ÿWPCÈ Ú|ÝâdäS{ãÃÿf¤+¼u¼•ì]u©Y{ã˜.yTÔI"B7Žô”_(¦ Œ#²pb{{’Ÿ/—%T[3Ï”¯',Ü“ û\Þ²ÍØémQ1u0î¹LæìmF4$+ÿ.Àm’:êR`<½ $õ†Ôï‘ ý·Ì›ÿ©*¬ø»’¥Àü´´6‰mYáb Òkú-»’…Jç–•ý$—ã@kY.W ôu†íׂgA1("ý—ŠúËVJ‚ ãƒiLQ͇•ü)–éF7h¼éP y! ¼qnr£øžQµÑ¦É’Âì1Ó5/²!v”Àó´ýZÁ ]\Ó–Àùùs‡zªÃ”þ°%",hÝm7øp¤XçR`à$0êªÈ·£Œæ\JÁlûE¸¶WÈ ¡äÈZ`ΉüwÂ.ÔÍO­è]h,ŒvöÛ½f·"Žr;ú°ÜÝáŒÍcOÓ•).™UnoÇ»îA™ò„cx}e’‘Ž#®P tàÇlµÎŒ$Îx TÌþ—…ï.ûC"xYšþ÷ ßËNµ)Ô6Ƶ¼?éDÁj`Çܘö׋#`€*Íma‹¨­,æ¨+seM¢š:b#É\ %% ^ + 0ˆ7 UN¿ w 4 z% ÒŸ q € m‚ ™ Æ¡ Æg Æ-ÆóóN¹¹¹E»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»b½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½ 0ëÅÅÅÅ B°° 0¤Í D3q D-¤ 0KÑÑ ASÆo 0¤5 0DÙ A«˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»Ý¡c/Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularo=/B011C8 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 - ù-(|G2÷©$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H}»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôäeò»»Ô d(|3Ç$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H}»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ç$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H}»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€H}»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼H}»»»ÔÑ8€IXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îWH}ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼H}»îîW #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓApril€7,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XIX»¼H}ÔÌò òÔ#†¼H}»XXIò#ÔÔ_ÔRUTHIEÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCURBOWÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€JAMES€DOUGLAS€Ô_ÔSTUCKIÔ_ÔÔ‡XIX»¼H}Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Williamson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€33563€€€€€€Ô_ÔLonnieÔ_Ô€Hoover,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„02908„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„JV€„€Filed€October€28,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ԀР¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌòòóóÔ#†¼H}»XXIÃ#ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡XIX»¼H}ÔIn€this€case,€Ô_ÔRuthieÔ_Ô€Ann€Ô_ÔCurbowÔ_Ô€appeals€from€a€custody€and€support€proceeding€in€WilliamsonÐ xÈ  ÐCounty€Juvenile€Court.€€On€the€day€of€the€hearing,€parties€and€counsel€appeared€in€camera€for€a€pre„Ð d´ Ðtrial€conference.€€Upon€announcement€of€an€apparent€settlement€in€open€court,€Mother€expressedÐ P  Ðdisagreement€with€the€terms€of€the€settlement€and€a€desire€to€preserve€her€right€to€appeal.€€The€trialÐ <Œ Ðcourt€determined€that€no€settlement€existed€and€trial€on€the€merits€proceeded€with€proof€from€allÐ (x Ðparties.€€The€court€entered€an€order€awarding€joint€custody€with€Father€as€primary€custodian€underÐ d Ðthe€statutory€fitness€comparison.€€Mother€appeals.€€We€affirm€the€judgment.Ð P ÐÔ#†¼H}»XXIY#ÔÔ‡XIX»¼H}ÔÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Ð Ø( ÐAffirmed€and€Remandedó óÐ Ä ÐÌòòÔ#†¼H}»àXIÿ#ÔÔ‡XIX.¼H}ÔÓ  ÓWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Cantrell,€P.J.,€M.S.,óó€andÐ œì ÐòòWilliam€Charles€Lee,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð ˆØ ÐÌThomas€F.€Bloom,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Ô_ÔRuthieÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔCurbowÔ_Ô.Ð `° ÐÌJames€Robin€Ô_ÔMcKinneyÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€James€Douglas€Ô_ÔStuckiÔ_Ô.