Misunderstandings between parent and child are a normal occurrence in a parental relationship. However, if a child is irrationally rejecting a parent to the point of false accusations and unjustified hateful charges, it is already a cause for concern. Moreover, it can adversely affect child custody results.
Signs to look out for
If you worry your child is showing signs of alienation but are unsure what triggers it, you can read through the following to determine if parental alienation exists so you can take the necessary steps to stop it. The alienator may be doing the following that triggers rejection and hateful feelings from your child:
- Shares details related to spousal relations that may not be necessary to divulge to the child, such as instances of affairs
- Prevents the child from seeing or talking to the other parent
- Monitors the child’s communication with the other parent
- Insists on keeping the child’s belongings in their house
- Purposely planning activities during the other parent’s custody schedule
- Hides the child’s personal, medical and school details from the other parent
These are some signs of parent alienation that you and your child may overlook. While these may be difficult to prove in court, being aware of these signs is the first step to stopping parent alienation.
Your child is also a victim
As a parent, you may feel hurt to be on the receiving end of alienation. It may cause dismay to know that your child sees you as their enemy and believes you have done wrong. However, the child usually does not know they are being subject to alienation and may think they are in control of their beliefs and opinions.
Understanding that the child is also a victim can help the parent take the necessary measures to save them and their child from the abuse.