[¶ 1] Susan Kjelland appealed from a divorce judgment awarding custody of the parties’ three children to Tom Kjelland. We hold the trial court did not clearly err in determining the best interests of the children favor awarding custody to Tom. We therefore affirm.
I
[¶ 2] Tom and Susan Kjelland married on September 6, 1980. During the marriage, they had three children: two sons whose dates of birth were June 12, 1985, and August 24, 1988, and a daughter whose birthdate was May 10, 1990.
[¶ 3] In 1981, Tom and Susan bought a convenience store in Valley City, and in 1986, they built a convenience store in Devils Lake. They bought a home near Valley City in 1988. During much of the marriage, Susan managed the Devils Lake store and spent time both in Devils Lake and Valley City, Tom managed the Valley City store, and the children lived at the parties’ Valley City home and spent some time in Devils Lake. Tom and Susan both provided care for the children. The parties sold the stores in 1996.
[¶ 4] In 1995, Susan began a mail-order business with a friend in Devils Lake. The business has not been successful and has had little or no revenue since 1997. Susan bought a home in Devils Lake in May 1997.
[¶ 5] Tom and Susan separated in about September 1997, and Tom subsequently sued for a divorce. The trial court granted Tom interim custody of the parties’ children and appointed a guardian ad litem *103 to provide a custody evaluation. The guardian ad litem recommended awarding custody to Tom.
[¶ 6] A trial was held in April 1999. The trial court analyzed the best interests of the children under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2 to determine custody. The trial court noted the children indicated they want to live in their Valley City home; Tom expressed his intent and commitment to remain with the children in Valley City; Susan purchased a home in Devils Lake in 1997 and has rented a duplex in Valley City since January 1999 but has rarely spent a weekend in Valley City with the children; and Susan admitted she has limited employment opportunities in Valley City. The trial court also indicated both Tom and Susan are fit and proper parents; the children are doing well in Valley City; Susan has a lower propensity to encourage visitation; and the guardian ad litem recommended Tom be awarded custody. The trial court awarded custody to Tom and granted Susan liberal visitation. Judgment was entered on August 3, 1999. Susan appealed.
II
[¶ 7] Susan contends the trial court erred in awarding custody to Tom. In determining custody, a trial court must consider the 13-factor best interests test set forth in N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1).
Ackerman v. Ackerman,
For the purpose of custody, the best interests and welfare of the child is determined by the court’s consideration and evaluation of all factors affecting the best interests and welfare of the child. These factors include all of the following when applicable:
a. The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parents and child.
b. The capacity and disposition of the parents to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education of the child.
c. The disposition of the parents to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care, or other remedial care recognized and permitted under the laws of this state in lieu of medical care, and other material needs.
d. The length of time the child has lived in a stable satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
e. The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home.
f. The moral fitness of the parents.
g. The mental and physical health of the parents.
h. The home, school, and community record of the child.
i. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.
j. Evidence of domestic violence....
k. The interaction and interrelationship, or the potential for interaction and interrelationship, of the child with any person who resides in, is present, or frequents the household of a parent and who may significantly affect the child’s best interests....
l. The making of false allegations not made in good faith, by one parent against the other, of harm to a child as defined in section 50-25.1-02.
m. Any other factors considered by the court to be relevant to a particular child custody dispute.
[¶ 8] The trial court does not have to make specific findings for each factor but should consider all relevant factors.
Ackerman,
at ¶ 8. The custody determination is a finding of fact which will not be reversed unless it is clearly erroneous.
Nefzger v. Nefzger,
[¶ 9] Here, the trial court acknowledged N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2 governed its decision and determined the best interests of the children required awarding custody to Tom. The trial court indicated factors (d), (e), and (m) favored Tom and factors (a), (b), (c), (f), (g), (j), (k), and (l) did not favor either parent. Under factors (h) and (i), the trial court noted the children were thriving in their home, school, and community environment in Valley City and had a clear preference to remain there.
[¶ 10] Under factors (d) and (e), the trial court acknowledged Tom’s greater stability and commitment to parenting. A party’s commitment to parenting is a valid factor to consider in determining custody.
