When you are going through a divorce in Kentucky, there may be bitter feelings between you and your spouse. Some couples with children allow their marital troubles to spill over into the family. In severe cases, one parent intentionally tries to separate the children from the other by causing unwarranted dislike and mistrust of that parent. If you are experiencing unexplained animosity from your children after divorce, your former spouse may be attempting parental alienation to sever your relationship. According to the Huffington Post, parental alienation happens through a variety of tactics, and it has serious consequences on children and parents alike.
A parent who is trying to alienate you from your child may actively encourage bitterness toward you. He or she may disparage you openly and intentionally speak against your parenting standards and practices in an effort to win the child’s favor. Another tactic includes limiting contact with you, and even your entire side of the family, as much as possible.
If your child is experiencing parental alienation, he or she may not even realize what is happening. A skewed view of you may be developed after hearing so much negative, and sometimes fear-inducing, accusations. However, your child may believe the opinion formed was a result of unbiased observation, rather than intentional manipulation. The growing dislike your child feels may result in severe mistreatment of you, often without any feelings of guilt which would occur in a healthy parent-child relationship.
While mental health professionals disagree on the extent of this psychological phenomenon, the effects on parents and children are obvious. Recognizing the warning signs of parental alienation may help you to prevent your former spouse from continuing to sabotage your relationship with your children.
This information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended as legal advice.