ÿWPC 4# èUNó %A 0cGU<ªw@æ4&: AQI 0§šA 0JI 0T“ 0^ç 0hE 0r­ 0| 0†› 0! 1u± 0d& 0@Š D3Ê 0Dý U>A B) DC¨ AMë U*8 Bb Æ 0DE 0D‰ D/Í Bü ^wU6’v~ÈvÓF˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(;1˜$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XcXXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman 1E23E45U6U7î8Ó€9Ó€Eäzz!x3|xE*+ ,-Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(W(32E$¤¤Ý ƒ1˜!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XÔ2XXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò))))'ÿÿdxd(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd* &Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd TÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òJuneÏ20,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€All€of€these€charges,€including€the€DUI€conviction,€stem€from€the€sameÏincident.Ì< Œ 9p`(Courier NewPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€$ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€<ëXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÙ€*ÙßR€'/&A1-j|Y` à. `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òIN€RE:€NICKOLAS€E.€PRICE,€ÌWILLIAM€J.€HARRIS,€ó óÌÌà àAppellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àShelby€Equity€No.€103122„2€R.D.ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9609„CH„00228ÌÌò òCHRISTIAN€CAROL€PRICE,€ó óÌÌà àAppellee.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€FLOYD€PEETE,€JR.,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌÌà@ àDavid€E.€Caywood,€Amy€R.€Fulton;Ìà@ àCausey,€Caywood,€Taylor,€McManus€&€Bailey€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppellantÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòVACATED,€RENDERED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌà@ àó óóóOpinion€filed:ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEÌÌWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEó óÌÌÌÌÓÓ›à àThis€is€a€child€custody€case.€€The€petitioner,€William€J.€Harris€(Father),Ïappeals€from€the€order€of€the€trial€court€awarding€the€parties€joint€custody€ofÏtheir€minor€child,€with€physical€custody€to€Christian€Carol€Price€(Mother).€Ìà àFather€and€Mother€were€romantically€involved€from€June€1986€to€JulyÏ1988,€but€Father€ended€the€relationship€after€he€discovered€Mother€wasÏinvolved€with€another€man.€€After€Mother€promised€to€quit€drinking€andÏpromised€to€see€a€psychologist,€the€parties€reunited€and€dated€from€SeptemberÏ1988€to€August€1989,€but€again€Father€ended€the€relationship€because€MotherÏcontinued€to€drink,€stopped€seeing€the€psychologist,€and€stopped€attendingÏchurch.€€However,€Mother€and€Father€met€for€dinner€on€October€12,€1992,ÍFatherððs€thirtieth€birthday.€€The€parties€had€sex€that€evening€and€conceivedÏtheir€son,€Nickolas,€who€was€born€on€July€22,€1993.€Ìà àOn€July€27,€1993,€Father€filed€a€Petition€for€Legitimation€and€Custody€inÏthe€Chancery€Court€of€Shelby€County.€€In€the€petition,€Father€states€that€he€isÏthe€natural€father€of€the€child.€€Father€avers€that€the€parties€were€neverÏmarried,€that€they€do€not€plan€to€marry,€and€that€the€child€was€born€out€ofÏwedlock.€€The€petition€alleges€that€Mother€is€currently€engaged€in€a€lifestyleÏthat€is€not€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child€because€she€lives€in€an€unhealthy,Ïlesbian€relationship€that€does€not€provide€a€supportive,€stable€homeÏenvironment€and€will€endanger€the€childððs€mental€and€emotional€development.