“When it came time to discuss the Shared Parenting, I mentioned that Shared Parenting is in the best interest of the children and we would like to have the Democratic Party support this. That started a Q&A session about Shared Parenting and how would it work that lasted probably 25 minutes.”
We’ve asked Fathers & Families members to attend the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s Platform Hearings currently being held in locations around the state. Fathers & Families activists Paul Wallace and Paul Hennessey attended the Hearing in Peabody, MA. last week. Below is Paul Wallace’s account of the meeting:
Paul Hennessey gave very good background and reason for wanting the Democratic Party to support Shared Parenting and to have it on their platform. That was the initial part of the meeting. We listed all the ideas and then as a group, we discussed the ideas giving reasons and explaining what certain parts of these ideas meant.
When it came time to discuss the Shared Parenting, I mentioned that Shared Parenting is in the best interest of the children and we would like to have the Democratic Party support this. That started a Q&A session about Shared Parenting and how would it work that lasted probably 25 minutes.
When I had finished explaining to the group the concept and reasons for Shared Parenting, I believe everyone in that room felt it was in the best interest in the child and the child does need both parents. Providing that both parents are “fit” to care for the child, there should be no reason why both parents should not share equal time.
When one lady asked my why I cared so much about it, I said, “Can you imagine you go through a divorce for what ever reason and you then have to go in front of this judge who tells you that you can only see your child a couple times per month? How would that make you feel?” You could tell right then and there, she got it.
I was approached after the meeting by some people who praised our cause and commended me for speaking so passionately about Shared Parenting. I was given all sorts of advice on who to call in the Democratic Party at the state level.
I truly believe after this meeting with a group of people who I never met that if the general public is made aware of Shared Parenting and it’s benefits to children, they will support us.
Fathers & Families activists will be attending meetings this coming week and will also be entering their Democratic Party platform suggestions via an online testimony page. We want your involvement–to be a part of it, click here.