The Custody Revolution: The Father Factor and the Motherhood Mystique

This book destroys any argument that can be made against shared parenting, unless there has been a history of abuse on the part of a parent. His research shows that children raised through shared parenting are happier with the arrangement and on average are better adjusted to the divorce than are children raised in mother-custody homes. Through painstaking research, the author shows how men and women are equally adept - albiet different - at parenting. Mr. Warshak shows that presuming mothers are better parents - and hence should be the primary custodian - is detrimental to the children, the father, AND the mother (after all, how many single moms complain about having to "do it all?"). When I read the statistics on what happens to children who are raised without a father in them home, I resolved once again that I would do all I could to be a presence in my son's life, and to make sure he knows his Daddy loves him. This book reinforces without a doubt that children need their fathers AND their mothers. Mr. Warshak then makes a strong argument for shared parenting, and advises parents to avoid litigation at all costs. He even shows sample schedules for balancing custody where there are more than one child involved, so that each child gets some one-on-one time with both parents.Throughout this book, the emphasis is not on trying to get more custody for personal satisfaction, nor as a means to reduce child support. The main concern throughout the book is "what is best for the children?" And once we've concluded what's best for the children, how can we possibly do anything else?I wish that this was required reading for attorneys and Judges, and anyone involved in family law and/or divorce counseling. This was an eye-opener for me, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.