€ÏThe€petition€also€alleges€that€Mother€has€a€history€of€instability€including€priorÏsubstance€abuse€and€threatened€suicide.€€The€petition€requests€custody€of€theÏchild€and€that€the€child€be€legitimated€and€given€Fatherððs€surname.Ìà àOn€August€3,€1993,€Mother€filed€an€answer€to€the€petition€and€a€counter„petition.€€In€her€answer,€Mother€denies€that€she€is€engaged€in€a€lifestyle€that€isÏnot€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child€and€denies€that€she€cannot€provide€aÏsupportive€and€stable€home€environment.€€Mother€also€denies€that€she€has€aÏhistory€of€instability.€€In€her€counter„petition,€Mother€alleges€that€the€bestÏinterests€of€the€child€would€be€served€by€awarding€custody€to€her.€€She€requestsÍcustody€and€child€support.€€In€his€response€to€the€counter„petition,€FatherÏadmits€that€he€is€able€to€provide€child€support,€but€denies€that€Mother€is€fitÏand€proper€to€have€custody€of€the€child.Ìà àOn€June€21,€22,€and€23,€1994€and€March€27,€1995,€the€chancery€court,Ïsitting€without€a€jury,€held€a€hearing€to€determine€custody€of€the€child.Ìà àAt€the€time€of€the€hearing,€Father€was€thirty„one€years€old.€€Father€livesÏin€Cordova,€Tennesseein€a€two„bedroom€apartment.€€Father€testified€that€heÏgraduated€from€Christian€Brothers€University€with€a€bachelor€of€science€degreeÏin€business€administration.€€Father€is€employed€by€Data€Documents€as€anÏaccount€representative€who€takes€care€of€inventory€for€customers,€places€orders,Ïand€seeks€new€business.€€Father€works€out€of€his€home,€and€his€salary€isÏ$31,000.00€per€year.€€Father€testified€that€he€has€a€strong€family€support€systemÏin€Memphis,€including€his€parents€and€one€of€his€brothers.€€Fatherððs€brother€isÏmarried€and€has€four€young€children€in€Memphis.Ìà àUpon€learning€of€Motherððs€pregnancy,€Father€testified€that€he€toldÏMother€that,€although€he€could€not€marry€her,€he€did€not€believe€in€abortionÏand€could€not€give€the€child€up€for€adoption.€€Father€told€Mother€that€he€wasÏwilling€to€do€anything€to€help.€€Father€also€wrote€a€letter€to€Mother,€dated€MayÏ29,€1993,€stating€that€he€was€willing€to€help€in€any€way€both€before€and€afterÍthe€child€was€born.€€Father€immediately€decided€to€seek€custody,€but€MotherððsÏfamily€did€not€tell€her€this€until€months€later€because€she€was€pregnant€and€forÏfear€of€her€reaction.€€Father€waited€at€the€hospital€for€the€delivery€and€saw€theÏchild€within€one€hour€of€his€birth.€€Father€placed€the€child€on€his€healthÏinsurance€that€day.€€€€Father€exercised€regular€visitation€and€stated€that€MotherÏinterfered€with€his€visitation,€although€she€has€changed€schedules€on€occasionÏto€meet€Fatherððs€needs.Ìà àFather€testified€that€Mother€has€lived€in€many€different€places€inÏMemphis€and€that€Mother€has€been€fired€from€jobs€at€Jack€Chism,€ContinentalÏTraffic,€and€Cardinal€Machinery.€€Father€testified€that€Mother€is€not€a€truthfulÏperson.€€He€stated€that€she€was€dishonest€in€their€relationship€and€that€she€liedÏto€her€grandparents.€€She€also€used€one€of€his€credit€cards€without€permission.Ìà àFather€stated€that€Mother€has€a€drinking€problem€and€that€she€admittedÏto€him€that€she€needed€some€type€of€professional€help.€€Since€the€child€wasÏborn,€Father€has€smelled€alcohol€on€Motherððs€breath€when€they€were€exchangingÏthe€child€for€visitation.€€Father€admitted€that€he€drinks€on€occasion.€€Father€hasÏalso€smelled€cigarette€smoke€on€the€childððs€clothing.