ÿWPCt  …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m 0l| 0Dè , 0J4 0T~ 0^Ò 0h0 0r˜ 0| 0†† 0 1uœ U, 0d= B¡U,¾U>êB)(DCQ D3” AMÇU* 0@>,~ª›Æav~~vÓü AOÏÆ 0Dä D/( BW ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman  E!["#U$U%î&'Ó€3à~| 3|x3((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d((((7Border 1dd!!!!'ÿÿdxd€-)Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò "Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€'ÔÝ  ÝÔ€,ÔÔ€,ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€,XÔÌÌò òApril€9,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€,ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€'ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔThis€Court€granted€Motherððs€Motion€for€Stay€Pending€Appeal,Ïpursuant€to€T.R.A.P.€7.Ì ‘Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€'ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔMother's€third€marriage,€to€Neil€Turner,€took€place€on€February€1,Ï1994.€€The€ceremony€was€performed€by€Fay€Tennyson,€a€former€CountyÏCommissioner.€€Mother€testified€that€she€believed€she€was€married,€butÏlater€discovered€that€the€marriage€certificate€had€not€been€returned€to€theÏcounty€clerk's€office,€shedding€doubt€on€the€validity€of€the€marriage.€ÏRegardless,€Mother€ended€her€relationship€with€Turner€prior€to€herÏdiscovery€that€the€marriage€might€not€be€valid.€€Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€'ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€This€Court€does€not€look€lightly€upon€the€fact€that€Father€violated€the€trial€court's€originalÏcustody€order€by€refusing€to€return€Sara€to€her€mother's€custody€at€the€end€of€a€scheduled€visitÏwhich€began€September€16,€1994.€€Although€Mother's€actions€have€not€always€reflected€goodÏjudgment,€this€action€on€the€part€of€Father€shows€a€clear€lack€of€responsibility.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$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 Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€&&X„d&ÓÑ#€&&Xd#ÑÔ€'ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€e]XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÙ€€ÙßL€+.);+'h|¢G` Å `€€Lßà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OFÏTENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€KNOXVILLEÌà àà à€€Ï________________________________________________ÌÌò òTAMMY€RUSHING€GREENE,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àMonroe€Circuit€#6455ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€03A01„9503„CV„00091ÌÌò òBRYAN€LYNN€GREENE,€ó óÌÌà àDefendant„Appellee.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€MONROE€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€COURTÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€JAMES€C.€WITT,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àJohn€W.€Cleveland,€Cleveland€&€ClevelandÌà@ àof€Sweetwart,€for€AppellantÌÌà@ àWilliam€A.€Buckley,€Jr.,€of€AthensÌà@ àFor€AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌà@ àóóOpinion€filed:ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,W.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÌÌÌÌÓÓò òòò›à àóóó óThis€is€a€child€custody€case.€€Bryan€L.€Greene€(Father)€and€TammyÏRushing€Greene,€now€Harris€(Mother),€were€divorced€by€decree€enteredÏJune€2,€1988.€€The€decree€incorporated€a€prior€Marital€DissolutionÏAgreement,€œwhich›€granted€custody€of€the€parties'€minor€child,€Sara€AnnÏGreene,€to€€Mother,€with€liberal€visitation€rights€to€Father.€€OnÏSeptember€15,€1994,€Father€filed€a€petition€seeking€custody,€alleging€aÏmaterial€change€in€circumstances.€€After€an€evidentiary€hearing€onÏMarch€10,€1995,€the€trial€court€granted€Father's€Petition€for€Change€ofÍCustody.