Different color for child product (close but no cigar)

[mscott0418]

I created child products that are just a different color and product sku. My customers can select the child from the product category or select the product from the product down list of its parent or fellow child products. My only issue is when I create a custom field color to use in google base and to display on the website. It defaults to the parent color. Even though the title and the picture has a different color the custom field never changes from the parent. When I click on the child product and select Overwrite plugin values of the parent, it shows the color for the child but no longer lets me select the parent with the generic child variant on the product page for the child. If the overwrite plugin option didnt break the generic child variant custom field my site would be perfect. Anyone have any idea on how to fix this.