Breanna McQuinn & Ayaka Davies: Kramer v. Kramer (1)

We do not believe that Joanna Kramer should have gotten custody of her son. She was a mother who left her own family for her selfish needs when as a mother, she should have stayed with her child because that is what a mother does; she puts her child first. Bringing a child into the world is a lifetime commitment. At the beginning of the movie, Joanna is portrayed as a frail and confused woman who doesn't want to be with Ted anymore because she needs to find her own "happiness", but Billy is the one who has to pay for the loss. Later, once she "finds her self", she wants Billy back because she thinks she is stable enough for him. Although we do have sympathy for Joanna after the whole court scene where she impressed the whole room with her speech about how she is a better person now, we don't think the custody of a child should be determined by a speech, but actions, and through actions, Joanna has shown nothing. We don't think that it is healthy for Billy to go back and forth because he is too young to understand certain things. The second she walked out on her family, she should have lost every right to take care of her child.