ÿWPC| …# VUNa %¯ 0(µw@Ý4 1 @ 0JH 0T’ 0^æ 0hD 0r¬ 0| 0†š 0 1u° U,% 0dQ U,µ U>á B)DCH AM‹U*Øô Böv~vÓ‘ D3d 0@— AOׯ& 0Dì D/0 B_˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ mUn o p q rs£tuÓ€DÒ 3|x2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d 7Border 1dd€-!Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial êÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€#ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€#XÔÌÌJune€19,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó dPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  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  ÝÓ` Ü` p”XÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›à@ àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE,€WESTERN€SECTIONÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌà@ à_______________________________________________________ÌÌó óà à)ò òÌSHARON€LEE€WRAY€ALLEN,ó óà à)à àLawrence€County€Chancery€CourtÌà à)à àNo.€6524„95Ì€€€€€Plaintiff/Counter„Defendant/Appellant.à à)Ìà à)ÌVS.à à)à àC.€A.€No.€01A01„9511„CH„00505ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€"$!;+'h|\` ç `€€Lß›à à)Ìò òJEFFREY€KEITH€WRAY,€ó óà à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Defendant/Counter„Plaintiff/Appellee.à à)Ìà à)Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌFrom€the€Chancery€Court€of€Lawrence€County€at€Lawrenceburg.Ìò òHonorable€Jim€T.€Hamilton,€Judge€ó óÌÌÌÌò òRandy€Hillhouseó ó,ÌFREEMON€&€HILLHOUSE,€Lawrenceburg,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Plaintiff/Counter„Defendant/Appellant.ÌÌÌÌò òPaul€Batesó ó,Ìò òChristopher€V.€Sockwelló ó,ÌBOSTON,€BATES€&€HOLT,€Lawrenceburg,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Defendant/Counter„Plaintiff/Appellee.ÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:ÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€ó ó:€(Concurs)Ìò òHIGHERS,€J.€ó ó:€œ(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ` Ü` ˜XÓÓÓà àThese€post€divorce€proceedings€were€begun€when€Sharon€Lee€Wray€Allen€(Mother)Ïfiled€a€petition€seeking€to€modify€the€divorce€decree€by€awarding€her€custody€of€the€partiesðð€twoÏminor€children,€Steven€and€Staci.€€Jeffrey€Keith€Wray€(Father)€answered€and€petitioned€the€trialÏcourt€to€grant€him€sole€custody.€€Mother€appeals€from€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€whichÏchanged€custody€from€joint€custody€to€custody€to€Father€and€limited€Motherððs€visitation.€€ÌÌà àShortly€before€the€parties€were€divorced,€they€executed€a€Marital€DissolutionÏAgreement€(MDA)€agreeing€to€joint€custody€with€the€children€to€live€with€Father,€and€Mother€toÏhave€visitation€on€alternating€weekends.€€She€was€to€pick€up€the€children€at€school€on€Monday,ÏWednesday€and€Thursday€and€pick€up€only€their€daughter€Staci€on€Friday.€€Father€was€to€pick€theÏchildren€up€at€Motherððs€residence€on€those€evenings€at€approximately€6:00€p.m.€€Staci€was€toÏspend€Tuesday€night€with€Fatherððs€parents€and€Steven€to€spend€Friday€night€with€them.€€TheÏMDA,€which€was€incorporated€into€the€divorce€decree,€made€no€other€specific€provisions€forÏholidays.ÌÌà àThe€order€appealed€from€provides€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àSharon€Lee€Wray€Allen€is€awarded€visitation€privileges€with€theÏpartiesðð€minor€children€as€follows:ÌÌà8 àà àForty„eight€(48)€hours€every€other€weekend€from€6:00€p.m.Ïon€Fridays€until€6:00€p.m.€on€Sundays€as€concerns€Staci€and€fromÏnoon€on€Saturday€until€6:00€p.m.€on€Sunday€every€other€weekendÏas€concerns€Steven.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€for€the€Easter€holidays€fromÏ6:00€p.m.€on€the€day€that€school€recesses€until€6:00€p.m.€on€the€dayÏbefore€school€resumes€in€odd€years€and€the€mother€will€have€theÏchildren€during€said€period€in€even€years.