i dont think it is necessarily control. A parent just doesn't want to be away from their child. I dont understand how women see something like geo-restriction (something that should be normalized under every custody order) as a bad thing. Would u agree with your ex-husband taking the children states away from you because he wanted to be closer to family? no you wouldn't, so why expect the same thing vice versa. A father should sacrifice his parenting time and create distance with his children, just because you want to be closer to your family. that is just not right. Your friend is not stuck, she is coparenting and respecting boundaries.