When parents who share a child are no longer on good terms, one of the decisions they will have to make is how to raise their child. Most often, the family court will encourage an arrangement where parents work out a parenting plan that serves the child’s best interests and works for both parents.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a divorce or separation to bring out the worst in people. When this happens, one or both parents may resort to unhealthy behaviors like parental alienation to win the child’s favor at the expense of the other party.
Parental alienation can also have long-term negative effects on the child. Here are two questions that can help you determine if your ex is alienating you from your child.
Is the child unusually angry with you?
Most often, the alienating parent will try to create a wedge between you and your child by accusing you of something improper and untrue. For instance, they may accuse you of neglect.
Or, they may let the child believe you were the reason the family broke up. In return, the child will detest and develop an unjustified hatred towards you and may, at times, decline to show up for visitation.
Is the other parent interfering with the custody order?
To ensure that both parents are actively involved in their child’s well-being, the court will usually grant primary custody to one parent while the other is awarded visitation rights.
It is important that both parties respect this order. However, when the other parent is deliberately interfering with the custody order, then this could be a clear sign of parental alienation.
Every child deserves the care of both parents. Find out how you can safeguard your child’s best interests as well as your rights if the other parent is trying to alienate you from your child.