How come the mother always seems to receive custody of the kids after a divorce?

: How come the mother always seems to receive custody of the kids after a divorce?
I’ve noticed that more often then not, children w/ divorced parents live w/ their moms. Don’t the kids have any say in the matter? Obviously if the father is an unfit parent they’ll go to the mother, but it seems to happen in families where both parents are decent? Some children are much closer w/ their fathers. Some mothers are just downright bitchy. Do the courts atleast take into consideration which parent the children would prefer to live with?

Answers and Views:

Answer by ♥ thumвs dσwn thє truth ♥™
Because women are usually the main carers. Those are the laws of nature, I’m afraid. Babies and toddlers need their Mothers especially. I think that older children should be able to see either parent when they please. This is why it’s good for Fathers to look for housing nearby.

I think that custody battles show that at least one parent is being unreasonable. Children have enough trauma having their parents divorce as it is. They don’t need to be pressured into playing favourites and piggy in the middle. Two responsible parents shouldn’t need a judge to tell them when they can see their kids. In fact, two reasonable parents probably wouldn’t divorce in the first place. People think that they can just split up their family because they feel bored or unhappy about something. Men who hit their wives are evil monsters who don’t deserve to see their children and I think that in that case divorce is reasonable. Cheating is also something else that disgusts me.

Answer by alicescooter
Yes, courts do look at who is a better parent or what is in the best interest of the children. My boyfriend was awarded full custody of his 3 kids, ages 5, 10, 13. The courts will ask older children (sometimes as young as 7-8) which parent that they want to live with, but the kids cannot really “choose” a parent until they are 14. If all things are equal then I think parents should work together and agree to share physical custody. If the parents can afford to each have homes in the same school district, and can agree to do whatever it takes to make certain that the kids are taken care of, then joint is always better. My boyfriend and his ex started out as joint, but when he pushed it in the courts, he won custody because he was more stable and just a better parent. The kids all wanted to live with him, too. He doesn’t limit her access to the kids. In fact, she comes over several times per week to see the kids. Their mom lives 5 minutes away.