The appellant contends that, while this Court has established the best interests of the child as the ultimate goal to be achieved, prior adjudications have determined that this requires custody to the mother as against a grandparent unless the mother is unfit for the responsibility. Merriman v. Selvey, Ky., 296 S.W.2d 716; Brown v. Fudge, 312 Ky. 494, 228 S.W.2d 34; Brodbeck v. Grant, 306 Ky. 381, 208 S.W.2d 56; Bard v. Bard, 295 Ky. 254, 173 S.W.2d 569; Altemeier v. Rachford, 291 Ky. 845, 165 S.W.2d 848; Wacker v. Wacker, 279 Ky. 19, 129 S.W.2d 1043, and Campbell v. Campbell, 233 Ky. 423, 25 S.W.2d 1013, are relied upon as compelling a reversal of the judgment of the lower court. In all these cases the mother prevailed over grandparents and other more distant relatives.
We are cognizant of the rule that a mother will not be denied custody of a child of tender years unless other parties' rights to its custody are clearly paramount to her right or it is shown that she is not a suitable person for such responsibility. Brodbeck v. Grant, 306 Ky. 381, 209 S.W.2d 56; Horn v. Dreschel, 298 Ky. 427, 183 S.W.2d 22. It is our difficult and unpleasant duty under the evidence discussed to decide whether the Browns or the Hamiltons should be awarded the custody of Linda. It is not contended that the Browns have a paramount right to her custody. The only question before us is whether it would be to Linda's best interest to award her custody to her mother now, in view of the evidence presented in the case.