metrocat.... i totally feel for you because not only does this affect my husband, it affects me, i feel no need to call myself "STEP" mom, i am also mom. I dont think courts should be allowed to choose the fate of any parent who loves their child and has never and will never harm them or put them in any danger. Sadly, this will never change, for our constitutional "rights" seem to mean "the right to violate us as humans and deem us unfit, uncaring, neglectful, or even that we arent as good as the other parent is, when we are all but any of this". What ever happened to the good ole saying "ONLY GOD WILL JUDGE ME" ? why are we judged in court on weather or not i can parent the child as well as the other, I dont ever recall any judge, lawyer, jury, or bailiff, participating activly in the marriage that dissolved, did they help us concieve and raise this kid, (i hope not) no it should have always been up to the 2 responsible parties in which the child is of blood. but then you have the cases where one parent acts on the best interest of child but the other only thinks of their best interest.... its like trying to find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of the tootsie pop, why one gets more than the other when both are loving, can get along for the child, act responsable, etc.,on why we even have constitutions... THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW!