€€He€also€stated€thatÏMother€told€him€that€she€attempted€suicide€twice€and€that€she€had€threatenedÏtwice€more€to€commit€suicide.Ìà àBefore€the€child€was€born,€Father€registered€him€with€the€Bartlett€DayÏCare€Center,€a€licensed€child€care€provider,€but€Mother€sent€him€elsewhere.ÏMother€told€Father€that€she€used€a€licensed€child€care€provider,€but€whenÏFather€investigated,€he€learned€that€the€child€care€provider€was€not€licensed.€ÏFather€was€also€worried€because€Mother€took€the€child€to€a€general€practitionerÏinstead€of€a€pediatrician.€€According€to€Father,€the€general€practitioner€did€notÏknow€which€shots€or€which€vitamins€to€give€the€child.Ìà àFather€admitted€that€Mother€and€the€child€have€a€very€good€relationshipÏand€that€they€are€very€close.€€He€said€that€the€child€was€happy€to€see€MotherÏwhen€they€returned€from€visitation€and€that€the€child€is€a€happy€child.€€HeÏtestified€that€Mother€is€living€in€a€lesbian€relationship,€but€admitted€thatÏMother€is€living€in€a€good€home€and€provides€the€child€with€all€of€hisÏnecessities.Ìà àRobin€Rowe,€one€of€Motherððs€old€roommates€and€an€ex„lover,€testifiedÏthat€Motherððs€drinking€habits€caused€minor€problems€in€their€relationship€andÏthat€Mother€was€previously€charged€with€driving€under€the€influence€(DUI).€ÏOn€one€occasion,€Rowe€saw€Mother€drinking€in€a€car€in€which€the€child€wasÏpresent.€€She€was€so€concerned€that€she€considered€calling€the€TennesseeÏDepartment€of€Human€Services.€€However,€she€did€state€that€Mother€does€notÍregularly€drink€to€excess€and€that€the€child€is€the€most€important€thing€inÏMotherððs€life.€€Ìà àWilliam€Carl€Gammill,€Motherððs€uncle,€testified€that€he€believed€FatherÏwould€be€the€more€mature€and€stable€custodial€parent.€€However,€he€admittedÏthat€Mother€and€the€child€have€a€good€relationship€and€that€the€child€is€happyÏand€healthy.€€He€stated€that€he€saw€no€problems€with€what€Mother€has€doneÏwith€the€child.€€Donna€Gammill,€Motherððs€aunt,€testified€that€Father€wouldÏmake€an€excellent€father€for€the€child€and€that€she€would€want€Father€to€haveÏcustody€over€Mother€if€the€child€were€her€grandchild.Ìà àFather€presented€testimony€that€he€was€dependable,€trustworthy,Ïhardworking,€and€emotionally€stable.€€After€a€number€of€witnesses,€the€trialÏcourt€stated,€ð ðIððm€not€going€to€stop€you€from€putting€witnesses€on,€but€IððmÏconvinced€Mr.€Harris€is€a€good€father.€€The€Court€has€no€problem€with€that€atÏall.€€Iððm€convinced€that€he€has€all€the€attributes€of€a€good€father.€€He€hasÏdemonstrated€that€throughout,€whatever€that€means€to€you.ððÌà àMother€lives€in€Memphis,€Tennessee€in€a€three„bedroom€house€withÏLeslie€Sears.€€Mother€has€moved€twice€since€the€child€was€born€and€movedÏfourteen€times€between€1989€and€1994.€€Mother€testified€that€she€also€has€aÏfamily€support€system€in€Memphis€because€her€grandparents€and€her€aunt€liveÍin€Memphis.€€Mother€stated€that€she€attends€church€about€once€a€month,€butÏthat€it€is€hard€to€go€with€the€child.€€Mother€did€not€graduate€from€college€andÏhas€a€sporadic€employment€history.Ìà àAt€the€time€of€the€hearing,€Mother€worked€for€Park€Furniture€CompanyÏand€had€been€employed€there€for€three€years.€€Prior€to€Park€Furniture,€MotherÏworked€for€Jack€Chism.€€In€her€deposition,€she€stated€that€her€position€withÏChism€was€ð ðphased€outðð€because€he€needed€someone€with€ð ða€degree.ðð€ÏHowever,€in€his€deposition,€Jack€Chism€stated€that€he€ð ðfiredðð€Mother.