be very important in the child's life....and no one can really teach a boy how to become a man like his own dad can, assuming he's a good role model and teacher, and a decent Man. Anyway, it stinks all the way around for the kid....
2007-02-23 10:49:04 · answer #8 · answered by reddevilbloodymary 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The mother will get the child. The amount of money either is making doesn't really make a big difference. The "home environment" is what the judge will look at. Mostly the mother gets the children unless she is a misfit and that is a difficult thing to prove in court.
2007-03-02 17:24:45 · answer #9 · answered by andyt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jenifer should get custody of the child. This is not who makes more money instead it is about who can be with the child in the evening. I think Mike is a good dad to want his son. So many fathers just walk so Mike is to be acknowleged for wanting to be in his sons life. Aviod making this child a pawn. Like this is the only thing left to fight about. So many times people feel like they are parenting just by constantly fightting about the child.
2007-03-03 08:04:06 · answer #10 · answered by mrlyndms 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