ÿWPC— ¥}gÖ¹ëQŒûYÝ›¨>uf.Tˆèý¶Å’•íR¿Øc-?7_¤x×0m0EèíSÙ°piNHÚ‰FvÔ\Ä:[…HX3àŒ±TL¹5O7 3ƒ¿ßv§¶—ÂîÈ0Еðo‘¯E"¸ˆñ„{¦F­ðòÓmïÚ±Ž%»p_ÁÆÿ_ìE—’6í»G‹:°2 x3(3/égªì§}.šÄB¯ò¹¼Tl„Ébv®\„ ¢‹êíâJ;Rx˜g~2ƒ@W`בÏ“'EF©ß‘>»8³auçìöû4ÂbY”A5R#4¦°tè ¨Êl/k±CiOY¤×¸ó u´Øì´ÓXkm;ð–å^唲\ô.Ù9×'Uà6ÉÀ¬çæÃzC,V1„‡-âõp°ùéÊ9ñ€ÅˆœyG¡½ø{`-N„>j|-VŠLŒC猪ÛéjSKH>@á¯cœ œ óÙÕ ´oŽ”„nâJ¹)àkµp$ë`ÜãÚa÷¢/†­T_IzݸíBfïB jR”ži´xzQ’‘Ó¹%¹Ê±[‹ï_~c»&Ìö?§3•ž^&-ŠnOUÐ|â Kƒ_&%mJ*›:W#ÁÂUNƒ %Ñ 0(×UNÿwM 4Q e  t V ~ƒ Q NRæT^ :åF+3 m5 LLERR 0DT b˜ ^úú X ` h p x € ˆ  ˜     ª  ´´´)¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾çççççççççççççççççç 0‹ïïïï Bz˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular8n_+Ôô3|x Ý ƒR!Z$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€X|ÈXXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ô<òXX|ÈÔ€Counsel€for€appellant€stated€in€his€argument€and€brief€that€Ms.€Seibers€and€Mr.€LaFever€have€marriedÐ ° Ðsince€the€Ô‡ô<òòô<ÔFinal€Order€of€CustodyÔ#†ô<òòô<#Ô€was€entered.€€However,€we€cannot€consider€that€fact€as€it€was€not€before€theÐ tÄ Ðjuvenile€judge.€€Ô#†X|ÈXòôÔÐ Ò " Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€Ô% ‡! Ô552Ô%†!‡Ô€Ô% ‡" Ô€à @ àà @ àà @ àà @ à€€€€€€€Honorable€Sam€Benningfield,€JudgeÔ%†"©ÔÐ ¾  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ ‚Ò  ÐÌNo.€Ô% ‡# Ô€M2000„03218„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„JVÔ%†#œÔ€„€Filed€November€8,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ԀР}Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<T` AßÐ U¥  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€appeal€challenges€a€custody€decision.€€The€juvenile€court€awarded€the€parents€joint€custody€withÐ P   Ðthe€father€to€have€primary€physical€custody€of€the€child.€€Appellant/mother€challenges€the€juvenileÐ <Œ Ðcourtððs€comparative€fitness€analysis€and€the€award€of€primary€physical€custody€of€the€child€to€theÐ (x Ðfather.€€As€discussed€below,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€juvenile€court€granting€the€father€primaryÐ d Ðphysical€custody.€€The€juvenile€court€was€correct€that€it€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child€to€remainÐ P Ðprimarily€with€the€father€as€he€provides€the€better€living€environment.Ð ì< ÐÓ¦ÓÌò òÔ% ‡$ ÔÔ%†$…ÔTenn.R.App.P.€3(a)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Ô% ‡% ÔJuvenile€Court€Affirmed.Ô%†%ÚÔó óÐ Ä ÐÌKÔ‡àRCàXX|ÈÔURTZÔ#†X|ÈXààRC* #Ô,€WÔ‡àRCàXX|ÈÔALTERÔ#†X|ÈXààRCs #Ô€C.,€SP.€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€CÔ‡àRCàXX|ÈÔANTRELÔ#†X|ÈXààRCõ #ÔÔ‡àRCàXX|ÈÔLÔ#†X|ÈXààRC= #Ô,€J.€andÐ œì ÐCÔ‡àRCàXX|ÈÔOTTRELLÔ#†X|ÈXààRCž #Ô,€J.€joined.òòÐ ˆØ ÐÓ  ÓÔ€X|ÈXàX|ÈÔÔ% ‡& ÔÔ%†&6 ÔóóÔ% ‡' ÔÔ%†'W ÔÌÔ% ‡ ÔJ.€Steve€Daniels,€Livingston,€Tennessee,€for€appellant,€Kelly€SeibersÔ%†v ÔÐ `° ÐÌÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†ï ÔHenry€D.€Fincher,€Cookeville,€Tennessee,€for€appellee,€Douglas€Keith€ClouseÐ 8ˆ ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òOPINIONó óÔ‡»T»XX|ÈÔÐ !`  ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†X|ÈX»»T— #ÔÓÓÓÓà  àThis€is€an€appeal€by€the€mother,€Kelly€Seibers€("Ms.€Seibers"),€challenging€the€ruling€of€theÐ #^" Ðjuvenile€court€which€granted€the€parents€joint€custody€of€their€child,€Andrew,€with€primary€physicalÐ ú#J# Ðcustody€going€to€the€father,€Douglas€Keith€Clouse€("Mr.