The people you entrust with your child are people whom you are supposed to feel like you can count on 100% of the time. If there is any doubt on whether or not they are capable of taking care of your child, then you should not take that risk at all. You may take that risk when it comes to a plant, to an imminent object, and on extremely rare occasions, a pet, but never, ever, should you take that risk with a child. 

If there’s a doubt, there is no doubt.

This also applies to whom you’re putting down as your child’s emergency contact. That contact, again, should only be someone you trust wholeheartedly and without a shadow of a doubt. It doesn’t matter if it’s your romantic partner, parent, or even just a friend, as long as you know that person is able to take on that task and not let you down.

That is not something that can be said about either the stepdad or the mother in the story below.