€× ƒ/ ××  ×€Mother€has€appealed,€and€the€only€issue€is€whether€the€trialÏcourt€erred€in€ordering€a€change€of€custody.€€Ìà àSara€Ann€Greene€was€born€in€August€of€1986.€€Since€the€time€ofÏthe€parties'€separation€in€April€of€1987,€Sara€has€resided€with€MotherÏor€with€Mother's€parents.€€Prior€to€the€present€proceeding,€FatherÏexercised€his€visitation€rights€approximately€50%€of€the€time€andÏgenerally€paid€child€support€payments€in€a€timely€fashion.€€There€wasÏtestimony€at€trial€€that€Sara€has€a€good€relationship€with€both€parents.€€Ìà àSara's€current€teacher€at€Sweetwater€Elementary€School,€CleoÏDavis,€testified€that€Sara€is€a€good,€well„behaved€student€who€showsÏcontinued,€steady€growth€in€her€school€work.€€She€testified€that€Sara€isÏlike€"any€other€third„grader."€However,€there€was€evidence€that€SaraÏhad€been€absent€from€school€frequently,€missing€32€of€180€days€in€theÏsecond€grade.€€Mother€testified€that€Sara's€absences€were€generallyÏcaused€by€colds,€and€she€also€missed€ten€days€of€school€because€ofÏchicken€pox.€€Ìà àDr.€Tom€Hanaway,€a€clinical€psychologist€who€performs€forensicÍevaluations€for€courts€in€custody€matters,€met€with€Sara€twice.€€HeÏalso€met€with€Sara's€mother,€father,€maternal€grandmother,€and€talkedÏto€two€of€Sara's€school€teachers.€€He€testified€that€Sara€is€very€bondedÏto€her€mother,€and€that€she€expressed€a€strong€desire€to€continue€livingÏwith€Mother.€€Dr.€Hanaway€found€Sara€to€be€a€bright,€well„adjustedÏchild€who€did€not€exhibit€signs€of€€psychological€problems.€€Ìà àFather€is€a€29€year€old€resident€of€Kingsport,€Tennessee.€€HeÏworks€part„time€for€Wells€Fargo€and€part„time€on€his€family's€farm.€ÏFather€admitted€on€cross„examination€that€he€has€had€numerous€jobsÏsince€the€parties'€divorce.€€Although€Father€receives€no€compensationÏfor€working€on€the€farm,€he€lives€in€his€parents'€home,€has€his€mealsÏthere,€and€receives€some€financial€support€from€the€elder€Greenes.€ÏFather€testified€that€if€he€is€awarded€custody,€he€will€continue€to€liveÏwith€his€parents€in€this€four€bedroom€home.€€Mrs.€Greene€will€take€careÏof€Sara€when€Father€is€at€work.€€Ìà àAs€evidence€of€changed€circumstances€affecting€Sara's€welfare,ÏFather€asserts€œthat›€Mother€has€changed€her€residence€approximatelyÏfive€times€since€the€parties'€1988€€divorce.€€Father€testified€thatÏMother€has€had€several€boyfriends.€€There€was€evidence€that€at€leastÍone€boyfriend,€Tony€Harris,€whom€Mother€later€married,€lived€withÏMother€and€Sara€outside€of€wedlock.€€Both€Mother's€second€and€thirdÏmarriages€failed.× ƒ0 ××  ×€€Father€admitted€that€Sara€had€adequate€housing€andÏfood.€€Although€Father€has€never€met€or€talked€with€Saraððs€teachers,€heÏstated€that€her€education€was€neglected€during€the€first€and€secondÏgrades.Ìà àTrina€Johnson,€Mother's€first€cousin,€testified€on€behalf€of€Father.€ÏShe€testified€that€Mother€lived€with€David€Thompson,€whom€Mother€didÏnot€marry,€in€1988,€and€that€Father€was€aware€of€this€living€situation.€Ï(Mother€denied€living€with€Thompson.)€€€Trina€also€stated€that,€duringÏthe€period€Mother€was€involved€with€Thompson,€Trina€saw€Mother€andÏThompson€at€a€convenience€store,€without€Sara.€€Trina,€concerned€aboutÏSara's€welfare,€immediately€went€to€Mother's€apartment.€€TrinaÏtestified€that€she€heard€crying€inside€the€apartment,€but€that€no€oneÍcame€to€the€door€when€she€knocked.€€Trina€waited€at€the€apartment,Ïhidden,€until€Mother€and€Thompson€returned,€approximately€thirtyÏminutes€later.€€Trina€also€testified€that€on€one€occasion€in€1992,€whenÏshe€went€to€Mother's€house,€at€Mother's€request,€to€pick€up€Sara,€sheÏnoted€that€the€apartment€was€a€mess€and€there€was€no€food€in€theÏhouse.