ÿWPC‰" -# †UN‘ %ß 0 Nå 0Í3b 0J 0TR 0D¦ 0^ê 0hH 0r° 0|" 0†ž 0$ 1u´U,) 0dU U,¹ U>å 7#  Z üú ö`þ^YîñGv~8vÓ¶˜HP LaserJet 4 PlusHPPCL5MS,ð,,,,,ð0nLlÎ(í€"  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular¼(&öy$¡¡Ó  ÓÙñÓ Ù(}(2–~$¤¤Ý ƒöy!ÝÓ  ÓÙñÓ ÙÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€Xä“X¼¼Ôà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman -Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Nits€are€œhead›€lice€eggs€œattached›€to€the€hair€shafts.Ì –Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Dr.€¢Humberd£€testified€in€full€as€follows:ÌÌà8 àThese€bruises€were€in€areas€where€we€didnððt€usually€expect€to€see€them.€€ThereÏwere€bruises€noted€on€the€backs€of€the€thighs,€for€example,€and€on€the€calves,Ïon€the€top€parts€of€the€knees,€which€was€a€little€unusual,€and€on€the€interiorÏaspect€of€the€arm,€which€is€a€place€that€a€child€would€have€a€hard€time€runningÏinto€something€or€falling€into€something.€Ì òÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›The€Department€of€Human€Services€had€not€investigated€this€report€since€it€was€madeÏonly€one€day€before€the€hearing.€€Thus,€this€record€contains€no€administrative€findingÏconcerning€Dr.€¢Humberd£ððs€suspicion€that€the€child€had€been€physically€abused.Ì# VÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Parties€are€entitled€to€an€appeal€as€of€right€from€final€judgments.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ïœ3(a).›€€A€final€judgment€is€one€that€resolves€all€the€claims€between€all€the€parties.€€òòAetnaÏœ¢Cas£ualty›€&€Sur.€Co.€œv.›€Miller,óó€491€¢S.W.2d£€85,€86€(Tenn.€1973);€œòò¢Mengle£›€Box€Co.€v.ÏLauderdale€County,€óó144€Tenn.€266,€276,€230€¢S.W.£€963,€965„66€(1921).€€Neither€the€trialÏcourtððs€decision€from€the€bench€nor€its€October€13,€1995€order€were€final€because€they€failed€toÏresolve€the€partiesðð€visitation€dispute€œwhich›€was€an€integral€part€of€the€custody€decision.€€òòSeeóóÏòòHester€v.€Hester,óó€59€Tenn.€App.€613,€621,€443€¢S.W.2d£€28,€32€(1968).€€This€dispute€was€notÏresolved€until€the€entry€œof›€the€January€4,€1996€order.€€Even€though€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€notice€ofÏappeal€was€premature,€we€will€deem€it€timely€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€4(d).Ì †Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›The€trial€court€did€not€explain€why€it€had€chosen€to€weigh€Dr.€¢Humberd£ððs€testimonyÏusing€the€clear€and€convincing€evidence€standard.€€We€can€only€assume€that€the€trial€courtÏexported€this€standard€from€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(2)€(1991)€which€permits€theÏtermination€of€parental€rights€upon€the€presentation€of€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€aÏparent€has€committed€severe€child€abuse.Ì OÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€also€pregnant€with€Mr.€Kirkððs€child€at€the€time€of€the€divorce€trial.Ì çÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€"XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý›We€also€note€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€stated€that€his€girlfriend€œlives›€with€him€in€hisÏcondominium.€€The€fact€that€both€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€and€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€have€chosen€to€live€with€theirÏpartners€without€the€benefit€of€marriage€reflects€poor€judgment€on€both€their€parts.€€It€does€not,Ïhowever,€alter€our€comparative€fitness€analysis€since€both€parties€are€engaging€in€the€sameÏconduct.€€œMr.›€¢Gaskill£ððs€request€for€custody€would€be€enhanced€either€by€marriage€or€by€theÏrelocation€of€his€girlfriend.€ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€  X„d&ÓÑ#€  Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÔ€"¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ Ü ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€N±¼¼d¼¼d7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÌà@ àÔ€"„Ôò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÔ€"¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌó óWILLA€JEAN€GASKILL,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àMontgomery€ChanceryÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€95„78„114ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9512„CH„00559ÌSTEVEN€WAYNE€GASKILL,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellant.