However, I had to pick up on this comment, as it is the main focus of my arguments:- "...see it is such a headache and we just want what is in the best interest of the child. We just want something that is fair...."
I think I can tell you with some certainty that "wanting what is in the best interest of the child" and "wanting something that is fair" aren't necessarily compatible.
I was sent this comment recently:- Here's a cracker for you, our group spoke to a Children's Group about falsifications of records by Social Services and was told "you just have to accept that if it is in the best interests of the child"
It would appear to me therefore, that at least in my country almost anything can be justified by claiming it is in a child's interests (even fraudulent documents produced by court appointed officials).
People say I am putting the parent's best interests before the child's best interests.
I say I want what is in the parent's best interests AND the child's best interests, if the parent is a "fit" person - a fairly subtle but absolutely vital difference.
Defining "fitness" isn't easy, but will prove alot more fruitful I suspect that trying to define the "child's best interests".
Having committed yourself to only "wanting what is in the best interest of the child" you can look forward to trying to prove you are just that for as long or as often as the authorities deem it necessary whilst you are in dispute with your ex.
A doctor called Mike Newdow has said that he's paid half a million dollars (or that is the bill for both himself and his ex.) trying to resolve his contact/custody battles. He won, or at least gets to see his child's 30% of the time. Have you got that kind of money to commit to the legal fight, plus he'd got the advantage of legal training too. Mike Newdow has a very jaundiced view of what "child's best interests" means as you will know if you go to his website.
Still I suspect you won't have too much time for investigating such things, as you will be plenty occupied trying to deal with the legal system you must face.
Good luck with all that, all the best,
Graham