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€from€6:00€p.m€on€FridayÏuntil€6:00€p.m.€on€Sunday€on€Fatherððs€Day€weekend€regardless€ofÏwhose€weekend€it€is€for€visitation€and€that€the€mother€will€have€theÏchildren€on€Motherððs€Day€weekend€regardless€of€whose€weekend€itÏis€for€visitation.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€on€Memorial€Day€weekendÏfrom€6:00€p.m€on€Friday€until€the€following€Monday€at€6:00€p.m.€inÏeven€years€and€the€mother€will€have€the€children€during€saidÏholidays€in€odd€years.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€on€4th€of€July€weekendÏfrom€6:00€p.m.€on€Friday€until€the€next€following€Monday€in€oddÏyears€and€the€mother€will€have€the€children€during€said€holiday€inÏeven€years.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€on€Labor€Day€weekendÏfrom€6:00€p.m.€on€Friday€until€the€following€Monday€at€6:00€p.m.Ïin€even€years€and€the€mother€will€have€the€children€during€saidÏholidays€in€odd€years.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€father€will€have€the€children€for€Thanksgiving€holidaysÏfrom€6:00€p.m.€the€Wednesday€before€Thanksgiving€Day€until€6:00Ïp.m.€the€following€Sunday€before€school€resumes€afterÏThanksgiving€€holidays€in€odd€years€and€the€mother€will€have€theÏchildren€during€said€period€in€even€years.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€mother€will€have€the€children€every€Christmas€vacationÏfrom€the€day€that€school€recesses€for€Christmas€holidays€until€6:00Ïp.m.€Christmas€Eve€provided€that€the€father€will€have€said€childrenÏfor€the€remainder€of€the€Christmas€holiday€each€and€every€year.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€mother€will€have€the€children€for€two€full€weeks€in€theÏsummer€of€1995€to€coincide€with€her€summer€vacation€from€PerryÏEnterprises€provided€she€will€notify€the€father€at€least€one€weekÏprior€to€the€commencement€of€said€vacation€in€1995€and€yearsÏthereafter€will€notify€the€father€not€later€than€May€1€of€said€vacationÏdates€in€order€for€the€father€to€have€an€opportunity€to€have€theÏchildren€for€a€like€vacation.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€weekends€for€Motherððs€Day,€Fatherððs€Day,€MemorialÏDay,€Labor€Day,€Easter,€and€Thanksgiving€shall€take€priority€overÏany€other€schedule€of€alternating€weekends,€so€a€parent€with€theÏholiday€weekend€privilege€shall€have€the€children,€even€if€he€or€sheÏhad€the€children€the€immediately€preceding€weekend.€€However,€toÏavoid€three€consecutive€weekends€with€the€same€parent€as€a€result€ofÏsaid€holidays,€any€alternating€shall€begin€anew€with€the€other€parentÏgetting€the€weekend€privileges€immediately€following€said€holidayÏweekend.€€Likewise,€if€the€Christmas€period€includes€a€weekendÏthat€would€otherwise€have€been€for€the€other,€the€other€shall€haveÏthe€children€for€the€next€weekend€thereafter€with€any€alternatingÏschedule€beginning€anew.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€Mother€will€make€arrangements€to€see€that€the€childrenÍare€at€their€ball€games;€or€in€the€alternative€will€wait€to€pick€theÏchildren€up€after€the€ball€games.ÌÌà8 àà àIn€the€event€that€an€extracurricular€activity,€which€the€minorÏchildren€consider€important,€presents€itself,€the€father,€in€good€faith,Ïwill€notify€the€mother€at€least€72€hours€in€advance€of€the€pick€upÏtime€of€this€activity;€and€the€mother,€in€good€faith,€will€honor€theÏminor€childrenððs€request€to€pursue€these€activities.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€mother€will€have€access€to€the€childrenððs€grades,Ïmedical€treatment,€medical€records;€and€she€will€be€notified€of€theÏchildrenððs€extracurricular€activities€including€ball€games,€schoolÏprograms,€recitals,€etc.