à àà à)ÌÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURTÌà@ àFOR€MONTGOMERY€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€CLARKSVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€JOHN€H.€GASAWAY,€III,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€theÏDefendant/Appellantóó:ÌÌKevin€C.€Kennedyà àà àà àà àà àà àMark€A.€RassasÌTHE€KENNEDY€LAW€FIRMà àà àà àà à¢RASSAS£€&€RASSASÌClarksville,€Tennesseeà àà àà àà àà àClarksville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€"„Ôò òREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÔ€"¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÇÓ€ÓÔ€"„Ôà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÔ€"¼ÔÌà àThis€appeal€involves€the€custody€of€a€four„year„old€girl.€€After€slightlyÏmore€than€two€years€of€marriage,€the€mother€filed€a€divorce€petition€in€theÏChancery€Court€for€Montgomery€County€requesting€custody€of€the€partiesððÏonly€child.€Following€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€declared€the€partiesÏdivorced€and€awarded€custody€to€the€mother.€€The€husband€asserts€on€thisÏappeal€that€he€is€comparatively€more€fit€than€the€mother€to€have€custody.€€WeÏagree€and,€therefore,€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€custody€to€the€mother.€€ÌÌò òÓ  ÓI.ó óÌÓ  ÓÌà àWilla€Jean€¢Gaskill£€and€Steven€Wayne€Gaskill€met€at€a€bar€near€Fort€¢Dix£Ïin€New€Jersey.€€Mr.€Gaskill€was€a€22„year„old€serviceman,€and€Ms.€¢Gaskill£Ïwas€a€25„year„old€single€mother€with€a€son€who€was€approximately€threeÏyears€old.€€They€began€seeing€each€other,€and€their€daughter,€¢Briahna£,€wasÏborn€in€March€1992.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€was€discharged€from€the€Army€a€fewÏmonths€later,€and€the€couple€moved€to€Florida€where€they€were€married€inÏJune€1992.ÌÌà àThe€couple€lived€near€Orlando€with€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€mother€immediatelyÏafter€their€marriage.€€They€moved€into€their€own€apartment€three€monthsÏlater€and€shortly€thereafter€moved€to€Albany,€Georgia€where€Mr.€¢Gaskill£Ïfound€work€as€an€industrial€electrician.€€He€worked€at€several€different€jobsÏbecause€the€work€required€long€hours€and€the€projects€were€of€short€duration.€ÍMs.€¢Gaskill£€also€worked€outside€the€home€but€primarily€spent€her€time€takingÏcare€of€her€two€young€children.€€ÌÌà àThe€partiesðð€relationship€deteriorated,€and€they€separated€in€SeptemberÏ1994.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€moved€back€to€Florida€to€be€near€his€family.€€He€foundÏwork€managing€a€Radio€Shack€store€and€moved€into€a€condominium€that€heÏnow€shares€with€his€girlfriend€who€is€a€full„time€nursing€student.€€Instead€ofÏmoving€back€to€New€Jersey€where€her€parents€reside,€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€and€her€twoÏchildren€moved€into€a€trailer€park€in€Clarksville€to€be€near€a€high€schoolÏgirlfriend.€€She€found€work€as€a€convenience€store€clerk€on€the€evening€andÏnight€shift€and€frequently€left€her€children€with€male€friends€while€sheÏworked.€ÌÌà àMs.€¢Gaskill£€resisted€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€attempts€to€visit€his€daughter€becauseÏshe€was€concerned€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€and€his€family€would€try€to€take€the€childÏback€to€Florida.€€Apart€from€one€brief€visit€in€February€1995,€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€didÏnot€see€his€daughter€until€July€1995€when€the€trial€court€granted€him€visitationÏin€Florida€for€one€month.€€Soon€after€picking€up€his€daughter,€Mr.€¢Gaskill£Ïnoticed€that€she€was€experiencing€pain€when€she€urinated.€€A€pediatricianÏconfirmed€that€the€child€was€suffering€from€vaginitis€and€prescribedÏmedication€for€the€problem.€€According€to€Mr.€¢Gaskill£,€the€vaginitis€was€ð ð90Ïpercent€goneðð€when€he€returned€his€daughter€to€her€mother.ÌÌà àThe€child€developed€a€case€of€head€lice€in€August€1995€soon€after€sheÏreturned€to€Clarksville.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€blamed€the€problem€on€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€andÏclaimed€that€her€daughter€returned€from€Florida€ð ðwith€a€head€full€of€lice.ðð€ÍMr.€¢Gaskill£€insisted€that€his€daughter€did€not€have€head€lice€while€she€was€inÏFlorida€and€stated€that€there€were€no€reports€of€head€lice€among€her€FloridaÏplaymates.