If we were talking about 5 and six year olds, I would be pressed to agree. But when we’re talking about teenagers within months of being (the boy about 2 years) full blown adults, I say that, given a different set of circumstances, the input of the children should be solely basis for decision on custody.
However, we no longer have that luxury of going back in time. And we don’t know what either father or mother was like. At one point in time, not long ago, women were virtually the sole recipients of custody, regardless of character.
In other words - the father won.
We disagree (and I am unlikely to change my opinion).