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÌò òÓ  ÓOPINIONó óÔ#†¼H}»XXIÝ #ÔÔ‡XIX»¼H}ÔÐ #`" ÐÓ  ÓÌÔ#†¼H}»XXIP #ÔÔ€XIX»¼H}Ôà  àMother€and€Father€began€dating€in€May€of€1998.€€The€child€who€is€the€subject€of€this€custodyÐ è$8 $ Ðaction€was€born€on€April€3,€1999.€€In€August€of€2000€Mother€and€Father€quit€dating.€€In€SeptemberÐ Ô%$!% Ðof€2000€Father€began€dating€his€current€wife.€€On€the€20th€of€that€month,€Mother€filed€the€petitionÐ À&"& Ðin€Juvenile€Court€for€Williamson€County€requesting€custody€and€child€support.€€In€that€petitionÐ ¬'ü"' ÐMother€alleged,€òòinter€aliaóó,€the€following:Ð ˜(è#( ÐÌà8  à9.à0` Ð Ð àThat€during€the€times€that€the€minor€child,€JAMES€WILLIAM€Ô_ÔSTUCKIÔ_Ô,Ð p*À%* Ðvisits€overnight€with€Father€in€his€home,€the€minor€child€does€not€have€hisÐ \+¬&+ Ðâ âown€bedroom.€€Mother€fears€that€unless€Father€is€restrained€he€will€haveÐ H,˜',ý ÐÔ_ Ôovernight€female€guests€to€whom€he€is€not€married€and€to€the€detriment€of€theÐ ° Ðminor€child,€JAMES€WILLIAM€STUCKI;Мì` Ð ` Ð  Ðâ âÌà8  à10.à0` Ð Ð àThat€a€restraining€order€be€issued€restraining€Father€from€having€femaleÐ tÄ Ðguests€overnight€during€times€when€the€minor€child,€JAMES€WILLIAMÐ `° ÐSTUCKI,€spends€the€night€with€Father€pending€a€final€hearing€in€this€matter;€ÐL œ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  à11.à0` Ð Ð àThat€Father€is€fundamentally€opposed€to€immunizations€for€children€and€doesÐ $ t Ðnot€believe€in€giving€children€prescribed€medicine.€€Mother€fears€that€unlessÐ  ` Ðrestrained€Father€will€fail€to€immunize€the€partiesðð€minor€child,€JAMESÐ ü L  ÐWILLIAM€STUCKI,€or€fail€to€give€him€prescribed€medicine,€if€needed;€andÐè 8 ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  à12.à0` Ð Ð àThat€a€restraining€order€be€issued€restraining€Father€from€preventing€theÐ À  Ðpartiesðð€minor€child€from€being€immunized€and/or€from€preventing€theÐ ¬ü  Ðpartiesðð€minor€child€from€receiving€any€and€all€prescribed€medications€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðprescribed€dosages,€as€ordered€by€the€childððs€pediatrician,€pending€a€finalÐ „Ô  Ðhearing€in€this€matter.ÐpÀ` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Father€responded€to€the€petition€and€filed€a€counter„petition€seeking€sole€custody€of€theÐ H˜ Ðpartiesðð€minor€child.€€The€counterclaim€went€unanswered.€€During€the€ensuing€litigation€severalÐ 4„ Ðaltercations€occurred€between€the€parties€regarding€visitation.€€Despite€the€disagreements€betweenÐ  p Ðthe€parties€it€seems€that€on€the€date€assigned€for€hearing,€October€24,€2001,€the€parties€had€workedÐ  \ Ðout€a€settlement€in€chambers.€€The€transcript€of€the€hearing€reveals€sixteen€pages€of€discussionÐ øH Ðconcerning€the€terms€of€an€apparent€agreed€compromise.€€Mother€indicated€her€disagreement€throughÐ ä4 Ðcounsel.Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Will€go€into€an€education€trust€for€the€child.€€Is€all€thatÐ ¨ø Ðagreeable?€€Is€that€agreeable€with€you,€maððam?ДäÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€HOOD:€€Well,€Your€Honor,€again,€this€is€not€what€she€wants€soÐ €Ð Ðshe€is€not€going€to€agree.Ðl¼Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Well,€do€you€object€to€it?ÐX ¨Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€HOOD:€€But€weððre€not€going€to€object€that€this€is€the€order€of€theÐ D!” ÐCourt€and€not€have€a€hearing.€€I€think€at€the€end€of€the€day€if€we€have€a€hearing,€thisÐ 0"€  Ðis€going€to€be€the€Courtððs€order.Ð#l!Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€I€believe€it€will€too.