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€obtained€medicated€shampoo€for€her€daughter€andÏstated€at€trial€that€she€was€treating€her€daughterððs€hair€and€bedding€at€leastÏonce€a€week€ð ðbecause€the€eggs€or€nits€.€.€.€can€¢reinfest£.ððÌÌà àMr.€¢Gaskill£€had€overnight€visitation€with€his€daughter€two€days€beforeÏthe€divorce€hearing.€€He€learned€at€that€time€that€she€was€again€complainingÏabout€pain€when€she€urinated€and€also€noticed€several€suspicious€bruises€onÏher€legs,€arms,€and€abdomen.€€Dr.€Quentin€¢Humberd£,€a€board„certifiedÏpediatrician,€examined€the€child€on€the€day€before€trial.€€He€confirmed€thatÏher€vaginal€area€was€irritated€and,€when€informed€that€she€had€been€treatedÏfor€vaginitis,€stated€that€he€would€not€have€expected€the€condition€to€comeÏback€by€itself.€€He€attributed€the€reoccurrence€of€the€infection€to€inappropriateÏbathing,€lack€of€general€cleansing€or€hygiene,€or€physical€touching€or€fondlingÏabuse.ÌÌà àDr.€¢Humberd£€also€discovered€that€the€child€still€had€a€moderate€numberÏof€nits× ƒ# ××  ×€in€her€hair.€€He€testified€at€trial€that€he€would€not€expect€a€child€to€stillÏhave€nits€after€being€treated€with€anti„lice€shampoo€for€two€months€becauseÏthe€ð ðtreatment€itself€is€very€effective.ðð€€He€also€explained€that€when€one€of€hisÏpatients€required€treatment€for€head€lice€more€than€twice,€he€called€the€parentsÏin€for€a€talk€with€the€clinic€staff€ð ðbecause€there€is€obviously€a€lapse€inÏcommunication€or€treatment.ðð€€ÌÌà àDr.€¢Humberd£ððs€examination€also€confirmed€the€existence€of€suspiciousÏbruises€on€the€childððs€legs.€€Based€on€their€color,€he€estimated€that€they€hadÏbeen€inflicted€between€two€and€five€days€before€his€examination.€€TheirÏlocation€and€distribution€also€made€him€suspicious€that€they€were€not€the€resultÏof€normal€childhood€but€rather€were€intentionally€inflicted.¢× ƒ$ ××  ×£€€The€childððsÏcondition€was€reported€to€the€Department€of€Human€Services€as€required€byÏstate€law€when€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€could€not€explain€how€his€daughter€had€beenÏbruised.¢× ƒ% ××  ×£€ÌÌà àDespite€its€concern€about€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€parenting€skills,€the€trial€courtÏdetermined€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€had€failed€to€prove€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€an€unfitÏparent.€€Accordingly,€it€awarded€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€custody€and€directed€Mr.€¢Gaskill£Ïto€pay€$220€per€month€in€child€support.€€The€trial€court€requested€the€partiesÏto€work€out€a€visitation€plan€but€invited€them€to€submit€proposals€if€they€wereÏunable€to€agree.€€Accordingly,€the€October€13,€1995€divorce€and€custodyÏorder€left€the€issue€of€visitation€open.€€The€trial€court€mailed€the€parties€aÏletter€on€October€24,€1995€containing€its€decision€with€regard€to€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððsÍvisitation€rights,€but€an€order€embodying€this€decision€was€not€entered€untilÏJanuary€4,€1996.¢× ƒ' ××  ×£€€ÌÌò òÓ  ÓII.ó óÌÓ  ÓÌà àDivorce€affects€children€profoundly€by€undermining€their€sense€ofÏstability€and€well„being.€€Thus,€custody€and€visitation€arrangements€are€amongÏthe€most€important€decisions€confronting€a€trial€court€in€a€divorce€case.€€TheÏneeds€of€the€children€are€paramount;€while€the€desires€of€the€parents€areÏsecondary.€€òò¢Lentz£€v.€¢Lentz£,óó€717€¢S.W.2d£€876,€877€(Tenn.€1986).€€CustodyÏshould€never€be€used€to€punish€or€reward€the€parents,€òòTurner€v.€Turner,óó€919Ï¢S.W.2d£€340,€346€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995);€òòLong€v.€Long,óó€488€¢S.W.2d£€729,€733Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1972),€but€rather€should€promote€childrenððs€best€interests€byÏplacing€them€in€an€environment€that€will€best€serve€their€physical€andÏemotional€needs.€€òòSee€Luke€v.€Luke,óó€651€¢S.W.2d£€219,€221€(Tenn.€1983).€€ÌÌà àNo€hard€and€fast€rules€exist€for€determining€which€custody€andÏvisitation€arrangement€will€best€serve€a€childððs€needs.€€òòTaylor€v.€Taylor,€óó849Ï¢S.W.2d£€319,€327€(Tenn.€1993);€òò¢Dantzler£€v.€¢Dantzler£,óó€665€¢S.W.2d£€385,€387Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).€€The€inquiry€is€factually€driven€and€requires€the€courtsÏto€carefully€weigh€numerous€considerations.€€òò¢Nichols£€v.€¢Nichols£,óó€792€¢S.W.2d£Í713,€716€(Tenn.€1990);€òò¢Rogero£€v.€Pitt,óó€759€¢S.W.2d£€109,€112€(Tenn.