€€Trina€also€testified€that€when€Mother€moved€out€of€a€houseÏowned€by€Mother€and€Trina's€great„grandmother,€Dovie€Rushing,€MotherÏleft€the€house€in€complete€disarray.€€This€testimony€was€contradictedÏby€Jane€Moser,€Sara's€maternal€grandmother.€€Ìà àDovie€Rushing,€Mother's€grandmother,€also€testified€on€Father'sÏbehalf.€€Mrs.€Rushing,€who€lives€in€Sweetwater,€has€a€close€relationshipÏwith€Sara€and€has€kept€her€frequently€since€Sara€was€a€small€child.€ÏShe€testified€that€although€Sara€always€had€adequate€food,€clothing,Ïand€housing,€Mother€was€a€ð ðpoor€housekeeperðð€and€had€not€given€SaraÏð ðthe€best€of€care.ðð€€Ìà àMr.€Robert€Greene,€Sara's€paternal€grandfather,€testified€on€behalfÏon€his€son.€€He€testified€€that€Sara€would€be€welcome€in€his€home€inÏKingsport.€€He€also€stated€that€he€did€not€harbor€any€bad€feelingsÏagainst€Mother.Ìà àMother€testified€that€a€change€of€custody€would€not€be€in€Sara'sÏbest€interest.€€However,€she€testified€that€she€has€always€encouraged,Ïand€continues€to€encourage,€her€daughter's€relationship€with€Father.€ÏAfter€the€parties'€divorce,€Mother€lived€in€public€housing€for€two€years.€ÏMother€and€Sara€then€moved€to€a€house€owned€by€one€of€Mother's€auntsÏin€Athens,€where€they€lived€for€one€year.€€Mother€testified€that€she€andÏSara€moved€to€Athens€because€Mother€was€unhappy€with€Sara's€schoolÏin€Sweetwater,€which€was€experimenting€with€a€"non„traditional"Ïclassroom.€€Mother€and€Sara€next€moved€to€Knoxville€in€order€for€MotherÏto€attend€the€University€of€Tennessee.€€Mother€and€Sara€lived€there€forÏone€semester,€but€returned€to€Mother's€parent's€home€in€SweetwaterÏbecause€Mother€had€to€undergo€major€surgery.€€After€MotherÏrecuperated,€Mother€and€Sara€moved€to€a€house€in€Sweetwater€owned€byÏMother's€grandmother.€€€€After€leaving€that€house,€Mother€and€Sara€livedÏin€an€apartment€in€Sweetwater,€near€Mother's€parents'€home.€€€WhenÏMother€married€Turner€in€spring€of€1994,€they€moved€briefly€to€TellicoÏ(however,€Sara€continued€to€attend€school€in€Sweetwater).€€At€the€timeÏof€trial,€Mother€and€Sara€were€living€with€Mother's€parents€inÏSweetwater.€€Ìà àQuestions€regarding€custody€first€arose€in€May€of€1994,€whenÏMother€checked€herself€into€a€psychiatric€hospital€in€Chattanooga.€ÏMother,€who€suffers€from€chronic€depression,€felt€that€it€would€be€inÏthe€best€interest€of€Sara€and€Katie,€a€daughter€from€Mother's€marriageÏto€Tony€Harris,€to€spend€time€with€their€respective€fathers€while€sheÏrecovered.€€Mother€contacted€Sara's€father€and€Kate's€father€to€suggestÏa€joint€custody€arrangement.€€Kate's€father,€Harris,€agreed€to€jointÏcustody;€Sara's€father€demanded€sole€custody,€which€Mother€refused€toÏgrant.€€In€September€of€1994,€Mother€checked€herself€into€a€psychiatricÏhospital€in€Knoxville.€€Currently,€Mother€meets€with€a€counselor€everyÏtwo€weeks.€€She€testified€without€contradiction€that€her€medicationÏfor€depression€has€stabilized€and€she€is€doing€well.€€She€feels€that€sheÏis€capable,€with€the€assistance€of€her€extended€family€when€needed,€ofÏproviding€for€all€of€Sara's€needs.Ìà àJane€Moser€testified€on€behalf€of€her€daughter.€€Mrs.€Moser€keepsÏSara€frequently.€€Mrs.€Moser€stated€that€Mother€is€a€very€goodÏhousekeeper.€€Mrs.€Moser€corroborated€Mother's€testimony€that€MotherÏnever€lived€with€Thompson.€€Mrs.€Moser€stated€that€she€had€neverÏnoticed€that€Mother's€problems€with€depression€affected€either€ofÍMother's€children,€and€it€is€her€observation€Mrs.€Moser€stated€thatÏMother€is€a€loving€parent€who€has€always€provided€adequately€for€Sara.€€Ìà àAt€the€close€of€all€the€testimony,€the€trial€court€stated€from€theÏbench:Ìà8 àà8 àÓÓà àIt€looks€to€me€like€that€there's€two€groupsÏof€family€members,€some€up€in€Kingsport€andÏsome€down€here€around€Sweetwater,€generallyÏspeaking.