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àMother€presents€the€following€issues€on€appeal:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àI.€€Whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€talking€to€these€youngÏchildren€over€the€objection€of€appellant€without€determining€theirÏcapacity€to€testify.ÌÌà8 àà àII.€€Whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€limiting€the€time€theÏnon„custodial€parent€has€to€visit€with€her€children.ÌÌà8 àà àIII.€€Whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€by€failing€to€awardÏcustody€of€two€young€children€with€[sic]€their€mother.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àWe€will€address€first€the€custody€issue.€€The€trial€court€may€modify€a€decreeÏawarding€custody€upon€finding€a€material€change€in€circumstances.€€òòò òMusselman€v.€Acuffóóó ó,€826ÏS.W.2d€920€(Tenn.€App.€1991);€òòò òDalton€v.€Daltonóóó ó,€858€S.W.2d€324€(Tenn.€App.€1993).€ÏCustody€decrees€remain€within€the€control€of€the€court€and€are€subject€to€such€changes€orÏmodifications€as€the€exigencies€of€the€case€may€require.€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„101(a);€òòò òDantzler€v.ÏDantzleróóó ó,€665€S.W.2d€385€(Tenn.€App.€1983).€€The€paramount€consideration€in€a€custodyÏproceeding€is€the€best€interest€of€the€child.ÌÌà àAt€the€time€of€entry€of€the€divorce€decree,€Steven€and€Staci€were€ages€8€and€5Ïrespectively.€€The€modifying€order€was€entered€approximately€one€year€later.€€The€record€revealsÏthat€Staci€is€a€well„adjusted€child€and€appears€to€have€a€good€relationship€with€both€parents.€ÍSteven€has€experienced€a€difficult€childhood€due€to€a€medical€problem€which€has€resulted€in€hisÏexhibiting€anti„social€behavior€on€numerous€occasions.€€He€was€initially€diagnosed€and€was€treatedÏfor€attention€deficit€with€hyperactive€disorder€(ADHD)€but€was€subsequently€diagnosed€asÏPsychosis€NOS.ÌÌà àAnne€Austin€Fotrell,€M.D.,€a€psychiatrist€board€certified€in€adult€psychiatry€andÏboard€eligible€in€child€psychiatry,€testified€by€deposition.€€She€testified€that€the€history€she€obtainedÏfrom€Stevenððs€parents€was€that,€around€the€birth€of€his€sister,€he€began€to€exhibit€hyperactiveÏbehavior.€€He€began€to€exhibit€aggressive€behavior,€disorganized€thinking,€confusion€and€inÏgeneral€became€extremely€difficult€to€control€in€school€environment.€€He€has€been€excessivelyÏaggressive€and€difficult€to€focus,€especially€in€the€school€setting,€such€as€hitting€others€andÏdestroying€property.€€He€was€initially€treated€for€ADHD€which,€in€Dr.€Fotrellððs€opinion,€he€clearlyÏdoes€not€have€and,€in€fact,€the€medication€for€that€illness€made€him€worse.ÌÌà àBased€upon€psychological€testing€by€Dr.€Joseph€LaBarbera,€a€psychologicalÏexaminer,€Steven€appeared€to€be€psychotic,€an€inability€to€distinguish€reality€from€fantasy€and€anÏinability€to€organize€oneððs€thoughts€in€a€coherent€fashion.€€This€conclusion€was€reached€by€Dr.ÏFotrell,€Dr.€LaBarbera€and€Dr.€Barbara€Olsen,€a€pediatric€neurologist.€€Dr.€Fotrell€first€saw€StevenÏthe€end€of€March€or€the€first€of€April€1995.€€She€felt€that€his€problem€was€a€physical€problem€withÏexternal€situational€exacerbating€features,€meaning€that€his€problem€is€aggravated€by€stimulus€toÏwhich€he€is€exposed€in€his€everyday€life.€€It€was€her€feeling€at€that€time€that€he€was€psychoticÏbecause€he€was€anxious.€€He€was€started€on€an€anti„psychotic€medication€in€which€he€hasÏresponded€quite€well.€ÌÌà àAfter€performing€several€tests,€it€was€determined€that€Steven€is€psychotic,€probablyÏas€a€permanent€condition.€€However,€follow„up€pleased€Dr.€Fotrell€in€that€Steven€had€done€well€onÏmedication€(Risperdal).€€Her€diagnosis€was€Psychosis€NOS€(not€otherwise€specified)€which€meansÍthat€she€could€not€pin€any€sort€of€etiology€to€his€psychosis.