€1988).€ÏAmong€these€considerations€are:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àthe€age,€habits,€mental€and€emotional€make„up€of€theÏchild€and€those€parties€competing€for€custody;€theÏeducation€and€experience€of€those€seeking€to€raise€theÏchild;€their€character€and€propensities€as€evidencedÏby€their€past€conduct;€the€financial€and€physicalÏcircum„stances€available€in€the€home€of€each€partyÏseeking€custody€and€the€special€requirements€of€theÏchild;€the€availability€and€extent€of€third„partyÏsupport;€the€¢associ£„€¢ations£€and€influences€to€which€theÏchild€is€most€likely€to€be€exposed€in€the€alternativesÏafforded,€both€positive€and€negative;€and€where€is€theÏgreater€likelihood€of€an€environment€for€the€child€ofÏlove,€warmth,€stability,€support,€consistency,€careÏand€concern,€and€physical€and€spiritual€nurture.ÌÌÓ€ÓòòBah€v.€Bah,óó€668€¢S.W.2d£€663,€666€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983);€òòsee€alsoóó€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„6„106€(Supp.€1995).ÌÌà àCourts€customarily€devise€initial€custody€and€visitation€arrangements€byÏengaging€in€a€ð ðcomparative€fitnessðð€analysis€which€requires€them€to€determineÏwhich€of€the€available€custodians€is€comparatively€more€fit€than€the€other.€€òòInÏre€Parsons,óó€914€¢S.W.2d£€889,€893€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995);€òòBah€v.€Bah,óó€668Ï¢S.W.2d£€at€666.€€In€undertaking€this€analysis,€the€courts€must€understand€thatÏparents,€whether€married€or€not,€are€human€beings,€each€with€his€or€her€ownÏvirtues€and€vices.€òòSherman€v.€Sherman,óó€App.€No.€01„A„01„9304„CH„00188,Ïslip€op.€at€9€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Nov.€18,€1994)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11Ïapplication€filed).€€Therefore,€the€courts€should€not€measure€either€parentÏagainst€the€standard€of€perfection.€€òòBah€v.€Bah,óó€668€¢S.W.2d£€at€666;€òòEdwardsÏv.€Edwards,óó€501€¢S.W.2d£€283,€290„91€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1973).ÌÌà àSince€stability€is€important€to€any€childððs€well„being,€the€courts€haveÏemphasized€the€importance€of€continuity€of€placement€in€custody€and€visitationÏcases.€€òòTaylor€v.€Taylor,óó€849€¢S.W.2d£€at€328;€òò¢Contreras£€v.€Ward,óó€831€¢S.W.2d£Ï288,€290€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€Continuity,€however,€does€not€trump€allÏother€considerations.€€Depending€on€the€facts,€a€parent€who€has€been€a€childððsÏprimary€¢caregiver£€may€not€necessarily€be€comparatively€more€fit€than€theÏother€parent€to€have€permanent€custody€of€the€child.ÌÌà àCustody€and€visitation€determinations€often€hinge€on€subtle€factors,Ïincluding€the€parentsðð€demeanor€and€credibility€during€the€divorceÏproceedings€themselves.€€Accordingly,€appellate€courts€are€reluctant€toÏsecond„guess€a€trial€courtððs€decisions.€€Trial€courts€must€be€able€to€exerciseÏbroad€discretion€in€these€matters,€but€they€still€must€base€their€decisions€on€theÏproof€and€upon€the€appropriate€application€of€the€applicable€principles€of€law.€ÏòòD€v.€Kóó,€App.€No.€03„A„01„9502„CH„00056,€slip€op.€at€8„9€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.ÏSept.€29,€1995),€òòperm€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Feb.€5,€1996).€€Thus,€we€reviewÏthese€decisions€de€novo€on€the€record€with€a€presumption€that€the€trial€courtððsÏfindings€of€fact€are€correct€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€otherwise.€Ïòò¢Nichols£€v.€¢Nichols£,óó€792€¢S.W.2d£€at€716;€òòDoles€v.€Dolesóó,€848€¢S.W.2d£€656,€661Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992).ÌÌà@ àò òIII.ó óÌÌà àWe€turn€first€to€the€manner€in€which€the€trial€court€employed€theÏcomparative€fitness€analysis.€€The€comments€from€the€bench€indicate€that€theÍtrial€court€only€considered€how€the€evidence€reflected€on€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€fitnessÏas€a€custodian€but€did€not€consider€how€the€evidence€reflected€on€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððsÏfitness.€€Thus,€the€trial€court€did€not€compare€the€fitness€of€the€two€parties€andÏthen€decide€which€parent,€under€all€the€circumstances,€was€comparativelyÏmore€suited€to€have€custody€of€their€daughter.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€appears€to€have€placed€the€burden€on€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€toÏprove€that€his€wife€was€unfit€to€be€their€daughterððs€custodian.