A conversation about divorced parents got me thinking about how custody decisions are made. People often say decisions should focus on the child's best interests, but wouldn't maintaining strong relationships with both parents usually support that? I'm curious why courts don't more often begin with a 50/50 model and then consider evidence for changing it.

A friend’s divorce made me rethink the 50/50 question. At first, equal time sounded fair, but their kids were changing schools, packing bags constantly, and caught between parents who barely communicated. This article on Canada’s defeated Bill C-560 explains the debate well: shared parenting legislation Canada . In another family I know, shared routines worked beautifully because both homes were stable and cooperative. Maybe courts need to value both relationships while checking safety, distance, conflict, and the child’s routine.