€€The€psychosis€of€his€type€isÏconsidered€an€abnormality€in€brain€chemistry.€€If€he€were€an€adult,€she€would€term€himÏschizophrenic.€€Continued€treatment€will€consist€of€medication€and€she€considers€his€environmentÏto€be€instrumental€in€his€treatment€in€that€a€child€who€is€psychotic€has€special€needs€in€terms€ofÏtheir€environment.€€They€do€not€need€to€be€overstimulated.€€They€need€fairly€consistent€structureÏand€routines.ÌÌà àShe€felt€he€had€shown€improvement€and€it€was€crucial€that€he€stay€in€a€regularÏclassroom€as€long€as€possible.€€It€was€her€recommendation€that€he€have€a€stable€structured€lifestyleÏand€no€corporal€punishment.€€She€recommended€that€he€not€be€involved€in€any€sort€of€conflictÏinappropriate€for€an€8€year€old,€that€he€be€left€out€of€adult€decisions.ÌÌà àWith€respect€to€his€schedule,€including€spending€Friday€night€with€his€paternalÏgrandparents,€she€felt€it€was€important€that€he€have€an€established€schedule€with€not€a€lot€ofÏdeviation,€that€he€is€the€type€of€child€who€would€benefit€maybe€from€a€calendar€on€the€refrigerator€Ïon€which€he€could€mark€off€days€and€see€ð ðthese€are€the€days€I€am€going€to€be€hereðð€or€ð ðthese€areÏthe€days€I€am€going€to€be€thereðð€so€he€knows€well€in€advance.€€She€felt€it€would€be€detrimental€toÏdeprive€him€of€weekly€visits€with€his€paternal€grandparents€as€he€is€very€attached€to€them.€€GoingÏto€places€he€did€not€want€to€go€would€make€him€anxious€and€in€this€child€ð ðanxious€is€bad€news.ðð€ÏShe€advised€against€taking€him€out€of€school€before€school€had€dismissed.ÌÌà àHe€has€been€to€her€office€on€a€number€of€occasions€and€was€brought€each€time€byÏhis€father€and€stepmother.€€His€mother€attended€one€session.€€During€his€sessions,€Steven€voicedÏthat€he€was€afraid€of€€his€stepfather,€didnððt€like€him€because€he€spanked€him€too€hard.€€He€wouldÏnot€talk€much€at€all€about€his€mother,€despite€repeated€invitations€to€do€so.€€Dr.€Fotrell€also€was€ofÏthe€opinion€that€decisions€regarding€visitation,€for€example,€should€be€made€by€the€adults€and€notÏby€Steven.ÌÌà àMother€testified€that€she€no€longer€worked€at€Murray€and€is€presently€employed€atÏPerry€Enterprises€working€from€7€to€4€Monday€through€Thursday€and€gets€off€at€1:00€on€Fridays.€Ï(We€assume€she€meant€7:00€a.m.€to€4:00€p.m.)€€If€awarded€custody,€her€grandparents€and€aÏneighbor€who€has€a€day€care€would€keep€the€children€when€she€was€not€at€home.€€She€describedÏthe€episode€when€Jeff€Allen€(her€present€husband)€spanked€Steven€and€said€that€she€had€had€littleÏvisitation€since€that€time.€€This€occurred€before€she€and€Mr.€Allen€married.€€She€allowed€him€toÏspank€Steven€because€Steven€had€thrown€an€object€at€Mr.€Allen.ÌÌà àStaci€has€never€been€a€behavioral€problem,€is€doing€well€in€school€and€hasÏcontinued€to€visit€her€mother€on€a€regular€basis€and€gets€along€well€with€Mr.€Allen.€€MotherÏdescribed€three€incidents€when€her€former€husband€lost€his€temper€in€the€presence€of€the€children.€ÏShe€also€described€an€incident€when€he€was€screaming€at€her€in€the€presence€of€the€children€andÏasked€Staci€if€she€wanted€to€live€with€him€or€Mr.€Allen.€€She€testified€on€cross€that€she€had€neverÏattended€any€of€the€ADHD€support€meetings€since€the€divorce.ÌÌà àShe€met€with€Dr.€Fotrell€twice€and€none€with€Drs.€Olsen€and€LaBarbera.€ÏHowever,€she€said€that€her€former€husband€would€not€tell€her€about€these€appointments€until€theÏday€before.€€She€related€an€incident€when€Steven€was€at€the€hospital€and€she€inquired€about€aÏSunday€afternoon€visit€and€was€told€by€the€staff€that€he€had€left€with€his€father.€€When€she€askedÏSteven€about€it€he€said€that€the€staff€had€taken€him€to€the€fun€center.