€€This€is€mostÏclearly€indicated€by€the€trial€courtððs€assessment€of€Dr.€¢Humberd£ððs€testimony€asÏð ðnot€sufficient€to€cause€this€Court€to€believe€that€Mrs.€¢Gaskill£€is€unfitðð€and€byÏits€almost€exclusive€focus€on€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€parental€performance.ÌÌà àA€parent€seeking€custody€is€no€longer€required€to€prove€that€the€otherÏparent€is€unfit€in€order€to€be€awarded€custody.€€òòGriffin€v.€Stone,óó€834€¢S.W.2d£Ï300,€305€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòHarris€v.€Harris,óó€832€¢S.W.2d£€352,€353Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòBah€v.€Bah,óó€668€¢S.W.2d£€at€667.€€Thus,€the€trial€courtððsÏdecision€to€focus€almost€exclusively€on€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€fitness€was€erroneous.€€InÏcustody€and€visitation€cases€such€as€this€one,€the€evidence€should€have€beenÏreviewed€to€determine€both€partiesðð€fitness€as€a€comparative€matter.€€Thus,Ïalthough€the€evidence€may€not€have€shown€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€an€unfitÏmother,€it€may,€and€in€this€case€does,€indicate€she€is€comparatively€less€fit€thanÏMr.€¢Gaskill£€to€have€custody€of€the€partiesðð€daughter.€€Because€the€trial€courtÏmisapplied€the€comparative€fitness€analysis,€we€must€now€proceed€with€ourÏown€examination€of€the€evidence€giving€due€consideration€to€the€trial€courtððsÏfindings€of€fact.ÌÌà@ àò òIV.ó óÌÌà àDespite€its€repeated€concerns€about€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€parenting€skills,€theÏtrial€court€summed€up€its€view€of€the€evidence€by€commenting€that€ð ðthere€wasÏnothing€[in€the€record]€to€indicate€that€Mrs.€¢Gaskill£€has€been€a€bad€mother.ðð€ÏWe€do€not€agree€with€this€conclusion€because€of€the€evidence€concerning€theÏchildððs€suspicious€bruises,€her€other€recurring€medical€conditions,€theÏenvironment€in€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€home,€and€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€veracity.€€HavingÏreviewed€the€record€de€novo,€we€have€concluded€that€the€recordÏpreponderates€in€favor€of€concluding€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£,€even€with€his€short„comings,€is€comparatively€more€fit€to€be€¢Briahna£ððs€custodian€than€Ms.€¢Gaskill£.€€ÌÌà@ àò òA.ó óÌà@ àòòò òThe€Childððs€Suspicious€Bruisesó óóóÌÌà àTwo€days€before€trial,€Dr.€¢Humberd£€discovered€suspicious€bruises€onÏ¢Briahna£€¢£that€did€not€appear€to€be€caused€by€accidental€injuries.€€TheyÏprompted€Dr.€¢Humberd£€to€submit€a€suspected€abuse€report€to€the€DepartmentÏof€Human€Services.€€Neither€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€nor€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€could€explain€at€trialÏhow€their€daughter€had€been€injured.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€inability€to€explain€theÏbruises€is€understandable€since€they€could€have€only€been€sustained€while€theÏchild€was€in€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€custody.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€inability€to€explain€theÏbruises€is€more€troubling.€€ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€did€not€attach€proper€significance€to€Dr.€¢Humberd£ððsÏtestimony€because€it€considered€the€evidence€using€the€clear€and€convincingÍevidence€standard.€€The€trial€courtððs€choice€of€this€heightened€evidentiaryÏstandard€was€inappropriate€because€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€was€not€attempting€toÏterminate€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€parental€rights.¢× ƒ( ××  ×£€€This€is€a€divorce€proceeding,€andÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(8)€directs€the€courts€to€consider,€among€otherÏfactors,€ð ð[¢e]vidence£€of€physical€or€emotional€abuse€to€the€child.ðð€€Instead€ofÏrequiring€the€trial€court€to€first€find€that€child€abuse€has€occurred,€it€simplyÏallows€the€court€to€consider€evidence€of€abuse€in€devising€a€custodyÏarrangement€that€will€be€in€the€childððs€best€interests.ÌÌà àWhile€we€agree€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€has€not€proved€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€has€abused€¢Briahna£,€we€find€Dr.€¢Humberd£ððsÏtestimony€concerning€the€bruises€quite€helpful€in€comparing€the€partiesððÏfitness.