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An estimated 15 to 20 percent of divorced moms and dads share the parenting of their children in the U.S., according to statistics from the Washington, D.C.-based American Coalition for Fathers & Children, a nonprofit organization that supports shared parenting.

But shared or joint custody of children after divorce is becoming more popular as courts realize the importance of both birth parents to children’s lives.

That’s just common sense, according to Matt Hively of Marietta and his former wife, Jorun Picciano of Williamstown, who have shared custody of their three children, Jacob, Michaela and Jacynda for the last 10 years.

“The first thing you have to decide is what’s best for the kids,” Matt said. “If more people would focus on their kids and not try to play them against one parent or the other, things can work out.”

via Divorced parents sharing custody of kids – NewsandSentinel.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information – Parkersburg News and Sentinel.