Ð $X" Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€HOOD:€€So€weððre€not€objecting€to€this€order€not€having€aÐ ô$D # Ðhearing.Ðà%0!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€You€know,€weððve€got€this€about€as€even€and€fair€asÐ Ì&"% Ðit€can€be.€€You€donððt€object€to€it,€maððam?и'#&Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€CURBOW:€€No,€sir,€but€could€I€add€one€thing€if€I€could,€please?Ф(ô#'Ð Ð  Ðâ âà  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Yes,€if€you€have€to,€go€ahead.Ð )à$( Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€CURBOW:€€There€have€been€numerous€times€that€Mr.€Stucki€hasÐ ° Ðnot€allowed€me€to€talk€to€my€son,€and€I€was€wondering€if€it€would€be€okay,€YourÐ œì ÐHonor,€if€I€can€have€phone€privileges€with€my€son.ЈØÐ Ð  Ðâ âà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€See,€this€is€another€one€of€those€things.€€Iððm€not€goingÐ tÄ Ðto€get€into€every€last€aspect€of€your€and€his€life.€€I€mean€you„all€are€grownups.Ð`°Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€CURBOW:€€Yes,€sir.Ð L œ Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€And€if€you€want€to€spend€it,€you€know,€hiring€lawyersÐ 8 ˆ Ðevery€three€minutes€coming€in€and€out€of€court€and€acting€like€children,€then€you€canÐ $ t Ðdo€that.Ð `Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àBut€Iððve€already€told€you€the€thing€to€do€is€to€talk€to€each€other€andÐ ü L  Ðtry€to€work€these€little€simple€things€out€between€yourselves.€€You„all€just€sit€downÐ è 8  Ðand€discuss€it€and€work€out€some€sort€of€phone€arrangements€or€some€sort€ofÐ Ô$  Ðagreements.ÐÀ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àIf€you€have€a€problem,€simply€call€the€man.€€And,€sir,€itððs€way€in€yourÐ ¬ü  Ðbest€interest€to€let€her€talk€her€son€when€you€have€him€for€visitation.Иè Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àShortly€after€this€exchange€counsel€for€Petitioner€made€the€following€statement€in€open€court,Ð pÀ Ðwhereupon€the€court€vented€its€frustration€at€the€understandably€difficult€task€of€facilitating€whatÐ \¬ Ðseems€to€have€been€a€difficult€effort€at€compromise:€Ð H˜ ÐÌà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€HOOD:€€Your€Honor,€I€do€need€to€make€clear€to€reserve€herÐ  p Ðappeal€rights€that€sheððs€not€agreed€to€the€order.€€What€weððre€agreeing€is€that€this€isÐ  \ Ðthe€order€of€the€court,€but€its€not€an€agreed€order.€ÐøHÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Well€now,€if€sheððs€going€to€appeal,€we€need€to€start€„Ð ä4 Є€we€can€just€start€calling€witnesses€and€let€your€legal€bill€run€up€to,€you€know,€threeÐ Ð  Ðkazillion€dollars€or€so,€whatever€itððs€going€to€be.€€If€your€client€wants€to€appeal€„€„м Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMS.€HOOD:€€There€is€probably€going€to€be€an€appeal,€Yes,€YourÐ ¨ø ÐHonor.€€What€I€was€saying€is€that€I€think€at€the€end€of€the€day,€Your€Honor€is€goingÐ ”ä Ðto€rule€this€way.€€And€as€such€„€„ЀÐÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Okay.€€Thereððs€going€to€be€an€appeal?€€All€those€goingÐ l¼ Ðto€testify,€raise€you€right€hand€and€be€sworn.€€(Witnesses€sworn.)€€Call€your€firstÐ X ¨ Ðwitness:ÐD!”Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àMR.€McKINNEY:€€Judge,€I€call€the€Rule.Ð0"€ Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€€Iððm€going€to€hear€this€in€about€ten„minute€incrementsÐ #l! Ðand€take€about€15„minute€breaks€every€ten€minutes.€€Itððs€been€a€hard€day.