€€When€asked€about€her€daughterððs€bruises€at€trial,€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€statedÏthat€she€had€not€noticed€the€bruises€and€that€her€daughter€would€have€told€herÏif€she€had€been€injured.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€testimony€on€this€issue€reflects€either€aÏdesire€to€prevent€the€truth€about€her€daughterððs€bruises€from€being€discoveredÏor€an€inattentiveness€or€neglect€of€her€childððs€physical€condition.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£Ïroutinely€entrusted€her€daughterððs€care€to€others€while€she€was€working€andÏshould€have€taken€steps€to€ensure€that€she€was€not€being€mistreated.€€HerÏignorance€about€her€daughterððs€suspicious€bruises€reflects€on€her€parentingÏskills€and€should€not€have€been€discounted.€€€ÌÌà@ àò òB.ó óÌà@ àòòò òThe€Childððs€Recurring€Medical€Problemsó óóóÌÌà àA€small€child€needs€a€custodian€who€will€be€attentive€to€his€or€herÏmedical€needs.€€The€evidence€in€this€case€was€that€¢Briahna£€has€suffered€fromÏrecurrent€vaginal€infections€and€from€recurrent€head€lice.€€Even€though€thereÏis€some€disagreement€concerning€the€cause€of€these€conditions,€we€haveÏconcluded€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€consideration€of€these€problems.€ÏThe€trial€court€simply€stated€that€the€evidence€caused€some€concern€about€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€parenting€skills€but€did€not€consider€whether€the€evidence€might€haveÏdemonstrated€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€comparatively€less€fit€to€have€custody€ofÏher€daughter€than€Mr.€¢Gaskill£.€€Once€again,€the€trial€court€failed€to€considerÏwhether€each€parentððs€response€to€these€problems€demonstrated€that€Mr.Ï¢Gaskill£€was€a€better€custodian.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Gaskill£€demonstrated€a€proper€parental€response€to€his€daughterððsÏmedical€problems.€€When€¢Briahna£€first€complained€of€soreness€whileÏurinating,€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€examined€her€and€then€took€her€to€a€physician€forÏtreatment.€€He€followed€the€physicianððs€treatment€recommendations€andÏtestified€that€his€daughterððs€infection€was€ninety€percent€gone€when€heÏreturned€her€to€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€in€August€1995.€€The€infection€would€have€beenÏcompletely€cured€had€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€continued€treating€her€daughter€andÏimproved€her€person€hygiene.€€However,€the€child€still€had€a€vaginal€infectionÏwhen€Dr.€¢Humberd£€examined€her€two€months€later.€€Dr.€¢Humberd£€attributedÏthe€problem€to€inadequate€bathing,€lack€of€general€cleansing,€or€physicalÏtouching€or€fondling€abuse.€€Any€of€these€causes€reflects€poorly€on€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€fitness€to€have€custody€of€her€daughter.ÌÌà àMs.€¢Gaskill£€made€some€effort€to€treat€her€daughterððs€head€lice,€but€theÏproblem€still€existed€when€Dr.€¢Humberd£€examined€the€child€two€months€laterÏin€October€1995.€€Dr.€¢Humberd£€viewed€the€problem€as€an€indication€of€a€lapseÏin€communication€or€treatment.€€Thus,€the€childððs€continuing€problem€withÏhead€lice€also€reflects€on€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€fitness€to€be€her€daughterððs€custodian.ÌÌà àThe€evidence€of€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€inadequate€response€to€her€daughterððsÏhealth€needs€prompted€the€trial€court€to€express€concern€about€her€parentingÏskills.€€The€courtððs€concern€was€assuaged€by€the€way€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€has€caredÏfor€her€son.€€Noting€that€the€boy€was€a€bright€child€in€apparently€good€health,Ïthe€trial€court€€concluded€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€success€in€raising€her€son€wasÏproof€that€she€would€be€equally€successful€in€raising€her€daughter.ÌÌà àWe€do€not€dispute€the€trial€courtððs€observations€with€regard€to€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€son.€€It€was€certainly€proper€for€the€trial€court€to€consider€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€past€treatment€of€her€son€in€order€to€ascertain€her€future€treatmentÏof€her€daughter.€€However,€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€relationship€to€her€son€should€notÏovershadow€her€demonstrated€inability€to€attend€to€her€daughterððs€hygiene€andÏmedical€needs.