It would be futile to pursue your custody case if the children prefer to live with the other parent, unless you think it is dangerous for the children to live with your former spouse. Be involved with your children s lives. In doing so, you are more likely to get the judge s favor. If you leave all the parenting duties to the other parent, then you will lose the custody of your children. This is because more often than not, the parent would only experience failure because he or she wasn t able to meet the goals and expectations that are set. However, despite the discouraging times, this is not enough reason to give up when there s an on going child custody case. In fact, for some people, this can be a good opportunity to start anew. They can make an appeal and hope that somehow, the ruling can be overturned. Another best way to cope is that request is you can visit your child regularly. Majority of family court judges are hesitant to reject any parent s request to regular see their kids despite losing the child custody case. Also, you can focus your attention on the factor that has caused the custody to be given to the other parent. Knowing one's self will also enable you to take note of your weaknesses and find ways on how to overcome, manage, and deal with them. The same works for your strengths because you might even find a way on how to improve them. - Keep track of your progress on a regular basis. Monitoring how well or bad you are doing will help you maneuver things that find ways that would best work for you. If you are aiming for the best interests of your children and are doing it without any resentment and bitterness, the judge will take notice of and respect that. This kind of positive attitude will also give your children peace of mind, as they are spared from the tension and animosities between you and the other parent. These would include all the key aspects of the well-being of the child education, medical care, religious upbringing and others. Usually, both parents are awarded joint legal custody, unless one of them is found to be unfit or unable to make the right decisions. Legal custody is not the same as physical custody which concerns issues on where the child will reside.