Ð$X"Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIt€does€bear€noting€for€the€purpose€of€Appellantððs€argument€that€prior€to€statements€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðcounsel€regarding€preserving€the€right€to€appeal,€the€court€had€indicated€that€under€the€compromiseÐ Ì&"% Ðas€announced€Mother€would€be€primary€custodian.€€Following€that€lengthy€discussion,€the€juvenileÐ ¸'#& Ðcourt€conducted€a€trial€on€the€merits,€during€which€it€heard€proof€from€both€parties.€€The€PetitionerÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtestified€on€her€own€behalf.€€In€addition€to€her€own€testimony,€Petitioner€also€presented€Joy€DruryÐ )à$( Ðand€Jenny€Rominger,€two€of€the€workers€at€the€childððs€daycare€in€Williamson€County€in€her€case€inÐ |*Ì%) Ðchief.€€Respondent€presented€his€own€testimony€as€well€in€his€case€in€chief.€€He€also€presented€theÐ h+¸&* Ðtestimony€of€Allison€Stucki,€his€daughter€from€a€previous€marriage,€Lori€Stucki,€his€wife,€andÐ ° ÐDeborah€Cochran,€a€mutual€friend€of€the€parties€who€introduced€them€back€in€1999.€€The€MotherÐ œì Ðoffered€as€rebuttal€proof€the€testimony€of€Terry€Snow,€a€witness€whose€relationship€to€the€PlaintiffÐ ˆØ Ðis€unclear,€and€Margaret€Hawkins,€the€childððs€maternal€grandmother.€€After€considering€all€of€theÐ tÄ Ðtestimony,€the€juvenile€court€entered€its€order€on€November€2,€2001,€in€which€it€determined€that€theÐ `° ÐRespondent€Father€was€comparatively€more€fit€than€the€Mother€under€the€criteria€set€forth€inÐ L œ ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36„6„106:Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà8  àà ` àTHIS€CAUSE€came€to€be€heard€on€the€24th€day€of€October,€2001,€upon€theÐ  ` Ðsetting€for€Final€Hearing€of€the€Petition€for€Custody€and€To€Set€Child€Support€filedÐ ü L  Ðby€our€Petitioner,€Ruthie€Curbow,€the€testimony€of€witnesses€and€production€ofÐ è 8  Ðexhibits,€statements€of€counsel,€and€upon€the€entire€record€in€this€cause,€the€CourtÐ Ô$  Ðfinds€that€in€accordance€with€the€factors€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„106€as€follows:ÐÀ Ð Ð  Ðà  àà8 ` à1.à0¸ ` x` xàThe€love,€affection€and€emotional€ties€existing€between€theÐ ¬ü  Ðparents€and€child€are€equal€between€the€parties;Ð˜è ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à2.à0¸ ` x` xàThat€father€is€better€able€to€provide€for€the€child€financially;Ð„Ô ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à3.à0¸ ` x` xàThat€the€continuity€of€placement€of€the€child€has€been€equalÐ pÀ Ðbetween€the€parents;Ð\¬¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à4.à0¸ ` x` xàThat€father€has€remarried€and€has€two€other€children€inÐ H˜ ÐWilliamson€County,€Tennessee.€€Motherððs€family€livesÐ 4„ Ðseveral€hours€from€the€Williamson€County.€€Therefore,€theÐ  p Ðstability€of€the€family€weighs€in€favor€of€Father.Ð \¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à5.à0¸ ` x` xàThat€both€parents€appear€equally€fit€to€mentally€and€physicallyÐ øH Ðcare€for€the€child.Ðä4¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à6.à0¸ ` x` xàT.C.A.€ðð€36„6„106(6)€is€not€applicable€to€the€child€due€to€hisÐ Ð  Ðage;м ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à7.à0¸ ` x` xàT.C.A.€ðð€36„6„106(7)€is€not€applicable€to€the€child€due€to€hisÐ ¨ø Ðage;Ð”ä¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à8.à0¸ ` x` xàThere€is€no€evidence€that€either€parent€has€been€abusiveÐ €Ð Ðtowards€the€child;Ðl¼¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à9.