If you’re like most parents, you treasure and value your relationship with your children. Unfortunately, a divorce can have a variety of effects on that relationship. You may no longer live with your children, see them as frequently, be able to make critical decisions for them, or any of the other sad “normal” ways that divorce has an impact on parent-child interactions.

The relationship you have with your children, on the other hand, should never be harmed by the other parent’s unwanted meddling. Parental alienation is a type of emotional abuse in which one parent tries to turn their children against their other parent. Not familiar with this term?  Chances are, you may also be unfamiliar with common signs of parental alienation.

7 Signs That the Other Parent Is Interfering: How to Recognize Parental Alienation

Even those who are well-versed in the concept of parental alienation may struggle to recognize it in their own lives. Our goal is to highlight a few typical symptoms that the other parent is seeking to sabotage your relationship with your children.

1. Your Ex Husband or Wife Disparages You in Front of Your Kids

If the pain of a bitter divorce is still fresh in your former spouse’s thoughts, he or she may be tempted to say hurtful or inappropriate things about you in front of your children. These words may cast you in a negative light or even persuade your children to hold you responsible for anything.

“Mommy/Daddy doesn’t want to spend time with you this Christmas.  He/she is going to spend Christmas with his/her new friend,” for example.

2. You Have Been Falsely Accused of Domestic Abuse

Similarly to the previous sign, any disparaging of one parent by the other parent is a big no-no.  Nevertheless, in some families, children are unfortunate witnesses to domestic violence between their parents.  It’s sometimes necessary to discuss domestic violence with children, but not when it’s intended to undermine the bond that children have with their parents – especially when the claims are false.

3. Your Ex Spoke to Your Children about the Details of Your Divorce

Marriages end for a variety of reasons, and what happens during the divorce process can exacerbate people’s frustration, rage, anguish, and despair. Children, especially young children, have little need to know the details of why their parents are no longer together.

Sharing this knowledge with children may be justified as “giving them the answers they need” or “because they’re mature enough to handle it,” but such justifications may be really a ruse to turn youngsters against one of their parents.

4. You Find that Your Kids Are Suddenly Inexplicably Angry with You

Once again, divorce can inspire a lot of complicated feelings in parents and their children. Anger, however, could be a sign that the other parent is telling your kids things about you or the divorce that upsets them. If your former spouse isn’t getting a similar treatment, it could be a sign that your children are being manipulated.

5. Your Ex Husband or Wife Tries to Keep The Children Away from You

Your custody and visitation arrangements may state one thing, but the other parent may create a life for your children that makes it nearly difficult for you to see them. They might be enrolled in after-school activities, weekend sports, or summer camp activities that coincide with the days and hours you’re meant to be with them.

6. Your Children Refuse to See or Spend Time with You

Divorce can elicit a wide range of complex emotions in both parents and children. Anger, on the other hand, could indicate that the other parent is telling your children unflattering things about you or the divorce. It could be a clue that your children are being misled if your previous spouse isn’t getting the same treatment.

7. Your Children Feel a Sense of Guilt When They Spend Time with You

When one parent is attempting to maintain a monopoly on their affection, children may feel terrible about spending time with the other. Your ex-spouse may be guilt-tripping your children for having such sentiments if they refuse to acknowledge they had fun with you or that they like being with you.

When You Suspect Parental Alienation, What Should You Do?

If you feel that this type of emotional abuse is taking on, contact an attorney right away. A lawyer can assist you in investigating the problem and taking proper legal action. To compensate for parental alienation, the courts may be inclined to consider modifying child custody or visiting arrangements.

To get more information about how Spodek Law Group can help you out with these matters, please contact us online or call us today.