€€At€theÏhearing,€she€explained€that€she€meant€that€he€needed€someone€with€moreÏexperience€and€admitted€that€she€had€been€ð ðlet€go,ðð€but€denied€that€she€hadÏbeen€fired.€€She€was€also€let€go€from€her€job€at€Cardinal€Machinery.Ìà àMother€denied€that€she€has€an€alcohol€problem€and€stated€that€FatherÏpurchased€the€alcohol€for€her€before€she€was€old€enough€to€purchase€it€herself.€ÏShe€did€say€that€her€mother,€the€childððs€maternal€grandmother,€is€a€recoveringÏalcoholic.€€Mother€testified€that€she€quit€drinking€and€smoking€while€she€wasÏpregnant,€but€occasionally€drinks€and€smokes€now.€€Mother€admitted€that€sheÏwas€convicted€of€DUI€and€was€arrested€for€public€intoxication,€reckless€driving,Ïand€driving€while€her€license€was€revoked,€suspended,€or€canceled.× ƒ0 ××  ×à àÌà àMother€admitted€that€she€has€attempted€suicide€on€two€separateÏoccasions,€but€denied€that€she€was€actually€trying€to€kill€herself.€€She€said€thatÏshe€attempted€suicide€the€first€time€to€garner€attention,€and€the€second€time,Ïin€1991,€she€said€she€was€depressed€and€did€not€like€the€way€her€life€was€goingÏat€that€time.€€Mother€left€a€suicide€note€the€second€time€but,€at€the€hearing,Ïclaimed€it€was€not€a€suicide€note€because€she€did€not€remember€making€it.€€InÏthe€medical€records€of€the€second€suicide€attempt,€the€doctor€filled€out€a€formÏtitled€ð ðCertificate€of€Need€for€Emergency€Admission.ðð€€The€form,€dated€JanuaryÏ18,€1991,€states,€ð ðIn€my€professional€opinion,€based€on€my€examination€and€theÏinformation€provided€me,€I€certify€that€this€person€1.€€is€mentally€ill€as€shownÏby€the€following€facts€and€reasoning:€€tried€to€kill€herself€&€left€suicide€note,€2.€Ïposes€an€òòimmediateóó€substantial€likelihood€of€serious€harm€because€of€theÏmental€illness€as€shown€by€the€following€facts€and€reasoning:€€tried€to€killÏherself.ðð€œ(emphasis€in€original).€›€Mother€was€transferred€to€the€Memphis€MentalÏHealth€Institute€for€emergency€care.€€€€Ìà àMother€is€an€admitted€lesbian€who€lives€with€another€lesbian,€but€theyÏare€not€lovers.€€She€testified€that€if€she€received€custody,€she€would€continue€toÏlive€with€her€lesbian€roommate.€Ìà àMother€said€that€she€sends€the€child€to€the€chosen€child€care€centerÍbecause€she€feels€it€is€the€best€one€for€the€child.€€She€uses€the€child€care€centerÏbecause€of€a€recommendation€by€a€co„worker.€€After€discovering€during€FatherððsÏdeposition€that€the€child€care€center€was€not€licensed,€Mother€was€concernedÏand€questioned€the€owner€of€the€day€care.€€However,€Mother€still€takes€theÏchild€to€the€unlicensed€child€care€center.Ìà àMother€testified€that€when€she€told€Father€that€she€was€pregnant,€he€saidÏthat€abortion€was€an€option.€€She€stated€that€she€wants€Father€to€be€a€big€partÏof€the€childððs€life,€but€that€Father€shows€little€emotion€when€she€reports€on€theÏchildððs€progress.€Mother€admitted€that€Father€was€a€stable€person€emotionallyÏand€financially€and€that€he€was€a€good€role€model€for€the€child,€but€said€that€heÏtold€her€he€might€suffer€from€Chronic€Fatigue€Syndrome.Ìà àMotherððs€neighbors€and€friends€testified€that€she€is€a€loving€and€caringÏmother€and€that€they€would€not€be€concerned€if€she€was€the€custodial€parent.€ÏTimothy€A.€McDonald,€Motherððs€neighbor,€testified€that€he€saw€Father€threatenÏand€yell€at€Mother.€€Dineen€Price€Hite,€another€of€Motherððs€aunts,€testifiedÏthat,€based€on€her€contacts€with€Mother€and€Father,€she€supports€Motherððs€bidÏfor€custody.