It is a common misconception that fathers have automatic custody rights over their sons. In reality, custody is determined based on the best interests of the child and what arrangement will provide the child with the stability and care he or she needs. If a father wants to take his son from his mother, he will need to prove that it is in the child's best interests to live with him instead. Factors that are considered when making this determination include each parent's ability to provide a safe and stable home, their work schedules, their mental and physical health, any drug or alcohol use, criminal histories, and whether there has been any domestic violence in the home. If the father can demonstrate that it would be in the child's best interests to live with him, then he may be awarded primary custody. However, even if this is the case, mothers are typically still given significant parenting time with their children.