Please sign the shared parenting petition

Hi folks: for those of you who know me, this will come as nothing new....I am involved in several organizations that seek to encourage the involvement of both parents in the nurturing and upbringing of their children. These organizations are listed on links on the right side of this blog page.

The tragedy of divorce too often separates a parent from their children unnecessarily. The courts too often relegate one parent to "custodian" and the other to "sometimes visitor". This results in minimizing the involvement of the noncustodial parent to the point that their ability to parent is impeded, diminished and even sometimes forbidden.

Numerous studies show that this type of arrangement, though a tragedy for the parent, it is devastating for the children involved. Children from single parent homes are more likely to suffer abuse, begin earlier and are more likely to abuse or use drugs and alcohol, enter into sexual activity at earlier ages, more likelty to be truant, etc. The list goes on.

But studies similarly show that even if the children are from a single parent home but have the significant involvement of the other biological parent, these risks are mollified and often disappear.

Shared parenting is a concept that says: if both parents are fit and willing, they should both be allowed significant involvement and significant time with their children.

It is for the benefit of the children that I ask you to please sign this petition and show your support for this concept. Click the link on top of the others to the right side of this blog entry. Or Click here: http://acfc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=ssp&pw_id=1521

Thanks so much.