After a long legal fight with ex-wife Tameka Foster-Raymond, Usher Raymond was recently awarded primary custody of his two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond. After divorcing just two years into the marriage, Foster fought for full custody of their sons while Usher initially only wanted visitation rights.
A couple of months before this, Dwyane Wade‘s ex-wife Siovaughn Funches-Wade was ordered to handle over all rights to her kids to Wade temporarily until the court determined whether she interfered with an arranged visitation schedule. This was after Dwyane was awarded sole care, custody and control of his two sons in a long, drawn out battle. His wife, in turn, was only granted regular parenting time on alternating weekends.
Both Usher and Wade’s custody battle verdicts shocked people because we’re all used to mothers getting primary custody of kids, but I believe that both women lost custody because of their own selfish and malicious actions when the main interest should have been the welfare of the kids.
As a single mom, I understand the struggles of doing a lot on your own, but I would never disallow my son’s father the chance to play an active role in my son’s life, regardless of how I feel about the father personally. Unless the father is abusive and can possibly be a threat to a child or has no plans to contribute to the child’s growth (both are indeed the problem in my case), they should be given all rights to fatherhood.
No matter how strongly we feel about our exes, if they are willing to contribute (whether it’s with time and/or finances), we should accept the offers for the betterment of the child.
Whether a man has a regular job or a career entertaining millions, a good father is a GOOD FATHER. There are so many absentee fathers all over the world that we should never attempt to take away the rights and try to find some common ground with the ones who want to be involved.
How do you all feel, Vixens? Should a woman always get sole custody? Can male entertainers do the same job as women? Share your thoughts.–Erica Mena