When parents end their relationships with one another, their changing dynamic can affect their children as well. Children of all ages may struggle to adjust to shared custody arrangements. They may lash out at either of their parents because they blame them for the shift in family circumstances.
In some cases, one parent may find that their relationship with their children has undergone a significant, negative change related to the end of their relationship. Many times, the parent-child relationship heals over time, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes, one parent contributes to the relationship damage that comes with changing family circumstances. They engage in a campaign of intentional parental alienation. Parental alienation can cause significant psychological harm to the targeted parent and the children involved. Recognizing alienation is the first step toward preventing it.
What could serve as warning signs of parental alienation?
Canceled or shortened visitation
Parental alienation often involves a deliberate attempt to interfere with parenting time. One parent might consistently cancel the other’s time with the children.
They may claim that one child has a headache or that appointments require that the children stay with one parent instead of spending time with the other as scheduled. Particularly when cancellations become the status quo and shortened parenting sessions are common, that disruption to the official schedule for parenting time could be indicative of intentional alienation.
Negative claims about one parent
Parental alienation often involves one parent trying to manipulate how the children view the other parent. They may talk negatively about the other parent, often by exaggerating or fabricating complaints. For example, the parent canceling the other’s time with the children might claim to the children that the cancellation came from the other parent.
Other times, they might share far more details about the failure of the parents’ relationship with the children than is age-appropriate. Questionable statements from the children or accusatory posts on social media from the other parent can be indicative of negative speech that contributes to parental alienation.
Those experiencing intentional parental alienation can fight back by taking legal action in family court. Gathering documentation can help one parent assert their rights in a shared custody scenario where parental alienation has occurred.