If you and your spouse are divorcing and both want your kids to live with you, then you might look at ways to show a court that you are the better parent.
First, even if a judge agrees that you are the better parent, it does not mean they will award you sole custody. If you both want the kids and are both capable of looking after them, joint physical custody may be an option, where the child splits time between each house.
A court needs to decide custody based on what is in the children’s best interests
The judge will consider many things when assessing parenting ability, not just who interacts with the children better.
For example, you might be fantastic at helping your children with homework, instilling values and showing them love. Yet, if you have a disability or illness that means you cannot leave the house without assistance, a court might find that your kids are better off with your spouse. They might not be as good as you at certain things, but their freedom of movement makes it easier for them to shuttle the kids around, get food, and deal with emergencies.
A good way to start is to draw up a list of your parenting strengths and weaknesses. Then draw up a similar list for your spouse. What you will probably find is that you each have different skills that can benefit your children. If you can strike a custody agreement to ensure your child benefits by spending time with both of you, that is typically how you can be the best parent to your kids.