€Clouse").€€The€issue€before€us€is:Ð æ$6 $ ÐÌÓ ÓÓÓà8  àWhether€the€juvenile€court€made€a€correct€determination€under€a€comparative€fitnessÐ ¾&"& Ðanalysis€that€awarding€the€parents€joint€custody€of€the€child€with€primary€physicalÐ ª'ú"' Ðcustody€going€to€the€father€was€in€the€child's€best€interest.€€Ð–(æ#(Ð Ð  ÐÌÌÐ Z+ª&+ Ðò òI.€€Facts€and€Procedural€HistoryÐ ° Ðó óÌÓÓÓÓà  àThe€parents€in€this€case€met€in€1996.€€Their€relationship€can€best€be€described€as€tumultuousÐ ˆØ Ðas€they€spent€time€together€and€apart€for€an€approximate€two€(2)€year€period.€€During€this€period€Ms.Ð tÄ ÐSeibers€became€pregnant€by€Mr.€Clouse€and€on€November€20,€1996,€gave€birth€to€a€male€child,Ð `° ÐAndrew,€who€was€the€subject€of€this€custody€dispute.€€Andrew€was€Ms.€Seibers€second€child€as€sheÐ L œ Ðalready€had€another€child€from€a€previous€relationship.€€Ô% € ÔThe€parents€lived€together€during€part€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðpregnancy,€but€Ms.€Seibers€moved€out€shortly€before€the€childððs€birth.€€Following€Andrewððs€birth,Ð $ t ÐMr.€Clouse€signed€a€voluntary€acknowledgment€of€paternity.€€Ms.€Seibers€became€Andrew's€primaryÐ  ` Ðcaregiver€providing€food,€shelter€and€clothing.€€In€January,€1997€the€couple€reunited€and€began€livingÐ ü L  Ðtogether€again.€€During€this€time€period€Mr.€Clouse€alleges€that€Ms.€Seibers€often€screamed€atÐ è 8  ÐAndrew,€physically€endangered€him,€and€used€illegal€drugs€in€his€presence.€€The€parents€livedÐ Ô$  Ðtogether€until€April€or€May€of€1998€when€Ms.€Seibers€left€the€residence€taking€Andrew.€€TheÐ À  Ðrelationship€ended€completely€in€June,€1998.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌÓMÓÓÓà  àFollowing€the€end€of€the€relationship€and€Ms.€Seibers'€departure€the€couple€remainedÐ „Ô  Ðrelatively€friendly.€€Ms.€Seibers€was€Andrew's€primary€caregiver,€but€Mr.€Clouse€visited€the€childÐ pÀ Ðregularly€and€remained€involved€in€his€life.€€While€Mr.€Clouse€provided€a€home€and€other€items€ofÐ \¬ Ðsupport€while€the€three€lived€together,€he€did€not€pay€Ms.€Seibers€child€support€while€they€livedÐ H˜ Ðtogether€or€for€an€extended€period€after€they€no€longer€cohabitated.€€Ms.€Seibers€was€employed€andÐ 4„ Ðprovided€the€financial€support€for€Andrew.€€Mr.€Clouse€began€a€relationship€with€his€present€wife,Ð  p ÐShelly€Clouse,€and€ultimately€married€her€on€February€5,€1999.€€Ms.€Seibers€then€filed€a€Petition€forÐ  \ ÐPaternity€and€Child€Support€on€March€17,€1999,€and€Mr.€Clouse€filed€an€Answer€and€Counter„Ð øH ÐPetition€for€custody€on€April€19,€1999.€€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àThe€juvenile€court€held€a€temporary€custody€hearing€on€August€30,€1999.€€While€theÐ ¼  Ðtranscript€of€that€proceeding€is€not€in€the€appellate€record,€Mr.€Clouse€contends€that€evidence€at€thisÐ ¨ø Ðhearing€indicated€Ms.€Seibers,€after€leaving€the€home€she€shared€with€Mr.€Clouse,€lived€with€six€(6)Ð ”ä Ðto€ten€(10)€other€people€in€a€single„wide€trailer€where€the€residents€smoked€and€possibly€used€illegalÐ €Ð Ðdrugs.Ô#†X|ÈXXX|È+#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔ€€€Mr.€Clouse€argues€that€Ms.€Seibers€often€left€Andrew€unattended€or€entrusted€him€to€familyÐ l¼ Ðmembers€at€unfit€locations€with€little€or€no€supervision.