€€When€the€responses€of€the€two€parents€are€compared,€we€findÏMr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€response€to€be€more€appropriate.€ÌÌà@ àò òC.ó óÌà0 àà àà@ àòòò òThe€Childððs€Home€Environmentó óóóÌÌà àWe€now€turn€to€the€home€environments€offered€by€the€parents.€€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£€and€her€children€live€in€a€three„bedroom€trailer€in€Clarksville.€€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£€works€until€10:30€or€11:00€every€night€as€a€convenience€store€clerkÏand€thus€must€leave€her€children€with€various€male€friends€and€acquaintancesÏbecause€none€of€her€family€lives€close€by.€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€also€smokes€in€theÏhome€even€though€her€daughter€has€chronic€asthma.€€In€contrast,€Mr.€¢Gaskill£Ïlives€in€a€condominium€in€Florida€only€three€minutes€away€from€his€motherððsÏhome.€€He€manages€a€Radio€Shack€store€and€has€made€arrangements€for€hisÏmother€to€care€for€¢Briahna£€while€he€is€working.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€extendedÏfamily,€including€his€aunts,€uncles,€cousins,€and€grandmother,€also€live€closeÏby.€€ÌÌà àMs.€¢Gaskill£ððs€current€live„in€boyfriend,€Robert€Kirk,€and€his€aunt,€JeanÏBloch,€frequently€babysit€¢Briahna£€while€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€is€working.€€At€the€timeÏof€the€hearing,€Mr.€Kirk€himself€was€involved€in€a€bitter€divorce€and€custodyÏbattle.¢× ƒ) ××  ×£€€His€wife€testified€that€Mr.€Kirk€had€a€bad€temper€and€that€on€oneÏoccasion€he€had€held€his€hands€around€his€infant€sonððs€neck€and€had€threatenedÏto€kill€him.€€ÌÌà àMs.€Bloch€babysits€¢Briahna£€in€her€own€home€when€she€keeps€the€child.€ÏMany€other€persons€are€ð ðcoming€and€goingðð€in€Ms.€Blochððs€home,€but€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£€is€not€always€aware€of€who€these€persons€are.€€The€risks€associatedÏwith€this€environment€were€underscored€by€¢Briahna£ððs€complaints€to€her€fatherÏthan€a€man€with€blond€hair€who€drove€a€yellow€car€had€ð ðrubbed€her€privateÏparts.ðð€€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€did€not€know€anyone€fitting€that€description,€but€Mr.Í¢Gaskill£€later€discovered€that€a€person€fitting€that€description€had€been€living€atÏMs.€Blochððs€house€and€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€unaware€of€this€fact.ÌÌà àThe€evidence€of€this€incident€does€not€establish€that€the€¢Gaskills£ððÏdaughter€was€sexually€abused€while€in€Ms.€Blochððs€care.€€However,€theÏincident€demonstrates€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€lack€of€attentiveness€to€her€daughterððsÏneeds€and€her€inability€or€unwillingness€to€provide€appropriately€safe€andÏnurturing€circumstances€for€her€daughter.€€As€a€comparative€matter,€theÏevidence€indicates€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€will€be€able€to€provide€his€daughter€with€aÏmore€appropriate€home€environment€than€the€one€currently€provided€by€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£.ÌÌà@ àò òD.ó óÌà@ àòòò òMs.€¢Gaskill£ððs€Veracity€ó óóóÌÌà àLike€the€trial€court,€we€have€also€noted€serious€lapses€in€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððsÏtruthfulness€in€testimony€at€the€divorce€hearing.€€The€record€contains€severalÏinstances€where€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€was€forced€to€admit€that€she€had€lied€aboutÏmaterial€items,€such€as€her€relationship€with€Mr.€Kirk€and€her€response€to€Mr.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€requests€for€visitation.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€was€also€untruthful€on€at€leastÏone€occasion;€however,€the€extent€of€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€untruthfulness€is€troubling.€€ÌÌà àTrial€courts€are€normally€in€the€best€position€to€judge€the€credibility€ofÏthe€witnesses€since€they€have€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses€testify.€€òò¢Massengale£Ïv.€¢Massengale£óó,€915€¢S.W.2d£€818,€819€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).€€Thus,€a€trialÏcourtððs€determination€of€credibility€is€entitled€to€great€weight€in€this€court.€ÍòòTown€of€Alamo€v.€¢Forcum£„James€Co.óó,€205€Tenn.€478,€483,€327€¢S.W.2d£€47,Ï49€(1959);€òòKoch€v.€Kochóó,€874€¢S.W.2d£€571,€577€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€ÏConsistent€with€the€trial€courtððs€view€of€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€credibility,€we€note€thatÏshe€was€untruthful€when€she€insisted€that€Mr.