€€When€she€let€him€know€thatÏthe€staff€had€told€her€that€his€dad€had€taken€him€he€said€ð ðwell,€since€you€already€know€I€guess€IÏcan€tell€you€the€truth.ðð€€When€she€asked€him€who€told€him€to€lie€to€her€he€said€daddy€made€him€doÏit.ÌÌÌà àFather€teaches€and€coaches€football€at€the€high€school€level.à à€He€testified€that€StaciÍhas€a€good€relationship€with€her€mother.€€Both€parents€testified€that€the€children€should€remainÏtogether.€€He€testified€that€he€had€never€told€Steven€he€could€not€go€for€visitation€with€his€mother.ÌÌà àHe€described€his€schedule€as€arriving€at€school€between€7:30€and€7:45.€€He€takesÏSteven€to€Lawrenceburg€Public€School.€€Football€practice€had€been€ending€between€4:30€and€5:00Ïbut€with€the€new€block€schedule€will€be€ending€around€4:00€at€the€latest.€€His€present€wife€does€notÏwork€outside€the€home.€€He€attends€the€Freshmen€or€B€Team€games€at€home€and€Steven€usuallyÏaccompanies€him€if€he€has€done€his€homework.€€Staci€accompanies€him€to€basketball€games.€€HeÏdenied€ever€running€down€his€ex„wife€in€the€presence€of€the€children.ÌÌà àHe€admitted€that€Steven€had€a€ð ðhorrible€school€yearðð€the€previous€year.€€He€testifiedÏthat€he€has€noticed€a€considerable€change€in€Steven€since€taking€Risperdal.€€Prior€to€thisÏmedication,€Steven€had€a€hard€time€controlling€his€emotions,€instances€of€hallucination€andÏinappropriate€reaction€to€normal€circumstances.€€He€was€the€one€that€made€the€arrangements€forÏSteven€to€be€seen€by€the€health€care€professionals€and€the€only€assistance€his€former€wife€offeredÏwas€to€keep€Staci.€€During€the€fifteen€days€Steven€was€hospitalized,€he€made€nine€trips€includingÏtaking€him€and€returning€him€home.€€He€also€attended€family€counseling€sessions.€€AlthoughÏMother€told€them€she€would€attend€one€of€the€sessions,€she€did€not€attend.€€The€counselingÏsessions€dealt€with€how€to€deal€with€Steven€when€he€was€released€from€the€hospital€and€is€calledÏAfter€Care.€€Mother€attended€none€of€these€sessions.ÌÌà àHe€did€not€take€summer€employment€during€the€past€year€so€he€could€spend€moreÏtime€with€the€children.€€When€it€was€believed€that€Steven€was€suffering€from€ADHD,€FatherÏscheduled€his€hours€of€in„service€training€on€how€to€deal€with€children€with€this€problem.€€HeÏstated€that€the€children€are€very€close€to€his€parents€and€Steven€has€spent€every€Friday€night€withÏthem€since€he€was€2€years€old.€€He€denied€that€he€had€conditioned€Steven€to€be€afraid€of€SharonððsÏhusband€but,€to€the€contrary,€had€encouraged€him€to€visit€his€mother.€€He€attends€practically€all€ofÍStevenððs€baseball€practices,€but€to€his€knowledge€Mother€has€not€attended€any.€€He€believes€thatÏStevenððs€fear€of€Jeff€Allen€is€genuine.€€ÌÌà àFather€testified€that€Mother€did€not€attend€any€of€the€ADHD€meetings.€€She€also€didÏnot€attend€any€M€Team€meetings,€which€was€described€as€where€teacherððs€aides,€the€administratorÏand€parents€are€involved€in€a€group€discussion€to€plan€an€IEP€(Individualized€Education€Plan)€forÏthe€student.€€He€testified€that€Steven€told€him€that€Jeff€Allen€had€spanked€him€on€one€occasion,Ïabout€two€weeks€after€Sharon€and€Jeff€were€married,€for€spilling€popcorn.ÌÌà àIt€is€apparent€from€our€review€of€this€record€that€the€relationship€of€the€parents€isÏsuch€that€joint€custody€is€no€longer€workable€and€not€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children.€€As€thisÏCourt€said€in€òòò òDodd€v.€Doddóóó ó,€737€S.W.2d€286,€289„290€(Tenn.€App.€1987):ÌÌÓÓà8 àThere€needs€to€be€one€residence,€one€haven€in€all€the€storms€of€life,Ïincluding€those€storms€whipped€up€by€the€winds€of€divorce.€€ThereÏneeds€to€be€one€parent€with€primary€control€and€responsibility€forÏthe€upbringing€of€the€partiesðð€children,€whenever€possible.€ÏCustody,€in€reality,€means€responsibility€for€the€care,€nurture€andÏdevelopment€of€the€mental,€emotional€and€physical€needs€of€theÏchild.