€€€By€Temporary€Order€dated€September€27,Ð X ¨ Ð1999,€the€juvenile€court€awarded€joint€custody€giving€the€parents€primary€physical€custody€ofÐ D!” ÐAndrew€on€alternate€weeks.€€The€Temporary€Order€also€required€that€Mr.€Clouse€begin€satisfying€Ð 0"€  Ðan€arrearage€on€child€support€in€the€amount€of€Four€Thousand€Eight€Hundred€Thirty„seven€DollarsÐ #l! Ð($4,837.00)€by€paying€One€Hundred€and€Fifty€Dollars€per€month€($150.00).€€Ð $X" ÐÌÓÜÓÓÓà  àDuring€this€period€of€joint€custody,€conflict€surrounding€the€care€of€Andrew€continued€as€Ms.Ð à%0!$ ÐSeibers€refused€to€take€the€child€to€a€Head€Start׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€program€in€White€County€that€Mr.€Clouse€desiredÐ Ì&"% Ðthat€he€attend.€€Mr.€Clouse€also€sought€an€Order€of€Protection€against€Ms.€Seibers€during€this€periodÐ ¸'#& Ðfor€threats€she€made€against€him€and€his€family.€€Ms.€Seibers€became€pregnant€by€and€began€livingÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwith€another€man,€Mr.€Marshall€LaFever.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ms.€Seibers,€at€the€time€of€the€final€hearing,€lived€in€aÐ ° Ðsingle€wide,€two€(2)€bedroom€trailer€with€Mr.€LaFever€and€her€other€child.€€Mr.€Clouse€lived€in€aÐ œì Ðthree€(3)€bedroom€home€with€his€wife€and€three€(3)€other€children.׃*Ü×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€His€home€has€a€large€yard€whereÐ ˆØ Ðthe€children€play.€€Ms.€Seibers€is€presently€unemployed.€€Mr.€Clouse€is€employed€as€a€cabinet€makerÐ tÄ Ðbut€qualifies€for€food€stamp€assistance.€€After€the€final€hearing€on€October€11,€2000,€where€this€andÐ `° Ðother€evidence€was€revealed,€the€juvenile€court€entered€a€Final€Order€of€Custody€on€November€22,Ð L œ Ð2000,€which€stated,€"[i]t€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€minor€child€that€the€parties€have€joint€custodyÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€Andrew,€with€the€father,€Douglas€Clouse,€to€have€and€enjoy€primary€physical€custody€of€Andrew.€Ð $ t ÐFather€shall€have€actual€physical€custody€of€Andrew€except€as€provided€by€...€this€Order."׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ms.Ð  ` ÐSeibers€has€appealed€the€custody€decision.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ü L  ÐÌÓÀÓò òII.€€Standard€of€Reviewó óÐ Ô$  ÐÓÓ€€€€€€€€€€€Appellate€review€of€a€trial€court's€custody€decision€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€accompaniedÐ ¬ü  Ðby€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÐ ˜è  Ðotherwise.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€Appellate€courts€are€very€reluctant€to€second€guess€a€trialÐ „Ô  Ðcourtððs€determination€regarding€custody€and€visitation.€€òòSeeóó€òòGaskill€v.€Gaskillóó,€936€S.W.2d€626,€631Ð pÀ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€An€appellate€court€will€interfere€with€a€trial€court's€decision€only€upon€aÐ \¬ Ðshowing€of€an€erroneous€exercise€of€discretion.€€òòSeeóó€òòHoalcraft€v.€Smithsonóó,€19€S.W.3d€822,€827Ð H˜ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999);€òòWhitaker€v.€Whitakeróó,€957€S.W.2d€834,€836„837€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997).€Ð 4„ ÐÌÓ'ÓÓÓà  àA€court€must€consider€many€factors€when€making€a€child€custody€determination€so€as€toÐ  \ Ðmake€a€decision€that€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106€(Supp.