Children of divorce are innocent bystanders and casualties of divorce. They are innocent bystanders, as one household becomes two. They face uncertainty, if not fear of the future. Their best interests should come first.
Acts of parental alienation present a direct threat to their emotional and psychological well-being. Far too many waste little time in manipulating children to take “their side.” They force children to choose one parent. They foster unease or negative feelings towards another parent. These sinister and damaging signs must be identified and stopped.
Putting Children In The Middle
- Validating anger children feel towards a parent
- Speaking disparagingly about the other parent in the presence of children
- Blaming the other parent for financial struggles and other changes in lifestyle in front of the children
- Telling children about the details regarding the marriage failing and the divorce decree
- Requesting information from children on the other parent’s personal life
False Accusations
- Accusing the other parent of putting children at risk without evidence
- Knowingly making false and dangerous allegations of violence, sexual abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, and other illegal activities
- Needing to “rescue” children when no danger exists
Continuing Interference
- Forcing children to choose which parent they want to visit
- Not abiding by or reducing court-ordered or agreed upon access time and visitation
- Conversely, rigid and inflexible enforcement of visitation schedules purely out of vengeance.
- Refusing access to medical and school records and schedules of extracurricular activities
Regardless of whatever form it takes, parental alienation is an obstacle that impairs improved relationships between a divorcing couple and their children.