Parental alienation is one thing that many parents fear when they start dealing with custody matters.
But what exactly is this issue, and what are the real potential red flags that might indicate it is happening?
What is parental alienation?
Forbes discusses the impact of parental alienation. First of all, what is it? Parental alienation occurs when one parent attempts to turn their child against the other through various means and for various reasons. Of course, this is not an okay thing to do by any means, and it is possible to take legal action if it happens.
But in order to take action, one must have proof that something is amiss. This means it is important to look for real red flags that might indicate parental alienation.
Paying attention to differences in your child
First, pay attention to the child’s behavior. In many cases, a child experiencing parental manipulation and toxicity will initially show reluctance to spend time with the other parent. However, they will usually warm back up to the other parent within a day or two of spending time with them, especially if they are younger.
Next, listen to what a child says after returning from a co-parent’s house. In many cases, they will parrot back things that the other parent says, even if the concepts are too complex for them to actually understand.
Co-parent hostility levels
Finally, check hostility levels with the co-parent in question. In many cases, a co-parent engaging in alienating tactics will make no attempt to hide their disdain and displeasure toward the other parent. Combined, these red flags could mean that something is afoot.