Has your child suddenly started behaving indifferently towards you or everyone from your side of the family? Have they started becoming mean to you without any valid reasons? You may be a victim of parental alienation, where your co-parent is manipulating the child into believing you are not a good person.
If your divorce was acrimonious, your co-parent might be doing that to ruin the parent-child relationship you have with the child, probably out of malice. It may end up affecting the child’s well-being in several ways, as detailed below.
The effects of parental alienation
The sudden change in the relationship between you and your child may affect their self-esteem. Children do not have the emotional maturity to process some of these drastic changes, and they may view it as abandonment or start to blame themselves for the sudden turn of events.
Additionally, your child could be affected psychologically, and they may become more prone to depression later on in life.As the child grows up thinking that the parent did not love them, it is likely to affect their ability to sustain long-lasting relationships.
What can you do to stop it?
It is critical for your child’s welfare and your rights as a parent to stop parental alienation as soon as it begins. Talking to the other parent and resolving any conflict should be your first action if you notice any hint of alienation. Consider roping in a mediator if you are not on talking terms with your ex-spouse.
If the situation persists, it may be time to turn to the courts for relief. Given that parental alienation is not in the child’s best interests, a judge will review your case and any supporting evidence. After that, they will possibly issue new custodial orders or revise the existing arrangement.