“First, I considered the ability, willingness and plan of each parent to provide the Child guidance, education, and the necessities of life. In essence, this is an analysis of each parent’s ability to act as a parent.
Today, some may view the concept of “acting like a parent” as a moving target. Our culture is undergoing a moral revolution such that those who suggest there are right and wrong answers to the questions of life, and an ultimate truth to be discovered, are viewed as intolerant and/or delusional. It is my view, however, that acting like a parent involves creating rules, establishing boundaries, and providing moral guidance about these truths for our children.
I agree with Beckett J. in DiMeco v. DiMeco, [1995] O.J. No. 3650 (Ont. Gen. Div.) at para. 36:
The parent is a role model for the child. Children learn their behaviour from their parents. Surely it is in the best interest of every child that he or she learn the values of love, caring, honesty, integrity, understanding, gentleness to others, and should be shielded from violence and dishonesty.
If a parent’s own life is characterized by dishonesty, deception and violence, then he or she will likely be incapable of modeling positive behaviour for the child.”
LW v. SW, 2018 ONSC 4197 (CanLII) at 53-56