The 10 Warning Signs of Parental Alienation

By Grace Watkins

Parental alienation is a somewhat controversial phenomenon characterized by one parent denigrating the other parent, while brainwashing the child to join in the effort. It is a tactic often used to tip the custody scales in a divorce and can mushroom into a situation where the kids are completely turned against the other parent unjustly.

Is your ex-spouse alienating your kids against you and undermining your role as their parent? Learn the 10 warning signs.

1. Are you being prevented or conveniently left out of school functions and decision regarding your child's activities and even health care? Restricting your access to information about your child serves to create a physical and temporal divide.

2. Does your spouse openly blame you for financial or relationship problems or other stressors in the marriage? Sharing personal marital problems with kids is inappropriate and blaming it on the other spouse is a tactic to get the kids to side with the other spouse who is portrayed as the victim.

3. Does your spouse listen in on your phone calls with the kids? Often an act of jealousy, this shows insecurity and mistrust.

4. Does he or she use the child to spy on you? Are the kids being used to report your words, behaviors and other details about your personal life back to your ex-spouse or so they can be used in the divorce or custody hearing?

5. Has a movement been made for your child to be adopted by the step parent? This may include changing the child's name as the ultimate severance of parental ties.

6. Are the kids given a choice of visiting you? Are they being encouraged to pull away and move you out of the picture for reasons not shared with you?

7. Is your child being overbooked with activities such that there is no time left for you to be with them?

8. Is your child acting fearful of you, as if they have been told you are capable of violence or abuse?

9. Does you child act angry toward you, but has no real reason?

10. Does your spouse arrange more pleasant activities that conflict with your visit so that they child has to decide whether to see you or not?

Once children are enlisted as participants to influence custody in a divorce or to change family dynamics, they are active, empowered pawns in the game. By doing as the alienating parent says, they can tear the family apart and forever change their relationship with a parent.

Facing divorce and a custody battle? Get the facts for how to win the fight http://www.child-custody-for-fathers.com

Article Source: The 10 Warning Signs of Parental Alienation