Do you feel like your child is being used against you? Do you feel like your kid’s behavior has suddenly changed and now they’re making disparaging statements against you? Are you being blocked from communicating and visiting with your child? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then there’s a good chance that you and your child are being subjected to parental alienation.
What is parental alienation?
Parental alienation is a manipulation tactic utilized by one parent to intentionally damage a child’s relationship with their other parent. This manipulation can take many forms, including:
- Badmouthing the other parent while in the child’s presence.
- Consistently undermining what the other parent has said.
- Sharing embarrassing details with the child about the parents’ relationship with each other.
- Preventing the other parent from communicating with the child.
- Blocking visitation.
- Failing to keep the other parent informed of the child’s extracurricular activities.
- Making false allegations of abuse or neglect against the other parent.
- Lying to the child about the other parent.
- Using the child as a spy to gain harmful information about the other parent.
Can parental alienation be stopped?
Yes. It may require filing a motion to modify custody, but it is possible. To increase your chances of success, gather as much evidence as you can, including text messages and witness accounts. It’s also helpful to have a journal where you document every possible instance of alienation and how your child has responded as a result.
Take action now to protect your child
Parental alienation can cause significant harm to your child if it goes unchecked. To protect them, you need to act now. Although that can be frightening to think about, you can surround yourself with those who support you and can help you make the arguments needed to persuasively present your case.