€Kirk,€her€current€boyfriend,Ïwas€not€living€with€her€in€her€trailer.× ƒ* ××  ×€ÌÌà àA€parentððs€honesty€reflects€on€his€or€her€fitness€to€be€a€good€custodian.€ÏIn€a€prior€case,€we€upheld€an€award€of€custody€to€a€father€where€the€evidenceÏshowed€a€consistent€pattern€of€dishonesty€and€deception€by€the€mother.òò€Ï¢Carden£€v.€¢Carden£óó,€App.€No.€01„A„01„9502„CH„00042,€slip€op.€at€7€(Tenn.€Ct.ÏApp.€Nov.€22,€1995)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).€€The€trialÏcourt€in€the€òò¢Carden£óó€case€noted€that€parents€ð ðlead€by€exampleðð€and€that€a€parentÏwho€is€ð ðfundamentally€dishonestðð€would€not€be€a€good€example€to€his€or€herÏchildren.€€òò¢Carden£€v.€¢Carden£óó,€òòsupraóó,€slip€op.€at€7.€€We€concur€with€thisÏobservation€and€find€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£ððs€lack€of€credibility€casts€a€shadow€onÏher€suitability€as€her€daughterððs€custodian.ÌÌà@ àò òE.ó óÌòòò òà@ àBalancing€of€the€Relevant€Factorsó óóóÌÌà àThe€record€contains€evidence€concerning€three€factors€that€support€Ms.Ï¢Gaskill£ððs€request€for€custody€of€her€daughter.€€The€first€is€the€childððs€age€andÍgender;€the€second,€the€fact€€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€has€been€the€childððs€primaryÏ¢caregiver£€since€she€was€born;€and€third,€the€childððs€relationship€with€herÏsiblings.ÌÌà à¢Briahna£€is€only€four€years€old.€While€there€is€no€longer€a€presumptionÏin€Tennessee€favoring€maternal€custody,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„101(d)Ï(Supp.€1995)€permits€the€consideration€of€the€gender€of€the€parent€and€theÏchild€in€custody€determinations.€€Thus,€to€the€extent€appropriate,€we€haveÏconsidered€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€would€be€favored€as€custodian€because€¢Briahna£€is€aÏfour„year„old€female€child.ÌÌà àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(2)€requires€the€courts€to€consider€whichÏparent€has€been€the€childððs€primary€¢caregiver£.€€We€do€not€disagree€with€theÏtrial€courtððs€finding€that€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€has€been€her€daughterððs€primaryÏ¢caregiver£€and€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€has€also€taken€part€in€raising€his€daughter.€€WeÏalso€note€the€trial€courtððs€concerns€about€Mr.€¢Gaskill£ððs€financial€contributionsÏto€his€daughterððs€support€during€the€time€between€separation€and€trial;Ïhowever,€we€do€not€find€that€the€level€of€his€support,€both€financially€and€in„kind,€indicate€indifference€or€neglect€toward€his€daughter.ÌÌà àWe€also€note€that€granting€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€custody€of€his€daughter€willÏaffect€her€relationship€with€her€older€half„brother€and€her€younger€siblingÏwho€had€not€yet€been€born€by€the€time€of€trial.€€However,€considering€all€theÏevidence,€we€have€determined€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€awarding€custodyÏof€¢Briahna£€to€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€and€that€the€evidence€preponderates€in€favor€ofÏconcluding€that€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€is€comparatively€more€fit€to€have€custody€of€hisÍdaughter.€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£€has€demonstrated€his€ability€and€desire€to€attend€to€hisÏdaughterððs€needs€and€to€provide€her€with€a€stable,€nurturing€home€surroundedÏby€her€extended€family.€€In€contrast,€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€seems€to€have€been€eitherÏunwilling€or€unable€to€respond€to€her€daughterððs€medical€needs€and€has€notÏprovided€her€with€a€stable,€¢nurturing£€environment.ÌÌà@ àò òV.ó óà àÌÌà àWe€reverse€the€judgment€awarding€Ms.€¢Gaskill£€custody€of€¢Briahna£€L.Ï¢Gaskill£€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€the€entry€of€an€orderÏawarding€custody€to€€Mr.€¢Gaskill£,€setting€¢approriate£€visitation€and€childÏsupport€for€Ms.€¢Gaskill£,€and€for€any€other€appropriate€matter.€€We€tax€theÏcosts€of€this€appeal€in€equal€proportions€to€Willa€Jean€¢Gaskill£€and€StevenÏWayne€¢Gaskill£€and€his€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.€€€ÌÓÓÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌHENRY€F.€TODD,€¢P.J.£,€M.S.€ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌBEN€H.€¢CANTRELL£,€JUDGE€Ô% €& Ô