Parents against “50/50 Shared Parenting BIll” - House BIll 4113

A recent Swedish study concluded that Swedish children of separated parents who see both parents for equal time periods and frequency are "less stressed" than children of lone parents or who see one parent with less frequency (typically the father).  A new law is now becoming popular across the U.S. that automatically grants mothers and fathers 50/50 parenting schedules due to similar research. 

That means that if one parent disagrees with this arrangement they must form a rebuttal (and fork up the extra legal fees) to prove that the other parents is too mentally unstable, drug addicted or abusive to warrant such an allotment of parenting time.

In other words, this parenting format is not likely to be easily changed and yes, that means your child will have two lives, two homes and a lot of transitions.

It is common knowledge that men and women (fathers and mothers) are not equal in the workplace and do not receive equal pay. Women (and mothers) have yet to become equal across culture. So, what does a 50/50 parenting plan mean for mothers? That in many situations the father could actually have more say, more power, more influence and of course more financial advantages.

In a 50/50 parenting plan fathers would be required to pay less in child support and may want to maintain a 50/50 parenting schedule for that reason, even though single mothers are typically more disadvantaged and far less financially secure.

This law may be a reflection of changing gender roles and norms, however it is still less common for a child to be equally or more attached to their father. There are still far fewer situations in which the father is as intimately knowledgeable and involved in their child's life as the mother.

And in a situation in which a father is a more stable and important figure to their child rigid laws should not make it difficult for them to be more than just an accessory in their child's life. 

Rigid laws on custody and parenting plans are harmful to children as each parenting schedule should be determined on a case to case basis. One in which over looks "parental rights," but focuses totally on the child's developmental, security and ability to thrive. This will look differently in every family situation.

Research contradictory to Swedish accessments has been published such as, "Children living with a lone parent are as happy as those with two," which states that there is no difference in the happiness of children living with a parent and a stepparent, one parent or two.

Carrie Boyd, policy director for the Illinois coalition against domestic violence says, "Courts should not be required to start from this presumption that 50-50 parenting time is always in the best interest of children everywhere."

In an automatic 50-50 parenting plan that could be difficult to change, children may spend less time with a devoted parent and more time with a selfish, narcissistic, non-prioritizing parent or in a non child-centered home. Not to mention more frequent exposure to the tension between parents.

Please sign this petition to oppose house bill 4113 for 50-50 parenting.

Let us instead be one of the first states to advocate for and pass legislature that determines child custody and parenting plans that fit case by case situations, and that more frequently call on and listen to child developmental specialists, educators and therapists.

Let us not assume one parenting arrangement is best for each child, but to call on lawyers, GAL's and judges to do more investigative research to determine the most ideal parenting schedule that will help each child preserve its secure attachments with parental figures and limits frequent disruptive transitions between parents.

Please call our state senator Jim Oberweis at 630-800-1992 to voice your opposition to this law.

Give his aid your zip code and ask them to tell you which representative represents your district that you can also call to voice your concern.

Call Bruce Rauner in Springfield who will have the final say about this bill at 217-782-0244.

Every signature makes a difference.

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