ABSTRACT
In attempts to apply the standard of the "best interests of the child" (see chapters 1, 4, 5, 10-12, 15, and 16), some states have developed guidelines for determining which parent in a custody suit has the greater capacity to meet the needs of the child. These guidelines focus on parental ability to meet the child's physical, emotional, and financial needs and to provide for safety, continuity, and stability in the home life. But "best interests of the child" often falls short of seeing the child, at his or her core, as a spiritual and creative being who, from the start, actively participates in creating meaning and goals for his or her life. Consequently, it does not consider parental capacity to nurture this aspect of the child.