à0¸ ` x` xàThere€is€no€evidence€that€either€parent€allows€the€child€toÐ X ¨ Ðhave€contact€with€any€persons€of€immoral€character€orÐ D!” Ðimproper€behavior;€andÐ0"€ ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` à10.à0¸ ` x` xàThat€it€is€likely€that€Mother€brought€this€action€for€vindictiveÐ #l! Ðor€financial€purposes.Ð$X"¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà ` àTherefore,€in€light€of€the€testimony€of€witnesses,€exhibits€introduced€intoÐ ô$D # Ðevidence€and€in€accordance€with€the€above„referenced€factors,€the€Court€finds€thatÐ à%0!$ ÐFather€is€the€fit€and€proper€person€to€care€for€the€child.ÐÌ&"%Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIt€is€hereby€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€the€parties€shallÐ ¸'#& Ðbe€awarded€joint€custody€and€that€Father€shall€be€awarded€primary€physical€custodyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€the€minor€child.€€Mother€shall€be€entitled€to€liberal€visitation€including€everyÐ )à$( Ðâ âTuesday€and€Thursday€night€and€every€other€weekend€from€Friday€at€6:00€p.m.€toÐ |*Ì%) ÐSunday€at€6:00€p.m.€€Mother€shall€be€entitled€to€four€consecutive€weeks€visitationÐ ° Ðduring€the€summer€with€the€minor€child.€€Standard€holiday€visitation€shall€apply.МìÐ Ð  Ðâ âÌà  àOn€Petitionerððs€motion€this€order€was€amended€as€follows:Ð tÄ ÐÌà8  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€the€weekdayÐ L œ Ðvisitation€on€Tuesdays€and€Thursdays€shall€be€from€6:00€p.m.€until€8:00€a.m.€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðfollowing€day.Ð$ tÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIt€is€further€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€the€Mother€shallÐ  ` Ðgive€notice€by€April€1,€2003€and€each€year€thereafter€of€when€she€intends€to€exerciseÐ ü L  Ðsummer€visitation.Ðè 8 Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIt€is€further€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€the€Mother€shallÐ Ô$  Ðmaintain€major€medical€insurance€on€behalf€of€the€minor€child.€€The€parties€shallÐ À  Ðequally€divide€all€medical€expenses€not€covered€by€insurance.Ьü Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIt€is€further€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€the€component€ofÐ ˜è  Ðthe€Motion€to€specify€the€time€of€the€exchanges€for€the€major€holidays€for€theÐ „Ô  Ðvisitation€shall€be€denied.ÐpÀÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIt€is€further€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€and€DECREED€that€notwithstandingÐ \¬ Ðthe€above,€the€Courtððs€previous€Order€remain€in€full€force€and€effect.ÐH˜Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àFrom€the€final€order€of€the€court€awarding€primary€custody€to€the€Father,€Mother€appeals.€Ð  p ÐMother€argues€on€appeal€that€the€court€erred€in€refusing€to€enter€an€Agreed€Order€and€that€the€courtÐ  \ Ðerred€in€finding€the€Father€comparatively€more€fit.€€Ð øH ÐÌI.€€Agreement€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€difficulty€with€the€position€of€Appellant€is€that€there€is€no€agreement€„€„€there€was€noÐ ¨ø Ðagreement€at€the€time€of€the€hearing€„€„€and€there€never€has€been€an€agreement.€€The€parties€andÐ ”ä Ðcounsel€had€an€in„camera€conference€with€the€trial€court€and€apparently€reached€what€the€trial€courtÐ €Ð Ðthought€was€a€settlement€agreement.