If you and your child are being subjected to parental alienation, then you need to figure out what you can do to bring it to a stop and how to do so as quickly as possible. While achieving that ultimate outcome may require successful legal action in the form of a custody modification, there are steps that you can take now to mitigate the damage being caused to your relationship with your child and generate the evidence that you need to support your position.
How to lessen the impact of parental alienation
Dealing with parental alienation certainly isn’t easy. But taking these actions may prove beneficial in your circumstances:
- Be careful with how you react. If you get overly defensive and lash out at your child’s other parent, then you may be causing more harm to your child than you expect. So, try your best to stay calm and neutral.
- Affirm your love and support for your child even if he or she makes harmful statements to you.
- Continue your efforts to contact your child, whether that’s via phone, text, email, or letters. It might also be beneficial to document your efforts to communicate with your child.
- Don’t try to overcompensate to offset the image that your child’s other parent is portraying of you. This can make your relationship with your child feel artificial and strained. Instead, be yourself and always act in the child’s best interests.
- Keep any promises that you make to your child, whether that be for visitation or activities that you planned.
- Try to create some special moments that will strengthen your bond with your child. This may mean a vacation or a special event, but it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Simply taking some time out of your day to play basketball or go shopping with your child can go a long way toward reestablishing and strengthening your bond.
Take legal action when you’re ready
Although these steps can help lessen the impact of parental alienation, they may not put it to a stop. That’s why you also need to be prepared to take legal action. To do so, you may need a team of professionals on your side, including an attorney who is well-versed in handling these types of cases. So, when the time comes, know that law firms like ours stand ready to help you fight for the fair outcome that you and your child deserve.