Wetzel v. Wetzel,
[¶ 11] Under factors (h) and (i), the trial court noted the children are doing well in Valley City, are involved in many activities, have excellent school records, and have made clear their preference to remain in Valley City. The children’s report cards indicate they have received very good grades, mostly A’s and a few B’s. The guardian ad litem testified the children are doing well and wish to live in Valley City. The oldest child testified he participated in football, basketball, and golf. Although he did not express a preference as to which parent he wished to live with, he testified he wished to remain in the Valley City home. The middle child testified he participated in soccer and football. He also testified he wished to continue living in the Valley City home. The trial court accordingly did not clearly err in finding the children have done well in Valley City and wish to continue living there. In light of *105 Tom’s greater stability and “commitment to remain in Valley City and to live in the family home with the children,” the trial court’s findings under factors (h) and (i) are consistent with awarding custody to Tom.
[¶ 12] Under factor (m), the trial court indicated Susan would be less likely to promote visitation if she was granted custody. A parent’s willingness to foster a relationship with the other parent may be considered in determining the best interests of the children.
Gregg v. Gregg,
[¶ 13] Also under factor (m), the trial court noted the guardian ad litem’s testimony and report which recommended Tom be awarded custody. A guardian ad litem’s opinion is appropriate to consider in determining custody, and a trial court has discretion to assign the weight given to such evidence.
McAdams v. McAdams,
[¶ 14] Challenging the trial court’s neutral finding under factor (f), Susan contends the trial court failed to consider evidence of Tom’s drinking which shows his lack of fitness to be a parent; however, the record does not support her contention. One witness, acquaintance Monilaws, testified Tom often left the children in his van while attending meetings at Monilaws’ home and left such meetings intoxicated. Monilaws, however, conceded he blamed Tom, at least partly, for Monilaws’ own divorce because of Tom’s alleged involvement with Monilaws’ ex-wife. Johnson, another acquaintance of the parties, testified Tom drinks in a social manner. The guardian ad litem reported “Susan could not relate any incidents where she felt the children had been placed in danger, or any predicaments that Tom had placed himself into because of his drinking.” Susan’s actions belie her contention Tom’s poor judgment and alcohol misuse cause him to be an unfit parent. Susan proposed a joint physical custody plan under which she and Tom would alternate living in the parties’ Valley City home with the children. At trial, she testified she saw no “drawbacks to the children to initiating that kind of a joint custodial relationship.” Susan also chose to purchase a home in Devils Lake and to remain working in Devils Lake after the parties had sold their stores and separated. If Susan truly believed Tom is unfit, she would not have allowed Tom to spend considerable time alone in Valley City with the children or proposed a joint physical custody plan. Moreover, the record indicates the trial court did consider the allegations of Tom’s alcohol misuse and poor judgment. Near the conclusion of the trial, the court inquired about an instance of Tom’s alleged alcohol-related misconduct. Moments later, the trial *106 court indicated “[b]oth parents are fit parents.” At oral argument, Susan’s attorney conceded he had submitted proposed findings to the trial court which most likely included' findings regarding Tom’s alcohol use and the trial court must have considered and rejected those findings since it did not adopt them. The trial court thus did not err in failing to consider evidence of Tom’s alleged alcohol misuse and poor judgment.
[¶ 15] Susan also argues the trial court failed to consider her history of being the primary caretaker; however, she fails to demonstrate she was the primary caretaker during the marriage. The primary caretaker rule has not been given presumptive status in this state; however, it is a relevant factor to be considered by the trial court in its review under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2.
Reeves v. Chepulis,
[¶ 16] The foregoing shows there is evidence supporting the trial court’s determination the best interests of the children favor awarding custody to Tom. Reviewing the entire record, we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made. We thus hold the trial court did not clearly err in determining custody.
Ill
[¶ 17] Because the trial court did not clearly err in awarding custody of the parties’ children to Tom, we affirm.
Notes
. Susan submitted a proposal for joint custody, a proposal granting her custody and granting Tom limited visitation, and a proposal granting her liberal visitation if Tom was awarded custody.
. One party’s mere spending more time with the children than the other party is not determinative of stability or caretaking.
Schneider v. Livingston,