Ð øH Ð2000)(listing€the€factors€to€be€taken€into€consideration).€€When€both€parents€seek€custody,€the€childððsÐ ä4 Ðbest€interest€is€served€by€utilizing€a€comparative€fitness€analysis.€€òòSeeóó€òòGaskillóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€630;Ð Ð  ÐòòBah€v.€Bahóó,€668€S.W.2d€663,€665„666€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).€€€€"In€undertaking€this€analysis,€theÐ ¼  Ðcourts€must€understand€that€parents,€whether€married€or€not,€are€human€beings,€each€with€his€or€herÐ ° Ðown€virtues€and€vices."€€òòGaskillóó€936€S.W.2d€at€630.€€€€This€comparative€analysis€was€specificallyÐ œì Ðaddressed€in€the€òòBahóó€case:Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓš*ÓÓÓà8  àTo€arrive€at€the€point€of€deciding€with€whom€to€place€a€child€in€preparation€for€aÐ `° Ðcaring€and€productive€adult€life€requires€consideration€of€many€relevant€factors,Ð L œ Ðincluding€but€certainly€not€limited€to€the€age,€habits,€mental€and€emotional€make„upÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€the€child€and€those€parties€competing€for€custody;€the€education€and€experienceÐ $ t Ðof€those€seeking€to€raise€the€child;€their€character€and€propensities€as€evidenced€byÐ  ` Ðtheir€past€conduct;€the€financial€and€physical€circumstances€available€in€the€home€ofÐ ü L  Ðeach€party€seeking€custody€and€the€special€requirements€of€the€child;€the€availabilityÐ è 8  Ðand€extent€of€third„party€support;€the€association€and€influences€to€which€the€childÐ Ô$  Ðis€most€likely€to€be€exposed€in€the€alternatives€afforded,€both€positive€and€negative;Ð À  Ðand€where€is€the€great€likelihood€of€an€environment€for€the€child€of€love,€warmth,Ð ¬ü  Ðstability,€support,€consistency,€care€and€concern,€and€physical€and€spiritual€nurture.Иè Ð Ð  ÐÓa.ÓÓÓÌ668€S.W.2d.€at€666.€Ð pÀ ЀÌÓ!3ÓÓÓà  àHere,€we€affirm€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision€of€awarding€joint€custody€to€the€parents€withÐ H˜ Ðprimary€physical€custody€going€to€the€father.€€The€decision€was€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child€as€theÐ 4„ Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€established€that€Mr.€Clouse€was€more€comparatively€fit€to€primarilyÐ  p Ðcare€for€Andrew€than€Ms.€Seibers.€€Ô#†X|ÈXXX|Èè#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔÐ  \ ÐÌÓu3Óò òIII.€€Discussionó óÐ ä4 ÐÓÓà  àThe€juvenile€court€concluded€that€Mr.€Clouse€was€more€comparatively€fit€to€be€the€primaryÐ ¼  Ðcustodial€parent€and€we€agree.€€While€Ms.€Seibers€primarily€cared€for€the€child€for€a€time€after€hisÐ ¨ø Ðbirth,€there€is€evidence€in€the€record€which€brings€into€question€her€abilities€to€provide€for€AndrewÐ ”ä Ðcompared€to€those€of€Mr.€Clouse.€€The€juvenile€court€heard€testimony€and€reviewed€evidence€thatÐ €Ð ÐMr.€Clouse€exhibited€behavior€and€characteristics€indicating€he€was€more€concerned€with€his€roleÐ l¼ Ðas€a€parent€and€Andrew's€welfare.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌÓµ5ÓÓÓà  àAs€relates€to€all€the€factors€to€be€considered€and€those€specifically€stated€in€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€Ð 0"€  Ððð€36„6„106€(Supp.€2000),€the€juvenile€court€made€findings€indicating€differences€between€the€twoÐ #l! Ð(2)€parents€which€ultimately€led€it€to€grant€primary€physical€custody€to€Mr.