€€And€there€are„„€both€families€loveÏthis€little€girl€.€.€.€.€And€for€the€most€part€bothÏfamilies€have€been€respectful€people.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àBut€I€don't€believe€that€the€actions€of€theÏmama€have€been€particularly€conducive€to€theÏraising€of€the€child.€€Now,€there€was€some€proofÏ.€.€.€about€her€living€with€a€man€or€two.€€I€thinkÏthat€I€heard€proof€that€she€lived€with€TurnerÏseveral€months€before€they€were€married€.€.€.€€€IfÏshe€wasn't€living€with€him,€it€was€awfully€closeÏto€it.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 à*€*€*€*€Ìà8 àà8 àà àAnd€I'm€going€to€rule,€and€it€is€my€ruling,Ïthat€the€defendant,€that€would€be€the€petitionerÏI€guess,€Greene,€will€have€custody€of€the€child.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àNow,€you€all,€I€think„„and€it's€also€myÏruling€that€this€lady€will€have€liberal€visitationÏrights.€€But€I€don't€think€she€ought€to€be€aroundÏthat€child€at€times€when€she's€experiencingÏthese€deep€depressions.€€You€know,€that's€notÏconducive€to€raising€of€the€child,€is€to€be€in€theÏdepression€part€of€the€time.€€And€it's€notÍconducive€to€raising€the€child€to€live€withÏsomebody€or€„„before€you€marry€them.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 à*€*€*€*€Ìà8 àà8 àà àWhat€I€am€trying€to€look€at€is€10€yearsÏfrom€now€or€20€years€form€now,€which€one,Ïlooking€back,€would€have€most€likely€give€[sic]Ïthis€girl€a€college€education,€a€profession,€theÏopportunity€to€meet€and€marry€first„classÏpeople€that€would€be€good€for€her€and€good€forÏher€future€family€and€so€forth.€€Ìà àà àÌÓÓà àOur€review€of€the€findings€of€fact€of€the€lower€court€is€de€novoÏupon€the€record,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€ofÏthe€trial€court's€findings.€€Unless€we€find€that€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€these€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€error€ofÏlaw.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d);€€€ò òòòNichols€v.€Nicholsóóó ó,€792€S.W.2d€713,€716€(Tenn.Ï1990).€€Ìà àThe€doctrine€of€res€judicata€bars€a€second€suit€between€the€sameÏparties€on€the€same€cause€of€action€with€respect€to€all€issues€whichÏwere€or€which€could€have€been€litigated€in€the€former€suit.€€ò òòòWall€v.ÏWallóóó ó,€907€S.W.2d€829,€832€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€Thus,€a€custody€orderÏcannot€be€changed€absent€a€showing€of€new€facts,€or€"changedÏcircumstances,"€which€require€an€alteration€of€the€original€custodyÏaward.€€ò òòòWoodard€v.€Woodardóóó ó,€783€S.W.2d€188,€189€(Tenn.€App.€1989).€€€Ìà àChild€custody€cases€present€primarily€factual,€not€legalÏquestions.òò€€ò òRogero€v.€Pittóóó ó,€759€S.W.2d€109,€112€(Tenn.€1988).€ÏAlthough€there€are€no€hard€and€fast€rules€as€to€what€constitutesÏ"changed€circumstances,"€ò òòòArnold€v.€Arnoldóóó ó,€774€S.W.2d€613,€618Ï(Tenn.€App.€1989),€it€is€well€settled€that€the€best€interest€of€the€childÏis€the€paramount€consideration€in€a€child€custody€case.€€ò òòòContreras€v.ÏWardóóó ó,€831€S.W.2d€288,€289€(Tenn.€App.€1991).€€The€party€seeking€aÏchange€in€custody€has€the€burden€of€proving€by€the€preponderance€of€theÏevidence€that€a€change€in€custody€is€in€the€child's€best€interest.€Ïò òòòMusselman€v.€Acuffóóó ó,€826€S.W.2d€920,€922€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€InÏconsidering€whether€or€not€changed€circumstances€exist,€we€find€theÏstatement€of€theòò€ò òWallóóó ó€court€instructive:€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àWhen€two€people€join€in€conceiving€a€child,€theyÏselect€that€child's€natural€parents.