€€Edna€Price,€Motherððs€grandmother,€testified€that€she€thought€itÏwould€be€in€the€childððs€best€interests€if€custody€were€placed€with€Mother.€ÏHowever,€she€admitted€that€she€felt€mothers€should€always€have€custody€overÍfathers.Ìà àKelly€Kemper,€Motherððs€friend,€testified€that€Mother€changed€herÏpriorities€after€the€childððs€birth€and€that€the€child€is€now€her€main€focus.€€SheÏsaid€that€everything€about€Mother€has€changed€in€the€positive€direction€andÏthat€she€has€not€seen€Mother€drink€or€smoke€since€the€child€was€born.à àÌà àCarol€Hopper,€another€of€Motherððs€friends,€testified€that€Mother€wasÏhappy€and€excited€when€she€learned€that€she€was€pregnant.€€Hopper€said€thatÏMother€always€wanted€to€include€Father€in€the€childððs€life,€and€Hopper€knew€ofÏno€reasons€why€Mother€should€not€have€custody.€€During€an€objection€toÏHopperððs€testimony,€the€trial€court€interrupted€and€stated,€ð ðI€donððt€have€anyÏdifficulty€with€both€of€these€parties.€€I€think€they€are€both€loving€and€goodÏparents.€.€.€.€I€think€Mr.€Harris€has€been€a€loving€and€decent€father.€€I€think€theÏmother€has€been€a€good,€loving€and€decent€mother.ððÌà àNell€Estes,€Motherððs€boss€at€Park€Furniture,€testified€that€Mother€has€aÏwonderful€work€ethic.€€She€stated€that€she€has€no€concerns€about€MotherððsÏability€to€care€for€the€child€and€that€she€has€seen€Mother€change€from€ð ðaÏconfused€person€to€this€mature€beautiful€person€that€she€is€now.ðð€€Leslie€Sears,ÏMotherððs€roommate,€testified€that€Mother€has€completely€changed€from€theÏtime€she€learned€she€was€pregnant.€€She€also€stated€that€they€no€longer€allowÍsmoking€in€the€house.Ìà àDr.€John€Robert€Hutson,€a€clinical€psychologist,€examined€Mother€onÏthree€separate€occasions,€one€of€them€with€the€child.€€He€testified€that€MotherÏtested€in€the€normal€range€and€that€there€was€nothing€that€concerned€himÏabout€Mother€having€custody.€€He€also€stated€that€she€was€not€currently€at€riskÏfor€suicide.€€However,€he€stated€that€there€was€ð ðsome€risk€probably€geneticallyÏand€also€behaviorally€in€her€past€for€alcohol€abuse,€but€that€did€not€seem€to€beÏan€issue€at€the€time€of€my€evaluation€and€to€the€best€of€my€understanding€isÏnot€an€issue€today.ððÌDr.€Hutson€said,€ð ðI€was€very€confident€that€she€would€be€a€very€competentÏparent.€€.€.€.€I€think€it€would€be€an€outrage€if€she€was€denied€custody€of€herÏson.ðð€€Dr.€Hutson€did€admit€that€he€did€not€check€sources€other€than€MotherÏto€verify€her€statements€to€him€and€that€he€did€not€know€every€fact€aboutÏMotherððs€life.Ìà àMother€tendered€Dr.€Hutson€as€an€expert€in€the€area€of€parenting,Ïincluding€the€€subtopic€of€homosexual€parents.€€He€stated€that€there€was€noÏlong„term€harm€to€a€child€who€has€a€homosexual€parent.€€However,€heÏacknowledged€that€it€is€a€minor€but€noticeable€experience€that€children€raisedÏby€homosexual€parents€are€subject€to€being€ostracized€and€teased€by€their€peers.Ìà àOn€February€6,€1996,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€on€the€petitionÏfinding€that€Father€is€the€natural€father€of€the€œchild›€and€that€the€child€is€theÏlegitimate€child€of€Father.€€The€trial€court€ordered€joint€custody€of€the€minorÏchild€and€awarded€physical€custody€to€Mother.€€The€trial€court€granted€liberalÏvisitation€to€Father€and€€changed€the€childððs€name€to€Nickolas€Evan€PriceÏHarris.€€Finally,€the€trial€court€denied€Fatherððs€request€for€injunctive€relief.