OP wrote:
From that wording - and Mom is going from statute - does it not seal the issue in favor of Dad? There is no mention of the word "shall" and that being the case, all Dad has to do is inform Mom that he's going to be out of town...with the child. Or, the child is staying with Grandma. Or, the girlfriend who lives a town or so away."Parental care shall be presumed to be better care for the child than surrogate care and the court shall encourage the parties to cooperate in allowing the other parent, if willing and able to transport the children, to provide the child care."
I'm withholding comment with regards to the girlfriend.
(except to ask that if the girlfriend's presence is a problem, why was it not addressed before now? That would make more sense, surely?)

