Jessica Cooper

 Kramer vs. Kramer: 
Post Two

I do not believe that Joanna deserves custody of Billy. Though she raised him when he was a child while Ted focused more on his career than his family, her wrong actions are equivalent to his selfishness. Ted had to become a mother and father for Billy when Joanna decided to take time of from mothering. In my personal opinion, I don't think Joanna was ready to be a mother. From the information given in the movie, it made her seem as though she had been unhappy. A parent is supposed to give up their life for their child when it is brought into this world. Though Joanna did in his infant stage of life, when he got to an appropriate age to understand what was going on, she felt the mother role was no longer a priority to her; the definition of selfishness. In defense of Ted, he was the one bringing home the money, while Joanna was a stay-at-home mom. Though he barely had time to focus on his family, he was too busy making a living to be able to provide for his family. In the movie, before Joanna left, she said to Ted, "It's not you, it's me." Though she was having personal issues, a spouse is supposed to be able to help you through hard times. Her excuse was that she had fallen out of love with Ted, which has no justification of her leaving Billy, though she has "unconditional love" for him. Overall, Joanna did not deserve the right to have custody of Billy because she put her life before his.