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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Change laws to give fathers more time with their children

Thanks to Keith Ledbetter for this one.


James Semerad
DADS and MOMS PAC
Washington DC Representative
5815 Woodlawn Gable Dr, Apt I
Alexandria, VA  22309

6632 Telegraph Road, Suite 110
Bloomfield Hills, MI  48301
B phone: 248-467-1204
www.dadsmomspac.org
info@dadsmomspac.org


http://detnews.com/article/20100620/OPINION01/6200304/Change-laws-to-give-fathers-more-time-with-their-children

Change laws to give fathers more time with their children
Keith Ledbetter


It's often said that nothing is more American than motherhood, apple pie and
Chevrolet. This common phrase reflects the reality that even in an era of
inclusion, acceptance and equality in American culture, fatherhood can't
compete with the sanctity of motherhood.

As working moms have scored more and more success in the workplace, gender
roles within the family unit have blurred in today's world. Many dads have
enthusiastically jumped headlong into the frenetic pace of family life,
deftly handling the rapid-fire schedule and commitments like Barry Sanders
weaving through defenders in the backfield: getting their kids ready for
school, working a full day at the office, scurrying home to prepare a quick
meal, helping with homework then running off to coach their kids' sports
teams.

While recent years and cultural shifts have allowed some dads to display
their skills on the home field, many Michigan children never get the
opportunity for dads to play such a meaningful role in their lives.

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As we celebrate Father's Day, there's sad news to report. Almost 40 percent
of U.S. children can expect to live in a household without their biological
father, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative.

Despite common misperceptions that "things have changed" in child custody
matters over the years, Michigan fathers are 10 times more likely to lose
custody of their children during divorce than mothers, according to the most
recent data published by the Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office.

In cases where sole custody was granted, custody was awarded to moms an
astonishing 92 percent of the time and dads only 8 percent of the time. The
2008 report of statistics suggests that it is virtually impossible for dads
to maintain custody of their children in contested divorces. Moms were
granted sole custody in 17,539 cases compared to just 1,588 times for dads.
Just as discouraging, the Friend of the Court has adopted a system of
winners and losers, granting joint custody in only 13 percent of disputed
cases. Does this mean that only 13 percent of dads are fit parents or does
it mean that even good dads are losing custody of their children?

Relegating a parent to a non-custodial role isolates children from one
parent for all but four nights a month and every other holiday. This 85/15
split almost never includes school nights, leaving the second parent to sit
on the sidelines with little influence or involvement in their children's
school experience, their circle of friends or their everyday lives.

This standard Michigan parenting schedule tragically leaves some moms and
many dads as benchwarmers -- taking their kids to the movies and tossing a
ball in the backyard on the weekends, but having no meaningful role in the
serious business of mentoring a child into becoming a well-adjusted adult.

It's time for our state leaders to tackle Michigan's legal system that is
forcing a generation of fatherless children. Legislation sponsored in the
State House by Rep. Brian Calley, R-Portland, (HB 5114), would create a
presumption of substantially equal parenting time where two parents are
ready, willing and able to care for the children and provide for their
education. The bill has been ignored in the House Judiciary Committee for a
year. While legislative leaders and the State Bar Association's Family Law
Section attempt to run out the clock on the bill for this legislative
session, our state is barreling head first into a social experiment that we
intuitively know can't be good for our future generations.

Let's level the playing field so that more children can have the chance to
be coached by their all-American dads.

Keith Ledbetter is a Canton Township resident and former school board member
in Holt. He is a divorced father of three boys and a regular coach in a
youth flag football league. He also is a member of Dads and Moms of
Michigan. E-mail comments to letters@detnews.com.



From The Detroit News:
http://detnews.com/article/20100620/OPINION01/6200304/Change-laws-to-give-fathers-more-time-with-their-children#ixzz0tZbiMqFT

 

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