€Clouse.€€First,€Ms.Ð $X" ÐSeibers€had€not€shown€a€greater€disposition€for€caring€for€the€childððs€needs€than€Mr.€Clouse.€€òòSeeóóÐ ô$D # ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(a)(2)€(Supp.€2000).Ô#†X|ÈXXX|È?5#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔ€€Ms.€Seibers€had€placed€Andrew€in€environmentsÐ à%0!$ Ðwhere€his€overall€health€could€be€compromised€and€some€evidence€in€the€record€indicates€that€sheÐ Ì&"% Ðallowed€his€health€to€suffer€by€allowing€his€vaccinations€to€fall€behind.€€Further,€the€evidenceÐ ¸'#& Ðrevealed€Ms.€Seibers€seemed€more€indifferent€to€Andrewððs€educational€advancement€than€did€Mr.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐClouse.€€The€juvenile€court€while€noting€that€this€factor€alone€provided€no€clear€cut€preference€statedÐ )à$( Ðat€the€final€hearing:Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà8  àHowever,€I€find€too,€the€father€has€been€the€most€pro„active.€€Particularly€inÐ ° Ðeducation€and€bettering€himself€as€a€parent.€€Involving€himself€in€the€Head€Start€andÐ œì Ðtaking€the€parenting€classes€and€being€involved€in€a€more€pro„active€fashion,€than€hasÐ ˆØ Ðthe€mother.€€All€of€that€taken€together€though.€€It€still€tends€to€leave€the€Court€withÐ tÄ Ðno€clear„cut€preference.€.€.€.Ð`°Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X|ÈXXX|ÈÀ:#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔMr.€Clouse€placed€Andrew€in€a€Head€Start€program€and€he€and€his€wife€participated€in€the€programÐ 8 ˆ Ðas€well.€€He€made€certain€Andrewððs€shots€were€updated.€€Mrs.€Clouse€had€taken€an€interest€inÐ $ t ÐAndrew's€education€and€attempted€to€help€him€in€areas€where€he€showed€deficiency.€€Ms.€Seibers,Ð  ` Ðin€contrast€and€for€whatever€reason,€refused€to€transport€Andrew€to€Head€Start€or€make€what€appearsÐ ü L  Ðto€be€reasonable€sacrifices€for€his€attendance€while€she€had€primary€physical€custody.€€Overall,€Mr.Ð è 8  ÐClouse€seemed€more€disposed€to€satisfying€Andrewððs€health€and€educational€needs.€€€€€€Ð Ô$  Ðà  àÌÓk8ÓÓÓà  àSecond€and€most€importantly,€the€evidence€before€the€juvenile€court€revealed€Mr.€ClouseððsÐ ¬ü  Ðfamily€unit€was€more€stable€than€Ms.€Seibers'.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(a)(4)€€(Supp.€2000).€Ð ˜è  ÐThe€juvenile€court€at€the€final€hearing€noted€that€this€was€one€distinct€difference€influencing€itsÐ „Ô  Ðdecision€under€the€comparative€fitness€analysis.Ð pÀ ÐÌÓLBÓÓÓà8  àThis€is€where€the€Court€finds€that€the€father€is€clearly€providing€a€more€stable€familyÐ H˜ Ðunit.€€He€is€married.€€There€seems€to€be€no€problems€in€the€home.€€They€work€veryÐ 4„ Ðwell€as€a€family€unit,€from€all€the€evidence€the€Court€has€heard.€€He€and€his€wife€areÐ  p Ðactively€involved€in€the€rearing€of€this€child.€€They€are€active€in€schools.€€They€haveÐ  \ Ðbeen,€as€the€Court€said€before,€they€have€been€very€pro„active.€It€is€a€conventionalÐ øH Ðfamily.€€Wherein€you€have€a€mother€and€a€father€that€are€married,€and€raising€theirÐ ä4 Ðchildren.€.€.€.€€I€find€that€the€father€is€providing€a€more€stable€family€unit.ÐÐ Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ#†X|ÈXXX|ÈN?#ÔÓ1DÓÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔÓÓMr.€Clouse€provided€stable€and€safe€surroundings€for€Andrew.€€Mrs.