The Christian Science Monitor gives space to both sides of the equal custody debate involving 50-50 splits of parenting time with each child.
Marilyn Gardner writes (excerpt):
This kind of postdivorce sharing remains relatively rare. But beginning July 1, it will become more common in Iowa. That’s the day the state institutes what some family experts are calling the country’s first true shared-parenting law. It gives judges power to award joint legal and physical custody if a parent requests it. Judges who refuse must explain their reasons.
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But what sounds good in theory in this new domestic landscape can become challenging in practice for some families. Critics charge that constantly shuttling children back and forth between two homes can create instability.