why did the judge give the mother full custody when the father has the kids every night and on 3 out of four weekends. He is about to loose his house

My son doesn't make that much, and in the prelimitary trial was ordered to pay $800 a month thus cause him to not have enough money to keep his house or feed the kids since she only has them during the night time hours Her father was a head parole officer and knows all the judges and lawyers making it not fair. He loves his kids but thought that child support went by if you can make it financially for yourself also. She has them overnight and one hour in the morning. He also has to pay part of the babysitting money He is too proud and is not wealthy enough to get a good lawyer like she did and to proud to make phone calls. Pretty much a mess in all this worrying about how he is going to provide for them. He is the best father. His own dad abandoned him so he is making up for it with his own kids. I am his mom and concerned about what will happen. He has all the records of how he has the kids and her working hours but it did not matter. Now it goes to court next March.