Does 'The best interests of the child' mean whatever people want it to mean?

Laurel J

Yes. It's an industry catchphrase meaning "Hand over that baby."

I suspect it always was. From the time Georgia Tann and formula made it possible to raise someone else's baby, women had to be talked out of their offspring somehow.

Randy B

Yep. I think it does. Because of religion some parents believe it is in the best interest of a child to refuse a blood transfusion while others believe it is best to have that transfusion. Some parents believe it is best to home school, some do not. Some believe it is best to have their child involved 24/7 in sports and some don't. While there are legal boundaries I do think the term is open for interpretation. Everyone has an opinion.

HappyMomAnna

The best interest of my children isn't always the best interest of some one elses child.

As I tell my kids--I am Not So and So's Mother!

It means the child is not abused or neglected no matter where they grow up. It means the child has food, clothes, shelter, medical/dental and mental health care, education in a safe, stable and loving environment.

How that is defined is the Big Question and applies to All Parents no matter how they become parents. As things appear to be working today.

The bigger question I ask is why does does best interest for the child seem to matter only after it's clear the child's best interests didn't matter in th first place?

Sarah

Definitely. Because when you think about it it depends on all different factors around the child which will ultimately affect what is best for the child.

E.g.

It's best for the child to stay with his/her natural parents. However that will most likely change if the natural parents were physically/psychologically/mentally/emot... etc unfit to take care of the child.

All these different factors ultimately affect what is in the best interest of the child.

john d

Yes. Seriously, what is the best interest to a child? Other than their needs, what else can really be done in THEIR best interest. Sure you can provide some wants but what else can be determined?

SJM

Yes, the best interest test is subjective and discretionary.

TSM

Basically, since people will have their own opinions on what is best for a child based on their own up bringing and experiences.

sam22254

The courts use best interest a lot. In some cases where there are drug abuse or crimes against children. Now for the bad news. Best interest in courts are also there to steal your child. In my son's case they used best interest saying that my grandson was going to be damage if my son was able to raise his child because if you took my grandson from the only parents he ever had. What was over looked the adoption agency and the couple hid the child long enough 16 months to do the damage. My son appeal this decision just in march when after 1 year the judge in dallas did her final, Then it takes the appeal court almost a year to get to hear the case.(they do have a lot of cases) now if he loses he doesn't lose his child just the right to have him home.If this happens then if you let anyone even family keep your child for the summer then they will be able to use best interest in getting your child, either by saying their home is bigger, they have more money and can give your child more than you. Even kidnappers can come forward and say that even though they took the child the child has bonded with them. And most of all give leg way for step parents to step forward and fight for custody saying that they have a standing in your child's case because of bonding.
This is going to be a landmark case no matter. I just pray that my grandson will be home soon. I think that they courts should only use Best Interest where they can prove that the parents is unfit.

mom lost 66

in the best interest of the child I was told was
a two parent household back in the 60's that is what they
believed and after they get the child they get divorced
now it becomes a single parent raising a child now can
you tell me why I could not raise my child double standard

We'll Keep Trying... I Promi

Basically yes. everyone has their own opinion on what would be best for a child. It doesn't matter where their opinion comes from, religion, the way they were raise, all that matters is it's just an opinion and everyone is entitled to their own.

Erin L

Well, it is somewhat subjective since no one can forsee the future. But, there are some generally known psychological truths that can help us make decisions. Here are the priniciples I would use to determine what's best in a specific situation from my understanding.

- abuse and neglect are incredibly damaging

- being separated from biological parents causes trauma

- being with bioloical family and, if that isn't possible, with people of the same race is best for identity development

- being in a safe family is better than institutionalization or multiple placements

monkeykitty83

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, it's not like there's some objective standard to measure it by. There's really no other way to define it, is there? Two people may agree, but the whole world isn't going to.

This really isn't avoidable, and we should still be trying to provide children with safe and healthy situations, even if we may not always all agree what that entails.

I think critical thinking MUST be applied to the concept, though. We can't just accept whatever someone else says is "best," without applying our own ethics and logic.

QuestionKing

Absolutely. In the case of one family we know, social services decided that the "best interests of the child" meant staying in a home where they were given one meal a day (on a good day), beaten regularly, not bathed, ignored completely and damaged from birth with drugs and alcohol.

However, they were with their biological parents, so it must be ok.

SSimmons

the systems is messed up now a days. cps got involved mwith my first daughter and since her birth she was not in my custody not anything on my part but the father's past that to this day i still do not know all about. but my second is by the same person and i learned my lesson and got rid of him to keep her and she has been perfectly fine with me and my husband.

but to refine my point my ex and i both had to take all kinds of evaluations and go through a bunch of bs all of which said we did not need parenting classes, but that didnt help our case any. meanwhile other kids that i know of that the parents are always passed out drunk and the parents are getting into physical altercations with cps leaves them with the parents. but i do not understand the system and how it seems to pick and choose which interpretation of 'best interest' they want to use. It just depends on how they feel it will benefit them

IDK!!

It can be.... some people want to "beat" the Devil out of their child and claim it's for their own good.....

Redheaded Stepchild

I agree with all the answers. Even the guy who said he disagreed and then went on to explain how he feels the same way...dude, drink some coffee before answering, that's all I'm saying.

And it's true that everyone has a right to their opinions (we all know what opinions are like). But we don't have the right to do whatever we'd like with children's lives based on opinion. The best interests of the children should be determined by those who honestly know what the best interests of the children IS. Adults who have been in similar situations to the children would be a good asset in this area. After all, they KNOW what would have ben in their best interests, right?

Philippa

Yes .... unfortunately when it comes to adoption.

Jennifer L

Well, I don't think it's a cut-n-dried thing.

I think that two people, or two groups of people can believe that two different things are both in the best interests of the child. That doesn't mean that one of them is intentionally manipulating the phrase to suit their needs.

bustersmycat

Not at all. But it sure is a fluid term. What you think is the best interests may differ quite a bit from what I think.

Independ"ant"

These days it appears so.....especially for those with poor "parenting skills" and/or those trying to fulfill their own self serving "agendas".

I find it odd that Paps/Aps today still look to adoption agencies making money selling kids for advice and/or information. It would be a conflict of interest for the agencies to be honest about anything.

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