à àÌà àFather€appeals€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€presents€three€issuesÏfor€review:€€1)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€award€Father€soleÏcustody;€2)€€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€place€restrictions€orÏenjoin€Mother€from€cohabitating€overnight€with€her€lesbian€lover€and€in€failingÏto€enjoin€Mother€from€exposing€the€child€to€her€relationship€with€members€ofÏthe€same€sex;€and€3)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€admit€certainÏopinions€of€Dr.€John€Hutson.ò òÌó óà àIn€his€first€issue,€Father€argues€that€he€is€the€comparatively€more€fitÏparent.€€We€believe€that€the€real€issue€must€be€whether€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€Since€this€case€was€triedÏby€the€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€the€case€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€recordÏwith€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€ÏUnless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absentÍerror€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).€€This€presumption€applies€in€child€custody€cases.€Ïò òòòHass€v.€Knightonó óóó,€676€S.W.2d€554,€555€(Tenn.€1984).€€Ìà àIn€child€custody€cases,€the€welfare€and€best€interest€of€the€child€is€theÏparamount€concern,€and€the€determination€of€the€childððs€best€interest€mustÏturn€on€the€particular€facts€of€each€case.€€ò òòòHolloway€v.€Bradley,ó óóó€190€Tenn.€565,Ï230€S.W.2d€1003€(1950).€€In€ò òòòHollowayó óóó,€the€Court€said:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à€€€€The€determining€facts€in€these€adoption€andÏcustody€cases€are€so€infinite€in€their€variety€that€theÏreported€decision€in€one€case€is€of€little€aid€orÏassistance€in€settling€the€next.€€The€supreme€rule€toÏwhich€all€others€should€yield€is€the€welfare€and€bestÏinterest€of€the€child.ÌÌò òòòId.€ó óóóat€571,€230€S.W.2d€at€1006.ÌÌÓÓà àIn€ò òòòBah€v.€Bahó óóó,€668€S.W.2d€663€(Tenn.€App.€1983),€this€Court€adopted€aÏð ðcomparative€fitnessðð€test€to€determine€custody:ÌÓÓ€à8 àà8 à€€€€We€adopt€what€we€believe€is€a€common€senseÏapproach€to€custody,€one€which€we€will€call€theÏdoctrine€of€ð ðcomparative€fitness.ðð€€The€paramountÏconcern€in€child€custody€cases€is€the€welfare€and€bestÏinterest€of€the€child.€€ò òòòMollish€v.€Mollish,€ó óóó494€S.W.2dÏ145,€151€(Tenn.€App.€1972).€€There€are€literallyÏthousands€of€things€that€must€be€taken€intoÏconsideration€in€the€lives€of€young€children,€ò òòòSmith€v.ÏSmithó óóó,€188€Tenn.€430,€437,€220€S.W.2d€627,€630Ï(1949),€and€these€factors€must€be€reviewed€on€aÏcomparative€approach:Ìà8 àà8 àà8 à€€Fitness€for€custodial€responsibilities€isÏòòlargely€a€comparative€matterò ò.ó óóó€€No€humanÍbeing€is€deemed€perfect,€hence€no€humanÏcan€be€deemed€a€perfectly€fit€custodian.€ÏNecessarily,€therefore,€the€courts€mustÏdetermine€which€of€two€or€more€availableÏcustodians€is€more€or€less€fit€than€others.Ìà8 àà8 àò òòòEdwards€v.€Edwardsó óóó,€501€S.W.2d€283,€290„91€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1973)€(emphasis€supplied.)ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.€ó óóóat€666.