€€The€custodial€parent€should€expect€and€receive€cooperationÏand€assistance€from€the€non„custodial€parent€in€every€respect€toÏserve€the€best€interests€of€their€child€or€children.ÌÌÌÌÓÓòòò òDoddóóó ó,€737€S.W.2d€at€289„290.ÌÌà àOur€review€is€òòò òde€novoóóó ó€with€a€presumption€that€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€areÏcorrect€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Rule€13(d)€T.R.A.P.;€òòò òHass€v.ÏKnightonóóó ó,€676€S.W.2d€554€(Tenn.€1984).€€The€paramount€consideration€in€a€custody€proceedingÏis€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Changed€circumstances€in€this€case€include€the€fact€that€bothÏparents€have€remarried,€the€childrenððs€relationships€with€their€respective€stepparents€and€the€factÏthat,€as€previously€noted,€the€relationship€of€the€parties€is€such€that€joint€custody€is€not€workable.€ÍBoth€parents€agree€that€it€would€be€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children€for€them€to€remain€together.€ÏThey€have€lived€in€their€Fatherððs€home,€pursuant€to€the€partiesðð€initial€agreement,€since€the€divorce.€ÏThey€appear€to€be€well„adjusted€(which€we€recognize€in€Stevenððs€case€is€a€relative€term).€€TheÏchildren€have€a€good€relationship€with€their€Father€and€stepmother.€€The€relationship€with€theirÏstepfather,€particularly€in€Stevenððs€case,€leaves€much€to€be€desired.€€Despite€the€seriousness€ofÏStevenððs€medical€problem,€his€stepfather€testified€that€he€and€Mother€do€not€discuss€StevenððsÏproblem€and,€when€asked€how€he€was€going€to€recognize€and€take€care€of€it€if€he€was€not€aware€ofÏit,€responded€ð ðwhen€we€find€out€if€heððs€got€one,€we€will€take€care€of€it.ððÌÌà àMother€argues€that€the€trial€court€failed€to€apply€the€tender€years€doctrine.€€GivenÏthe€ages€of€the€children,€we€seriously€doubt€the€application€of€the€doctrine€to€this€case.€€However,Ïwhen€applicable,€it€is€but€one€factor€to€be€considered.€€Having€reviewed€this€record,€we€do€not€findÏthe€evidence€to€preponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€best€interest€of€the€children€isÏserved€by€Father€having€custody.ÌÌà àWith€respect€to€visitation,€the€MDA€did€not€make€provisions€for€holiday€visitations.€ÏGiven€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€we€believe€the€trial€court€exercised€sound€discretion€inÏestablishing€a€holiday€visitation€schedule.€€However,€with€respect€to€Staci,€we€do€not€find€theÏevidence€to€preponderate€in€favor€of€a€finding€that€it€is€in€her€best€interest€to€vary€the€visitation€withÏrespect€to€Mother€picking€her€up€at€school€on€Monday,€Wednesday€and€Thursday€with€HusbandÏpicking€up€Staci€at€Wifeððs€residence€on€those€evenings€at€approximately€6:00€p.m.€€However,ÏMother€should€not€take€Staci€from€school€prior€to€the€ending€of€the€regular€school€day.€€DuringÏsummer€vacation,€we€find€no€reason€why€Motherððs€visitation€on€those€three€days€should€notÏextend€until€approximately€9:00€p.m.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€modified€accordingly.€€OnÏthe€other€hand,€we€believe€the€evidence€preponderates€in€favor€of€the€trial€courtððs€findings€thatÏMotherððs€visitation€with€Steven€be€in€accordance€with€the€trial€courtððs€decision.ÌÌà àAt€the€time€the€trial€court€indicated€the€desire€to€talk€with€the€children,€MotherððsÏattorney€objected€on€the€basis€that€the€children€were€too€young.€€Counselððs€statement€to€the€courtÏthat€ð ðI€donððt€think€the€children€are€of€an€age€that€you€need€to€be€talking€to€them.€€It€would€be€overÏour€objectionðð€could€be€construed€as€a€reference€to€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„106(7)€or€the€childrenððs€inabilityÏto€appreciate€the€obligation€to€testify€truthfully€in€a€court€of€law.