old, is his only child. C.A. explained
that in the final decree, he and J.B. agreed to a split custody arrangement that
included a geographical restriction in Harris County, and the decree did not award
either party the exclusive right to designate the primary residence of E.R.A. J.B.
testified that shortly after the divorce, J.B. moved outside of the geographical
restriction to Huntsville, and C.A. agreed to the move and to having possession every
weekend. C.A. testified that they intended for the agreement to be in effect for two
years or until J.B. finished or left school. According to C.A, J.B. moved two
additional times without revisiting their agreement, and C.A. explained that he filed
a petition to modify the parent-child relationship because he was concerned that the
moves were seriously affecting E.R.A. and J.B. had a pattern of neglecting E.R.A.
C.A. explained that his concerns included E.R.A.'s attendance and tardiness at
school, her disrespectful behavior toward her teachers, and a noticeable bruise or
rash on E.R.A.'s face.
C.A. testified that after he filed his petition, J.B. moved back to Houston. C.A.
testified that he has moved five times since the divorce and has lived outside the
geographical restriction once, and for the past two years he has lived with his best
friend, who is married, to save money for a house. C.A. explained that he remarried
in December 2018, and that his wife, M.A., has been involved in parenting E.R.A.
C.A. also testified that J.B. has had multiple relationships since the divorce, and C.A.
was concerned that J.B.'s marriage to her wife, K.W., was confusing to E.R.A. C.A.
further testified that J.B. does not involve him in making decisions regarding
E.R.A.'s health and education, and C.A. believed that J.B. would not follow the trial
court's orders if she were the primary conservator. C.A. testified that if he had the
exclusive right to determine E.R.A.'s residence, he would enroll E.R.A in the Waller
school district and keep her in the Cypress area near her family, friends, and church.
C.A. testified that he was concerned that E.R.A.'s current school district has low
standardized testing scores.
M.A. testified that she loves E.R.A. and treats her like her own child. M.A.
testified that she had noticed changes in E.R.A.'s behavior, and M.A. explained that
E.R.A. was dieting, did not want to eat, was very clingy, and had developed
separation anxiety. M.A. also testified that E.R.A. no longer liked princesses or pink,
and her new favorite color was black. M.A. explained that J.B. does not have the
same beliefs and values regarding how E.R.A. should be raised. According to M.A.,
she had concerns about the stability of J.B.'s relationships.
C.A.'s father, J.A., testified that C.A. and M.A. have a good relationship with
E.R.A., and they make decisions in her best interest. According to J.A., it would be
in E.R.A.'s best interest for C.A. to have the right to designate E.R.A.'s primary
residence, because C.A. offers a more stable environment. J.A. testified that E.R.A.'s
demeanor