€€Ìà àIn€ò òòòBahóóó ó,€this€Court€established€some€guidelines€for€making€theÏdetermination€of€best€interest:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àTo€arrive€at€the€point€of€deciding€with€whom€to€placeÏa€child€in€preparation€for€a€caring€and€productiveÏadult€life€requires€consideration€of€many€relevantÏfactors,€including€but€certainly€not€limited€to€the€age,Ïhabits,€mental€and€emotional€make„up€of€the€childÏand€those€parties€competing€for€custody;€theÏeducation€and€experience€of€those€seeking€to€raise€theÏchild;€their€character€and€propensities€as€evidenced€byÏtheir€past€conduct;€the€financial€and€physicalÏcircumstances€available€in€the€home€of€each€partyÏseeking€custody€and€the€special€requirements€of€theÏchild;€€the€availability€and€extent€of€third„partyÏsupport;€the€associations€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,€care€andÏconcern,€and€physical€and€spiritual€nurture.ÌÌÓÓò òòòId.ó óóóà à€Ìà àIn€this€case,€Father€argues€that€every€conceivable€factor€to€considerÏdictates€in€his€favor.€€Father€argues€that€Mother€did€not€offer€any€testimonyÍwhatsoever€that€she€is€more€emotionally€or€financially€stable€than€Father€or€anyÏsubstantive€proof€that€she€is€a€more€fit€custodial€parent€other€than€the€fact€thatÏshe€is€the€childððs€mother.€€Although€the€trial€court€found€that€both€parents€wereÏð ðlovingðð€and€ð ðdecentðð€parents,€we€believe€that€Father€is€the€comparatively€moreÏfit€parent€and€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trialÏcourt.Ìà àWe€believe€that€Mother€has€shown€a€history€of€emotional€instability€asÏevidenced€by€her€past€suicide€attempts.€€The€evidence€shows€that€her€familyÏbackground€is€rocky€and€that€Father€has€a€better€family€support€system€inÏMemphis.€€Motherððs€family€was€afraid€to€tell€Mother€that€Father€was€planningÏto€seek€custody€because€of€the€way€she€might€react.€€In€addition,€Robin€RoweÏwas€so€concerned€about€Motherððs€drinking€that€she€considered€calling€theÏTennessee€Department€of€Human€Services.€€Mother€admitted€that€she€wasÏconvicted€of€DUI€thirteen€months€before€the€child€was€born.€€DUI€is€a€seriousÏoffense€that€shows€a€lack€of€judgment€on€Motherððs€part.€€Finally,€the€evidenceÏshowed€that€Mother€moved€fourteen€times€since€1989€and€twice€since€the€childÏwas€born€in€1993.€€This€could€be€conducive€to€an€unstable€home€environmentÏfor€the€child.Ìà àFather€also€argues€that€the€associations€and€influences€to€which€the€childÍwould€be€exposed€at€Motherððs€home€are€detrimental€to€the€childððs€emotionalÏand€moral€welfare.€€The€lifestyle€of€each€parent€is€definitely€a€factor€for€thisÏCourt€to€consider,€and€we€must€consider€a€parentððs€conduct€to€the€extent€theÏinterest€of€the€child€is€concerned.€€ò òòòIn€re€Parsonsóóó ó,€914€S.W.2d€889,€894€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1995).€€Ìà àMother€testified€that€she€intended€to€continue€sharing€a€home€with€herÏlesbian€roommate€and€that€she€would€continue€to€have€her€lesbian€friends€visitÏin€the€home.€€We€make€no€moral€judgments€concerning€Motherððs€lifestyle€as€itÏapplies€to€her€and€to€her€friends.€€However,€we€cannot€disregard€a€parentððsÏactivity€that€may€have€an€impact€in€the€developmental€stage€of€a€childððs€life.€ÏWe€feel€it€is€unacceptable€to€subject€children€to€any€course€of€conduct€thatÏmight€signify€approval€of€any€illicit€conduct€whether€it€be€between€homosexualsÏor€heterosexuals.€€Mother€and€her€roommate€have€testified€that€they€are€notÏlovers,€and€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€indicate€that€this€is€not€correct.€ÏHowever,€Motherððs€prior€history€of€emotional€stability€as€compared€to€FatherððsÏhistory€appears€to€fall€measurably€short.