Consider the following hypothetical scenario: Tom and Ann get married in their early twenties and have a child, Ben. Unfortunately, shortly after Ben is born, Tom and Ann get divorced and they agree to have a week on/week off shared physical custody schedule of Ben. Tom remarries Diane, who serves as an involved step-parent to Ben on the weeks when Ben is living in their household.
Diane is there for Ben before and after school on Tom’s custody weeks, helps Ben with his homework, drives Ben to his many extracurricular activities and acts in all respects as a third parent to Ben. The relationship between Tom and Diane deteriorates and they end up divorcing. Ben has had Diane as a loving step-parent for many of his formidable years. Diane’s absence in Ben’s life will hit Ben hard and he wants to spend time with Diane.
