1. Society pretty much agrees and has had for centuries that parents should raise their own children. I was raised by both of my parents and assumed I would do the same when I got married. This isn't always the case in our world of today.

There are single parent households all over the world of today. It is a privilege and a challenge to raise a child on your own. This has become the norm for many families. It is no longer shunned or ridiculed. The laws have also changed to incorporate the changes of society. Mom is not necessarily the parent to obtain custody. The children have their own lawyer when parents go to court. Their term is 'law guardian.' This individual will talk to the child to inquire whether or not they have a preference as to 'who' they want to live with. At the age of 12 if a child does indeed have a choice it is the 'law guardians' job to voice this choice to the judge in court. This is the ABSURD LAW! A judge will absolutely take into consideration the child's choice and it doesn't really matter what mom or dad want. The 'child' rules.

Giving a 'child' this much responsibility and control goes against every fiber of my being and makes my blood boil. A 'child' has no business having this control over their own parents, or of their own life, Their mental capacity is not equipped to deal with this. They shoul;d not have to choose one or the other. What if they don't choose mom or dad? What if they want to go to a friends house to live? Perhaps even a family member that for whatever reason you cannot get along with? How is this going to affect the child, the parents and other family members? What child at the age of 12 that you know right now is capable of making such a life changing decision? What will this do to the relationship that existed before all this started?

Well, in my experience the relationship between mother and child is destroyed. Family disappears, as do friends. Family Court which is suppose to support the family just keeps you coming and coming and coming. I do not personally know of any 12 yr old who is capable of making a life altering decision such as this that will enhance their life.

Time magazine just published and article titled, " The Teen Brain The More Mature, The More Reckless." and "What Makes a Teen Tick." I highly recommend the reading of these articles by any parent or anyone who is involved with children. It proves I am correct about their brain maturity. A link has been provided.

I sincelely hope that you have read these articles and if so thank you for coming back to this page. I have a personal stake in this ABSURD LAW in NY State and the only way to get it changed is to contact my Legislators, Assembly, Senators, and I included the Governor, the Assembly Speaker and of course our esteemed family oriented President Obama. Believe it or not, the White House actually wrote back and said I was welcome to send in a video of what I would like to see changed. I feel honored. Should I also send it to the Tube? The Governor also replied.

I hate that we are going through this and I do not approve of my son's choice in any way, and I am trying to change this criminal law. I have written some articles and blogs about this and I am doing a web site. This is fun but also another challange. I have made a petition online as well. If you would be so kind as to visit another link and sign my petition, I and the children thank you from the bottom of my and their small hearts. It may be too late for this law change to affect my son but there are a lot of children it will help later on. Please sign this petition. Thankyou.

www.petition2congress.com/2/2489/petition-4-change