Lifestyle

Do Mothers Get Child Custody More Often Than Fathers?

Published

3 years ago

December 9, 2022

Many people assume that mothers have the upper hand over fathers in custody battles, but this is not always the case.

In this article, we’ll go over why many assume that the mother always gets custody, how things are different today, and what judges really consider when granting custody rights.

Let’s get started!

Why many assume mothers get custody

In the past, mothers were almost always the primary caregivers of their children. So it made sense to give them custody (instead of giving it to fathers).

Plus, for many decades family law followed the “tender years” doctrine, which dates back to the late 19th century and states that children need their mother during their early, developmental years. Most fathers didn’t contest.

But today, there are no laws that codify a gender preference in who should gain custody over a child. And while it’s true that historically mothers were nearly always guaranteed to win custody battles, this is increasingly no longer the case.

How things are different today

Modern gender roles have evolved. Today, there are more women in the US college-educated labor force than men, and young women are out-earning young men in several US states.

Now that more women enter (and excel in) the workforce, the idea that they are always the primary caretaker no longer holds.

Some couples share equal responsibility in taking care of the kids and providing. In some households, women are even the main breadwinner. Since 1967, the share of breadwinning or co-breadwinning mothers has more than doubled.

What this means for custody battles is that fathers are often just as good, if not better, at taking care of their children. As a result, many men are being awarded full or equal split custody.

That said, the mother is often still favored in custody battles that involve very young children. For example, if a baby relies on the mother for breastfeeding, she will more than likely gain custody. However, if the infant is bottle-fed, a father may have just as good a chance at winning custody since they can do the job just as well.

It all depends on what the best interests of the child are.

What the judge considers when granting custody

To determine how to split custody rights, a judge will take many factors into consideration. Here are just a few:

Which parent is most able to provide a safe and stable environment for the child?
Which parent can provide for the child financially and physically in terms of essentials, like food, shelter, medical care, clothes, and so on?
What is the state of each parent’s mental health, criminal record, and personal habits?
Where does the child want to live?
How old is the child and do they have special physical or mental needs?
Will the child have to move and adjust to a new city, school, friends, and quality of life?
Did either parent bring false or malicious charges of child abuse against the other? Is either motivated to gain custody only to lash out at the other parent?
What is the child’s relationship like to each parent? Has either parent ever abandoned the child?

The list goes on, but you get the idea. When parents fight over custody rights, the judge weighs all the factors above to determine where the child would do best.

The final verdict

At the end of the day, child custody decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Most result in partial custody to both parents, but not always.

On average, mothers are still granted around 65% of custody time, while fathers are given around 35%.

Whether you are a father or a mother trying to win custody rights, try to maintain a civil and respectful relationship with the other parent at all times. Being vengeful will only hurt your case. Be sure to maintain a positive relationship with your child as well.

Lastly, it pays to consult an experienced family law attorney who can help you know your rights and give you the best chance of winning custody over your child.

Lifestyle

When the Body Speaks: How Maryna Bilousova Helps Clients Heal Beyond the Physical

Published

15 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Michelle Langton

Our bodies hold onto what our minds try to forget until they speak up through tension, fatigue, or illness. It’s easy to overlook signs like tight shoulders, restlessness, or headaches. But often, these signals are connected to something deeper. Maryna Bilousova has built her work around helping people listen to what their bodies are really saying.

Like many of her clients, Maryna spent years in a high-stress environment, constantly pushing through. She knew how to perform, meet goals, and keep everything running. But peace was missing. Her body carried the weight of unspoken stress. That realization changed not only her life, it shaped how she supports others today as a transformation coach and subconscious pattern specialist.

Instead of focusing only on what’s visible, Maryna helps people look inward. She works with individuals who feel stuck in cycles they can’t explain, like burnout that does not go away or stress that feels out of proportion. Often, the root is not just a busy schedule. It’s emotional tension that’s been buried and ignored.

Looking Deeper Than Symptoms

Many people come to Maryna after trying traditional methods. They have done meditation apps, therapy sessions, or self-help routines. Still, something feels off. That’s where her work begins, not with fixing, but with listening.

She helps clients connect the dots between their physical symptoms and unresolved emotions. It’s not always about big trauma. Sometimes, it’s small moments that were never processed, guilt, grief, frustration, or shame. Over time, those emotions settle in the body.

Maryna recalls one client, a long-term cancer survivor, who returned years later with ovarian cysts. The physical fear was real, but so was the emotional weight she had been carrying from a past relationship full of betrayal and silence. Through their sessions, they uncovered and released that emotional residue. Weeks later, the cysts were gone. It was a reminder of how deeply the body can reflect our inner state.

Patterns That Keep Us Stuck

Maryna’s approach is not about chasing positivity or trying to fix everything at once. She focuses on patterns, how people speak to themselves, how they respond to stress, how they make decisions. Often, what feels like self-sabotage is actually an old belief playing out.

For example, someone who always avoids conflict might be carrying a belief that their needs don’t matter. Another who keeps overworking may feel that slowing down means they are falling behind. These beliefs often form early and show up in adulthood in ways that quietly run our lives.

Rather than offering surface-level solutions, Maryna holds space for clients to explore what’s really behind their choices. Her calm presence allows people to soften, reflect, and begin making changes that come from clarity, not pressure.

A Path Back to Yourself

The people Maryna works with are not looking for a quick fix. They want to feel lighter, clearer, and more like themselves again. Her clients often say that what changes is not just their mindset, it’s how they feel in their own skin. They start resting without guilt, setting boundaries without apology, and making choices that actually feel good.

Maryna believes that healing is not about doing more. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what your body and mind have been trying to say all along. When people start listening, they stop feeling like they have to fight themselves, and that’s when real change happens.

In a world that pushes us to ignore discomfort and keep going, Maryna offers something different: a place to pause, reflect, and reconnect. Because sometimes, healing does not start with doing, it starts with listening.