Equal Parenting

ex-father n., a man denied the opportunity to raise his child
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The separation of fathers and children is the worst human rights abuse of our time

Kids need parents, not visitors

EQUAL PARENTING

for

Separated Families

EQUAL PARENTING?

Equal parenting is a joint parenting arrangement in which children of divorce are given the right by the courts to have both of their parents share in the most equitable manner as possible the responsibilities of caring and raising the children. By having both parents play an active role in the caring of a child, both parents feel like they are a part of the child's life and that neither one of them feels treated like a weekend visitor

Equal parenting has been shown to be in the best long term interests of the child. Psychologists agree that it is important for children to maintain meaningful contact with both their parents whenever possible. Wherever possible, parenting time should be equal on a 50/50 basis.

Statistics reveal that almost all non custodial parents with liberal or equal time with their children voluntary contribute their full share of expenses of the child. Non custodial parents are much happier knowing that they can spend time with their children in an equitable manner. In a equal parenting arrangement, the both parents have expenses they are responsible and accountable for, so both parents feel like they are giving directly to the child rather than the other parent. The children see both parents providing for their care.

BENEFITS

Promotes true gender equality between sexes in the parenting of children and recognizes both parents as significant contributors to a child's development.
Significantly reduces conflicts in court as one parent does not feel like they are being treated as a visitor with their own children, or a wallet to their former partner.
The incentive to litigate is reduced as both parents will know that equal parenting will be awarded by the courts. Similar to no fault insurance, the outcome is predictable. As a result families will suffer less financial hardship.
Equal parenting will reduce the financial incentive for families to break up. Fights to get control over the children in order to get support payments is one of the largest single factors in court custody battles today.
Child access problems will be reduced. When both parents know that they have a reasonable share in the lifes of their children there is little motivation to fight. The best way to make peace is to have a fair agreement.
Equal parenting solutions will significantly reduce the abuse of legal system through the use of false allegations against the other party.

KNOW THE FACTS

Every year in Canada thousands of family members lose their homes, their children, their life savings, their jobs, their future income, and their dignity fighting to win control of the children in court. The assets that a family has worked hard to save prior to divorce end up being spent on mediators, assessors, social workers, real estate agents and the lawyers. In the end the children end up with little if any of the family assets. Some families who lose everything, find themselves living on welfare and a burden to society. Working taxpayers pay for the additional costs.

In many cases court strategies and delays are used by one parent to deliberately prevent the children from seeing the other parent and to force the other parent into financial hardship. Often a custodial or primary-care parent will use their advantage as the primary parent to alienate the children from the other parent to destroy the relationship between the children and the other parent. The loving relationship that a child once equal with two parents is destroyed by one parent seeking revenge on the other parent without any thought of what is in the best interests of the child. Damaging as well is that often the custodial parent does not even allow the children to see the grandparents of the non custodial parent for no other reason except that they are relatives of the spouse they dislike. So many parents and children are hurt.

FATHERLESS HOMES

In recent years there has been a significant withdrawal in the influence that a father has on children in families of divorce. Statistics show that most custodial parents are mothers. On an average the custodial mother spends 80% of the time with the children compared to only 20% with the father. Analysis of these trends result in other alarming statistics that should be of concern to everyone.

From Fatherless homes:
● 221% as likely to have one or more child problems1
● More than twice as likely to become male adolescent delinquents or teen mothers2
● 71 % of all high school dropouts3
● 63% of youth suicides4
● 85% of all youths sitting in prisons 5
*1 NLSCY 1996; 2 Phillips and Conamor, UoC (Berk) 1997; 3 Nat. Principals Ass. Rep State of HS; 4 USDHHS; 5 Tex Dept Correc 1992.

The most frequent reason for fathers fading from their children's lives is the interference of the mother as well as the failure of the legal and court system to recognize and to understand the importance to children of being parented by both parents. Often access and visitation schedules are not flexible enough to allow children's relationships with both their parents to grow.

Equal Parenting maintains the balanced input from both parents that is needed for proper development. Children as they grow must learn perspectives from both sexes to develop a normal balanced view and to be able to interact with both sexes when they reach adulthood.

EQUAL PARENTING

WILL IT HELP TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF COURT CASES? YES!
WILL IT REDUCE COSTS TO TAXPAYERS? YES!
WILL IT RESULT IN LESS HARDSHIP TO FAMILIES IN COURT? YES!
WILL IT RESULT IN HAPPIER AND BETTER ADJUSTED CHILDREN? YES!
DOES IT REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN? YES!

IT SHOULD BE THE LAW!

Warning -- Disclaimer. Ex-fathers does not give legal advice. We have no lawyers. Maybe you ought to see a lawyer for legal advice, but we don't know. Furthermore, we do not claim to have any relevant qualifications in the subject matter. We have no intention of giving you any advice, opinion or recommendation. If you think you are receiving legal advice or professional opinion from Ex-fathers you are wrong. Any information or data you get from Ex-fathers should be checked against reliable sources in the field, if there are any. Please make your own decisions and accept the consequences of those decisions.

Opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors alone.