Holding your children for the first time is life-changing, and it can bring parents closer together. Life rarely works out the way we plan, and unfortunately, parents sometimes divorce. Sadly, children can get caught in the middle when a spouse weaponizes the divorce and the child custody process.
The example
One common example involves a spouse who seeks to destroy the child’s relationship with their other parent. They do everything they can to keep the children away from the other parent, do not pass along holiday cards, do not abide by parenting plan orders, make up excuses, have “emergencies” that take away the other parent’s parenting time, and more.
And, of course, to the child, they craft elaborate stories about how the other parent does not care, does not want to be around them and other horrible stories to paint them as the bad, unloving and uncaring parent.
Parental alienation
This type of behavior is called parental alienation. This type of brainwashing may be recognized by courts throughout the United States, including in Michigan, as illegal child abuse. This is because the emotional manipulation of children can create emotionally disabled adults later.
Essentially, one parent declares war against the other parent for no logical reason. They simply want to destroy the other parent, and they are willing to use the child to do it. Parents do not have to accept this, and family law courts do not either.
Get professional help
First, tell your attorney. Next, get professional help from a mental health provider. They can diagnose parental alienation and help fight it.