You said: The divorce alone should suggest the selfishness of both parents. Of course, I am assuming that the father was not abusive which must be a safe assumption considering the judge's decision to award him custody.
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Your point is well taken. I wonder who initiated the separation and the divorce, and on what grounds? That would be very much a factor in my mind, although the primary factor is the best interest of the child. I'd also want to know the reason why one parent decided to leave the area.
I'm sure that fact will never be known to us and that is regretable.