Child custody disputes can be trying at the best of times. After all, there are few things that are more treasured than your parent-child relationship.
Sadly, divorces and custody battles can turn nasty. Occasionally, one parent may try to cut the other parent out of the child’s life because of spite. This could amount to parental alienation.
Different forms of parental alienation
Parental alienation can vary in its severity. It might begin with more subtle actions such as not keeping the other parent informed of a child’s medical appointments or schooling activities. However, in severe cases, the child could be manipulated into thinking a parent was abusive.
How can parental alienation be identified?
Often, parental alienation can be extremely difficult to recognize. However, it may present itself in how a child behaves toward you. If a child has had a drastic change in attitude towards one parent, such as being overly critical, then parental alienation may be transpiring.
Another useful method of spotting the signs of parental alienation is to listen carefully to what the child is saying. If the child is raising issues or making statements that only the other parent could know, they could be falling afoul to manipulation.
How can parental alienation be tackled?
There are numerous options available that could help to tackle parental alienation. Before considering legal options, such as a child custody modification, mediation could be an option. A trained psychological professional may be able to sway the other parent that is not in the child’s best interests. In turn, this may help get your parent-child relationship back on track.
Familiarizing yourself with the law relating to child custody is vital, as you can then apply it to your given circumstances. Furthermore, having a better understanding of your legal rights and obligations will help protect your parent-child relationship.