€Clouse€had€made€the€choiceÐ ¨ø Ðto€stay€home€with€the€children€providing€a€constant€and€seemingly€stable€caregiver.€€The€paternalÐ ”ä Ðgrandparents€were€actively€involved€in€Andrew's€life€and€assisted€in€caring€for€him€when€necessary.€Ð €Ð ÐThe€evidence€indicated€that€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Clouse€were€happy€and€remained€dedicated€to€Andrew'sÐ l¼ Ðwelfare€and€that€of€their€other€children.€€€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌÓGÓÓÓà  àFinally,€the€trial€court€correctly€weighed€Ms.€Seibers'€current€living€arrangement€and€theÐ 0"€  Ðenvironment€she€provided€into€its€analysis.€€Ms.€Seibers,€at€the€time€of€the€final€hearing,€lived€withÐ #l! ÐMr.€LaFever€and€was€expecting€his€child.€€This€child€is€her€third€by€a€third€different€father.€€The€trialÐ $X" Ðcourt€may€consider€the€character€and€behavior€of€other€persons€who€reside€in€the€home€of€a€parentÐ ô$D # Ðseeking€custody.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106(a)(9)€(Supp.€2000).€€Ms.€Seibers,€in€her€brief,Ð à%0!$ Ðprimarily€contends€that€the€juvenile€court€improperly€placed€too€great€a€weight€on€the€fact€that€sheÐ Ì&"% Ðlived€with€a€man€out€of€wedlock€and€was€expecting€his€baby€when€compared€with€the€fact€that€Mr.Ð ¸'#& ÐClouse€did€not€pay€support€for€the€first€three€(3)€years€of€the€childððs€life.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ms.€Seibers€contends€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€juvenile€court€could€not€base€its€entire€decision€on€the€cohabitation€as€the€evidence€failed€to€showÐ ° Ðthat€the€cohabitation€had€an€adverse€impact€on€the€child.€€€The€juvenile€court€addressed€this€factorÐ œì Ðat€some€length€in€rendering€its€decision€at€the€final€hearing.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓÎIÓÓÓà8  àWe€have€proof€that€in€the€mother's€home,€there€is€a€boyfriend€or€a€paramour,€orÐ `° Ðhowever€you€care€to€characterize€it€who€lives€there.€€However;€there€has€been€noÐ L œ Ðshowing€that€he€is€anything€other€than€a€fine€young€man.€€The€fact€that€they€are€livingÐ 8 ˆ Ðtogether€out€of€wedlock,€is€not€withstanding.€.€.€.€€There€has€been€no€disrepute€thatÐ $ t Ðhas€been€brought€upon€his€character,€or€anything€that€would€make€the€Court€thinkÐ  ` Ðthat€he€would€otherwise€be€a€positive€influence€upon€the€child.€.€.€.€€Within€that€idea,Ð ü L  Ðthat€the€Court€is€required€to€consider,€is€the€moral€fitness€or€moral€environment€.€.€.Ð è 8  Ð.€The€Court€is€focusing€on€the€present.€.€.€.€€At€the€present,€the€best€interest€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðchild.€€The€testimony€is€the€father€is€married€to€his€wife€living€in€the€home,€raisingÐ À  Ðtheir€children,€actively€involved€in€the€children's€life.€€The€testimony€on€the€otherÐ ¬ü  Ðside,€for€the€mother,€is€that€she€is€living€with€her€boyfriend.€€Pregnant€by€him€outsideÐ ˜è  Ðof€wedlock,€with€plans€to€marry;€but,€no€concrete€plans.€€No€marriage€date.€€TheyÐ „Ô  Ðhave€made€no€arrangements€to€get€married.€.€.€.€€After€they€have€dated€for€a€year€andÐ pÀ Ðlived€together€now€a€year.€€And.€€Her€6€months€pregnant.€.€.€.€€This€Court€...€isÐ \¬ Ð[cognizant]€to€the€fact€that€from€the€proof€that€it€has€heard,€this€is€the€mother's€thirdÐ H˜ Ðman.€€The€mother's€third€child,€she€has€been€married€to€none.€.€.€.€€Then€we€look€€€€Ð 4„ Ð...