A parent asserts absolute ownership over children, claiming the right to remove them without regard to the other parent or the child's rights
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The Situation
What They Said
“I can take the children wherever I want — they are mine and you have no say.”
This phrase is used by one parent in a separated or disputed household to claim unilateral authority over where the children live or travel, often while trying to prevent the other parent from having any involvement or information.
The Fallacy
False Ownership / Appeal to Possession
This argument treats children as property of a parent rather than as persons with their own rights. The premise that children 'belong' to a parent in the same way physical possessions do is legally and morally false. In many legal systems, children are regarded as persons with protected rights, and the right of each parent to be involved in the child's life is protected — as is the child's right to maintain a relationship with both parents.
What the Law Says
Your Legal Foundation
Código Civil y Comercial de la Nación
art. 648 del Código Civil y Comercial — Parental responsibility rules
“Personal care is defined as the duties and powers of the parents regarding the daily life of the child.”
This means that both parents share rights and responsibilities over daily decisions, including where the child lives or travels, so one parent cannot unilaterally decide without the other's input.
What Scripture Says
God's Word on This
1 Kings 3:26-27 (NET)
“The real mother spoke to the king because her motherly instincts were aroused for her son. She said, 'Please, my master, give her the living child — do not kill him!' ... The king responded, 'Give the first woman the living child; do not kill him. She is the mother.'”
Solomon's wisdom recognised that the parent who truly loves a child prioritises the child's life and wellbeing over claiming possession — the test of true parental love is what is best for the child.
Psalm 127:3 (NET)
“Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Children are described as a gift from God — stewardship of a gift implies responsibility for their welfare, not ownership rights that override their personhood.
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You Know the Law — But Do You Know What to Say?
Reading your rights is one thing. Using them under pressure — calmly, correctly, in the right words — is what actually protects you. Members get the scripted rebuttal for this exact situation: what to say first, what to say if they push back, the tone to use, and the constitutional provision to cite. Practise out loud with audio until it's automatic.