€€When€court€opened,€the€trial€court€was€in€the€process€of€statingÐ l¼ Ðthe€terms€of€the€apparently€agreed€settlement€when€Appellant€announced€her€disagreement€withÐ X ¨ Ðportions€of€the€settlement€but€was€content€to€have€the€trial€court€enter€an€agreed€order€in€conformityÐ D!” Ðwith€the€portions€of€the€alleged€agreement€with€which€she€agreed€while€also€preserving€her€right€toÐ 0"€  Ðappeal€as€to€the€portions€of€the€order€with€which€she€disagreed.€€If€the€trial€court€were€to€sign€suchÐ #l! Ðan€order,€any€appellate€court€would€have€to€set€the€order€aside€on€the€basis€that€there€was€noÐ $X" Ðevidence€in€the€record€to€support€the€trial€court€finding.€€The€trial€judge€was€not€about€to€embarkÐ ô$D # Ðupon€such€an€exercise€in€futility€and€very€correctly€said€ð ðcall€your€first€witness.ððÐ à%0!$ ÐÌà  àA€consent€judgment€is€entirely€dependent€upon€consent€by€all€parties€to€all€provisionsÐ ¸'#& Ðthereof.€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà8  àà ` àThe€general€rule€defining€the€power€of€a€court€to€enter€a€consent€judgment€isÐ )à$( Ðâ âset€forth€in€49€C.J.S.€Judgments€ðð€174(b),€as€follows:Ð|*Ì%)Ð Ð  Ðà  àà8 ` àThe€power€of€the€court€to€render€a€judgment€by€consent€is€dependentÐ ° Ðâ âon€the€existence€of€the€consent€of€the€parties€at€the€time€theÐ œì Ðagreement€receives€the€sanction€of€the€court€or€is€rendered€andÐ ˆØ Ðpromulgated€as€a€judgment.ÐtÄ` x` x Ðà8  àà ` àIn€making€reference€to€the€general€rule€in€òòBurnaman€v.€Heatonóó,€150€Tex.€333,Ð `° Ð240€S.W.2d€288€(1951),€the€court€emphasized€that:ÐL œÐ Ð  Ðà  àà8 ` àA€valid€consent€judgment€cannot€be€rendered€by€a€court€when€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðconsent€of€one€of€the€parties€thereto€is€wanting.€€It€is€not€sufficient€toÐ $ t Ðsupport€the€judgment€that€a€partyððs€consent€thereto€may€at€one€timeÐ  ` Ðhave€been€given;€consent€must€exist€at€the€very€moment€the€courtÐ ü L  Ðundertakes€to€make€the€agreement€the€judgment€of€the€court.Ðè 8 ` x` x Ðà8  àà ` àThe€reason€for€the€rule€is€that€a€consent€judgment€does€not€represent€theÐ Ô$  Ðreasoned€decision€of€the€court€but€is€merely€the€agreement€of€the€parties,€made€aÐ À  Ðmatter€of€record€by€the€court.€€òòVan€Donselaar€v.€Van€Donselaaróó,€249€Iowa€504,€87Ð ¬ü  ÐN.W.2d€311€(1958).€€And,€until€entered€by€the€court,€the€matter€being€the€questionÐ ˜è  Ðof€an€agreement€between€the€parties,€either€party€may€repudiate€the€agreementÐ „Ô  Ðbecause€of€an€actual€or€supposed€defense€to€the€agreement.€€This€is€not€to€say€that€theÐ pÀ Ðcompromise€agreement€may€not€be€a€binding€contract,€subject€to€being€enforced€asÐ \¬ Ðother€contracts,€but€only€that€the€court€may€not€enter€judgment€based€on€theÐ H˜ Ðcompromise€agreement,€when€it€has€notice€that€one€of€the€parties€is€not€longerÐ 4„ Ðconsenting€to€the€agreement€for€whatever€reason.Ð pÐ Ð  ÐÌòòHarbour€v.€Brown€for€Ulrichóó,€732€S.W.2d€598,€599„600€(Tenn.€1987);€òòsee€also€EnvironmentalÐ øH ÐAbatement€v.€Astrum,€R.E.óó,€27€S.W.3d€530€(Tenn.Ct.App.€2000).Ð ä4 ЀÌà  à€Upon€this€Courtððs€review€of€the€statements€of€the€Petitioner€as€reflected€in€the€transcriptÐ ¼  Ðthere€can€be€no€doubtòò€óóthat€one€of€the€elements€of€the€contract€was€lacking,€i.e.€mutuality€of€assent.€Ð ¨ø ÐWithout€consent€there€can€be€no€contract;€without€the€contract€there€can€be€no€decree.€€By€her€ownÐ ”ä Ðassertion€through€counsel,€Plaintiff€stated€the€order€entered€by€the€court€would€not€be€ð ðan€agreedÐ €Ð Ðorder.ðð€€As€such€there€is€no€error€in€the€courtððs€refusing€to€enter€a€consent€decree€and€proceedingÐ l¼ Ðwith€a€trial€on€the€merits.Ð X ¨ ÐÌII.