€€Ìà àFather€has€shown€great€concern€for€the€child.€€He€immediately€placed€theÏchild€on€his€health€care€plan€and€petitioned€for€custody€within€five€days€of€theÏbirth.€€Father€showed€concern€about€the€unlicensed€day€care€center€and€theÍgeneral€practitioner€used€by€Mother.€€Ìà àWe€should€also€point€out€that€after€Father€filed€his€brief€and€no€brief€wasÏforthcoming€from€Mother,€Fatherððs€attorneys€filed€a€motion€on€January€27,Ï1997€to€have€the€appeal€submitted€on€the€record,€œFatherððs›€brief,€and€FatherððsÏoral€argument.€€This€motion€and€the€affidavit€of€Fatherððs€counsel€were€served€onÏMother.€€On€February€6,€1997,€this€Court€entered€an€order€that€Mother€showÏcause€within€ten€days€why€this€appeal€should€not€be€considered€as€requested€byÏFather.€€Mother€did€not€respond€to€this€order.€€In€an€effort€to€be€sure€thatÏMother€was€advised€of€the€pending€action,€the€Court€again€entered€an€order€onÏFebruary€25,€1997€for€Mother€to€show€cause€on€or€before€March€7,€1997,€whyÏthe€appeal€should€not€be€considered€as€requested€by€Father.€€Mother€made€noÏresponse€to€this€order.Ìà àWhile€Motherððs€lack€of€attention€to€this€Courtððs€orders€is€in€the€natureÏof€a€post„judgment€fact,€it€does€cause€this€Court€grave€concern.€€The€trial€courtÏmade€a€determination€that€the€best€interest€of€the€child€required€that€MotherÏhave€physical€custody,€and€Motherððs€lack€of€participation€in€this€appeal€withoutÏany€explanation€could€indicate€a€lack€of€concern€in€promoting€what€the€trialÏcourt€felt€was€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Considering€the€record€in€itsÏentirety,€it€appears€that€Father€is€in€a€better€position€to€provide€and€canÍprovide€a€more€consistent€and€stable€environment€for€the€child.€€We€find€thatÏthe€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court€in€this€regard.Ìà àIn€his€second€issue,€Father€argues€that€the€trial€court€should€haveÏœenjoined›œ€each›€œparty›€from€cohabitating€overnight€with€individuals€with€whomÏœeither›€œparty€is›€romantically€involved€while€the€child€is€in€his€or€her€care.€€TheÏtrial€court€did€not€place€any€restrictions€on€either€party€in€its€order.€€We€agreeÏwith€Father€that€restrictions€should€be€placed€on€both€parties.€€Each€partyÏshould€be€prohibited€from€residing€overnight€with€an€individual€with€whom€heÏor€she€is€romantically€involved€when€the€minor€child€is€present,€and€each€partyÏshould€be€prohibited€from€engaging€in€sexual€conduct€in€the€childððs€presence.Ìà àBecause€of€the€Courtððs€holding€in€this€matter,€Fatherððs€third€issue€isÏpretermitted.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€awarding€physical€custody€toÏMother€and€setting€visitation€rights€for€Father€is€vacated,€and€Father€is€awardedÏphysical€custody.€€The€judgment€is€otherwise€affirmed€subject€to€modificationÏas€directed€herein.€€The€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€to€establish€liberalÏvisitation€rights€for€Mother€and€to€determine€her€obligation€for€child€support.€ÏThe€trial€court€shall€also€modify€the€judgment€to€place€restrictions€on€theÏpartiesðð€conduct€in€the€childððs€presence€as€indicated€in€this€opinion.€€Costs€ofÏthe€appeal€are€assessed€against€Mother.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 òDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÌÌ____________________________________Ìò òWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEó óœÔ€1ÔÔ€1Ô