€€When€theyÏdecide€to€separate€and€divorce,€they€give€up€theÏprivilege€of€jointly€rearing€the€child,€and€theÏdivorce€court€must€decide€€which€parent€willÏhave€primary€responsibility€for€rearing€theÏchild.€€This€decision€of€the€Court€is€notÏchangeable€except€for€"change€of€circumstances"Ïwhich€is€defined€as€that€which€requires€a€changeÏto€prevent€substantial€harm€to€the€child.€ÏCustody€is€not€changed€for€the€welfare€orÏpleasure€of€either€parent€or€to€punish€eitherÏparent,€but€to€preserve€the€welfare€of€the€child.€ÍCustody€is€not€changed€because€one€parent€isÏable€to€furnish€a€more€commodious€or€pleasantÏenvironment€than€the€other,€but€whereÏcontinuation€of€the€adjudicated€custody€willÏsubstantially€harm€the€œchild›œ.ÌÌÓÓò òòòIdóóó ó.€907€S.W.2d€at€834.Ìà àIn€the€instant€case,€we€cannot€agree€with€the€lower€court'sÏdetermination€that€there€has€been€a€change€in€circumstances€whichÏwarrants€changing€Sara€Greene's€custody.€€While€there€was€evidenceÏthat€Mother€has€moved€frequently€and€has€been€involved€in€severalÏunsuccessful€relationships,€neither€a€parent's€remarriage€nor€a€parent'sÏsexual€indiscretion€are,€per€se,€grounds€for€a€change€in€custody.€€ò òòòSee,Ïe.g.€€Mimms€v.€Mimmsóóó ó,€780€S.W.2d€739,€745€(Tenn.€App.€1989);Ïò òòòArnoldó ó,€óó774€S.W.2d€at€618;€ò òòòCurry€v.€Curryóóó ó,€416€S.W.2d€372,€377Ï(Tenn.€App.€1967).€€There€was€no€evidence€that€Sara€has€been€harmedÏeither€by€Mother's€moves€or€by€Mother's€romantic€involvements.€ÏAdditionally,€there€is€no€evidence€that€€Mother's€experiences€withÏdepression€have€had€a€negative€effect€on€Sara's€welfare.€€MotherÏtestified€at€trial,€without€contradiction,€that€her€depression€is€€€underÏcontrol€through€medication€and€counseling.€€Both€Sara's€teacher€and€Dr.ÏHanaway€testified€that€Sara€was€a€well„adjusted€child€who€exhibitedÍno€behavioral€problems.€€€Neither€Father€nor€any€of€the€witnesses€whoÏtestified€on€his€behalf€stated€that€Sara€lacked€food,€shelter,€orÏclothing.€€à àAlthough€both€Mother€and€Father€have€good€relationshipsÏwith€Sara,€neither€€relationship€is€flawless.× ƒ1 ××  ×€€However,€Sara€has€beenÏin€her€mother's€custody€for€her€entire€life.€€Sara€expressed€a€desire€toÏboth€the€lower€court€and€to€Dr.€Hanaway€to€remain€in€her€mother'sÏcustody.€€While€the€preference€of€an€eight€year€old€child€is€not€bindingÏupon€this€Court,€it€is€a€factor€which€we€may€consider.€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„102(b)€(Michie€1991).€€Absent€a€threat€to€Sara's€welfare,€we€find€herÏclose€€relationship€with€Mother€and€Mother's€extended€family€inÏSweetwater€to€be€significant.€€In€ò òContrerasó ó,€this€Court€emphasizedÏthe€importance€of€stability€in€a€child's€life:€€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€stability€provided€by€the€continuation€of€aÏsuccessful€relationship€with€a€parent€who€hasÏbeen€in€day€to€day€contact€with€a€child€generallyÏfar€outweighs€any€alleged€advantage€whichÏmight€accrue€to€the€child€as€a€result€ofÏcustodial€change.€€In€short,€when€all€goes€wellÏwith€children,€stability,€not€change,€is€in€theirÏbest€interests.ÌÌòòò òIdóóó ó.,€831€S.W.2d€at€290.€ÌÌÓÓà àOur€review€of€the€record€reveals€no€change€in€circumstancesÏwhich€threatens€to€cause€substantial€harm€to€Sara's€welfare.€ÏAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed,€and€the€case€isÏremanded€for€such€further€proceedings€as€are€necessary.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellee.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌÌó ó_________________________________Ìò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌò ò_________________________________ÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óœÔ€ÔÔ€Ô