ÌÌà àIn€determining€custody,€the€court€is€to€consider€all€relevant€factors,€including€theÏreasonable€preference€of€the€child€if€twelve€years€of€age€or€older.€€The€court€may€hear€theÏpreference€of€the€younger€child€upon€request€but€the€preferences€of€older€children€should€normallyÏbe€given€greater€weight.€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„106(7).€€Every€person€is€presumed€competent€to€be€aÏwitness€unless€otherwise€provided€in€the€rules€or€by€statute.€€Tenn.R.Evid.€601.€€Every€witness€isÏrequired€to€take€an€oath€or€affirmation€before€testifying.€€Rule€603.ÌÌà àAge€or€mental€status€does€not€automatically€bar€one€from€testifying€underÏTenn.R.Evid.€601.€€If€a€witness€is€of€sufficient€capacity€to€understand€the€obligation€of€an€oath€orÏaffirmation,€absent€some€rule€or€statute€to€the€contrary,€the€witness€is€competent.€€The€question€ofÏcompetency€is€a€matter€for€the€trial€courtððs€discretion.€€òòò òState€v.€Caughronóóó ó,€855€S.W.2d€526,Ï538€(Tenn.€1993),€cert.€denied,€114€S.€Ct.€475€(1993).€€The€defendant€in€òòò òCaughronóóó ó€argued€thatÏthe€failure€of€the€trial€court€to€ask€the€minor€whether€she€understood€the€difference€between€tellingÏthe€truth€and€a€lie€and€whether€she€comprehended€the€importance€of€telling€the€truth€rendered€herÏcompetency€evaluation€conducted€before€she€testified€inadequate.€€The€trial€judge€asked€the€minorÏsome€general€questions,€such€as€how€she€was€doing€in€school€and€how€her€counseling€wasÏprogressing€and€some€questions€about€her€awareness€of€the€testimony.€€The€supreme€court€ruledÏthat€the€trial€judge€did€not€abuse€his€discretion.ÌÌà àAs€stated€in€òòò òGotwald€v.€Gotwaldóóó ó,€768€S.W.2d€689,€697€(Tenn.€App.€1988):ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àOnly€a€child€who€has€a€due€sense€of€obligation€and€sanctityÏof€an€oath,€who€understands€the€evil€of€lying€and€that€suchÏwrongdoing€is€punishable,€or€who,€having€sufficient€naturalÏintelligence,€has€been€so€instructed€as€to€comprehend€the€nature€ofÏtelling€the€truth€and€consequences€of€a€willful€falsehood€mayÏproperly€be€permitted€to€testify.€€òòò òState€v.€Nelsonóó,ó ó€Tenn.€Cr.ÏApp.€1980,€603€S.W.2d€158.ÌÌÌÌÓÓòòò òGotwaldóóó ó,€768€S.W.2d€at€697.ÌÌà àFatherððs€attorney€inquired€as€to€whether€the€court€desired€to€talk€to€the€children.€€AtÏthat€point€Motherððs€attorney€objected€stating€ð ðI€donððt€think€the€children€are€of€an€age€that€you€needÏto€be€talking€with€them.ðð€€The€court€then€stated€that€he€then€wished€to€ask€them€a€few€questionsÏand€the€children€were€questioned€in€chambers€with€both€attorneys€and€the€court€reporter€present.€ÏThere€is€no€indication€in€the€record€that€the€children€were€administered€the€oath.€€In€addition€toÏbeing€questioned€by€the€trial€judge,€the€children€were€questioned€by€both€of€the€attorneys.€€BothÏchildren€expressed€a€desire€to€live€with€their€father.ÌÌà àThese€children€are€both€under€the€age€of€twelve€and€the€record€does€not€indicate€thatÏthey€were€administered€an€oath.€€However,€we€find€that€any€error€in€this€regard€is€harmless.€€€RuleÏ36(b)€T.R.C.P.€€Excluding€the€statements€of€the€children,€the€evidence€does€not€preponderateÏagainst€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€best€interest€of€the€children€is€served€by€placing€custodyÏwith€the€father.ÌÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€as€modified€and€this€cause€is€remandedÏfor€any€further€necessary€proceedings.€€The€costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€one„half€to€Jeffrey€KeithÏWray€and€one„half€to€Sharon€Lee€Allen,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓ` Ü` È“XÓÓÓà à___________________________________Ìà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHIGHERS,€J.€(Concurs)›Ì