€at€the€physical€surroundings.€€The€testimony€is€that€the€father€has€provided€a€homeÐ  p Ðthat€is€large€enough.€€Provides€more€ample€room,€and€is€also€in€the€process€of€goingÐ  \ Ðto€a€home€that€had€previously€been€destroyed€by€a€lightning€strike€or€had€someÐ øH Ðdamage.€€The€proof€was€...€a€home€that€is€large€enough€and€capable€enough€toÐ ä4 Ðaccommodate€all€of€the€children.€€On€the€flip€side€of€that,€the€mother's€physicalÐ Ð  Ðsurroundings€show€that€...€[t]here€are€only€2€bedrooms.€€One€for€them,€and€the€otherÐ ¼  Ð[for]€what€will€be€3€children.€.€.€.€Who€at€the€present€provides€[for]€the€child's€bestÐ ¨ø Ðinterest.€€In€giving€that,€the€Court€applying€what€the€legislature€gives€it€to€work€with,Ð ”ä Ðand€applying€that€as€it€heard€the€testimony.€.€.€.€€Because€of€those€factors,€this€is€theÐ €Ð ÐCourts€decision.€€Ðl¼Ð Ð  ÐÌÓhOÓÓÓà  àThe€conduct€of€one€parent€with€another€individual€is€a€factor€to€consider€in€determiningÐ D!” Ðwhich€custody€arrangement€is€in€the€childððs€best€interest.€òòSeeóó€òòVarley€v.€Varleyóó,€934€S.W.2d€659,Ð 0"€  Ð666„67€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996);€òòSutherland€v.€Sutherlandóó,€831€S.W.2d€283,€286€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð #l! Ð1991);€òòBarnhill€v.€Barnhillóó,€826€S.W.2d€443,€453€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€Such€relationships,€whenÐ $X" Ðthey€affect€the€home€environment€of€the€child,€are€relevant€to€the€issue€of€stability€in€the€child's€life.€Ð ô$D # ÐHowever,€this€factor€is€not€the€sole€factor€for€determination.€€"The€inquiry€is€factually€driven€andÐ à%0!$ Ðrequires€the€courts€to€carefully€weigh€numerous€considerations."€€òòGaskillóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€630.€€InÐ Ì&"% Ðreview€of€the€juvenile€courtððs€€statements€it€is€obvious€that€it€considered€the€fact€of€cohabitationÐ ¸'#& Ðalong€with€a€number€of€others€including€overall€fitness€and€living€environment.€€In€fact€the€juvenileÐ ¤(ô#' Ðjudge€appears€to€have€based€his€determination€largely€on€the€living€arrangements.€€While€the€lowerÐ )à$( Ðcourt€judge€made€note€of€the€overall€moral€environment€and€the€fact€that€Ms.€Seibers€lived€withÐ ° Ðanother€man€out€of€wedlock,€he€based€his€decision€on€far€more€than€this€one€factor.€€We€determineÐ œì Ðthat€the€juvenile€court€correctly€weighed€the€importance€of€all€factors€related€to€the€parties€and€didÐ ˆØ Ðnot€place€an€improper€importance€on€this€one€factor.€€The€juvenile€court€correctly€applied€theÐ tÄ Ðcomparative€fitness€analysis€and€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€favored€the€granting€of€primaryÐ `° Ðphysical€custody€to€the€father.Ô#†X|ÈXXX|ÈqG#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔ€€€Ð L œ ÐÌÓZÓò òIV.€€Conclusionó óÐ $ t ÐÓÓÓÓ€€Ô#†X|ÈXXX|È‹a#ÔÔ‡X|ÈXXX|ÈÔà  àFor€the€aforementioned€reasons,€the€decision€of€the€juvenile€court€awarding€joint€custody€toÐ ü L  Ðthe€parents€with€primary€physical€custody€going€to€the€father€is€affirmed.€€€Costs€of€this€appeal€areÐ è 8  Ðtaxed€to€the€mother,€Kelly€Seibers,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ô#†X|ÈXXX|ÈLb#ÔÐ Ô$  ÐÓbÓÌÓÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_________________________________Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWALTER€C.€KURTZ,€SPECIAL€JUDGE