à0  àComparative€FitnessÐ0"€ (#(# ÐÌà  àThe€second€issue€on€appeal€concerns€the€courtððs€comparative€fitness€determination€underÐ $X" ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€36„6„106.€€Appellate€courts€afford€broad€discretion€to€the€trialÐ ô$D # Ðcourts€in€their€determination€of€custody€and€visitation€arrangements.€€òòSee€Gaskill€v.€Gaskillóó,€936Ð à%0!$ ÐS.W.2d€626€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1996);€òòD.€v.€K.óó,€917€S.W.2d€682€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1995);€òòNichols€v.Ð Ì&"% ÐNicholsóó,€792€S.W.2d€713€(Tenn.€1990).€€As€has€been€said€by€this€Court,€ð ðcustody€and€visitationÐ ¸'#& Ðdeterminations€often€hinge€on€subtle€factors,€including€the€parentsðð€demeanor€and€credibility€.€.€.ðð€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐòòGaskillóó,€936€S.W.2d,€at€631.€€Appellate€courts€are€thus€understandably€reluctant€to€interfere€with€theÐ )à$( Ðtrial€courtððs€reasonable€exercise€of€its€broad€discretion.€€òòId.óó;€òòsee€also€Bowman€v.€Bowmanóó,€836Ð |*Ì%) ÐS.W.2d€563,€566€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1991)(citing€òòTown€of€Alamo€v.€Forcum„James€Co.óó,€205€Tenn.€478,Ð h+¸&* Ð483,€327€S.W.2d€47,€49€(1959),€findings€of€the€trial€court€which€are€dependent€upon€witnessÐ ° Ðcredibility€are€entitled€to€great€weight€on€appeal.)€€The€trial€court€was€presented€with€severalÐ œì Ðwitnessesðð€testimony€concerning€the€love,€affection€and€emotional€ties€between€both€parents€and€theÐ ˆØ Ðchild;€the€disposition€of€each€parent€to€provide€life€necessities€for€the€child;€the€degree€to€which€theÐ tÄ ÐMother€had€been€the€primary€care€giver€up€to€the€point€of€the€custody€hearing.€€The€trial€court€heardÐ `° Ðfrom€the€Mother€concerning€Fatherððs€initial€reluctance€to€exercise€visitation€and€eventual€bondingÐ L œ Ðwith€the€child.€€Likewise,€the€trial€court€heard€of€Motherððs€need€to€find€daycare€for€the€child€in€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðabsence€of€any€other€family€support.€€The€trial€court€heard€testimony€that€suggested€that€the€childÐ $ t Ðwould€need€to€be€in€daycare€10.5€hours€a€day€should€Mother€be€primary€custodian€and€Father€beÐ  ` Ðawarded€standard€visitation€of€every€other€weekend€and€one€night€per€week.€€The€trial€court€alsoÐ ü L  Ðheard€ample€testimony€concerning€the€beneficial€effects€of€the€liberal€visitation€exercised€by€theÐ è 8  ÐFather€up€to€the€initial€hearing€and€through€the€final€hearing€of€October€24,€2001.€€The€trial€courtÐ Ô$  Ðheard€statements€from€both€parties€suggesting,€at€the€very€least,€problems€with€visitation€whileÐ À  ÐMother€was€the€primary€custodian.€€Father€testified€that€the€child€had€already€been€immunized,Ð ¬ü  Ðindeed€had€his€own€room€and€that€the€only€females€in€the€house€were€the€step„mother€and€the€Ð ˜è  Ðfatherððs€daughters€from€a€previous€marriage.€€Reviewing€the€record€before€us€we€find€that€theÐ „Ô  Ðevidence€presented€to€the€trial€court€and€preserved€in€the€record€does€not€preponderate€against€theÐ pÀ Ðcourtððs€finding€of€fact.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€The€order€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€allÐ \¬ Ðrespects.€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€court€for€further€proceedings.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessedÐ H˜ Ðagainst€Appellant€for€which€execution€may€issue.Ð 4„ ÐÌ€Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÌà  àÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€_Ð ”ä Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE