Children are innocents when it comes to divorce. For the most part, children would never choose for their parents to be separated or divorced. Texas family law courts recognize this. Judges make decisions about custody that are in the best interests of any minor children.
Unfortunately, custody laws cannot prevent one parent from choosing to alienate or try to destroy the bond that the other parent has with the children. Parental alienation, also know as hostile aggressive parenting, is when one parent purposefully and consistently seeks to undermine the child’s love for the other parent. Parental alienation is most commonly occurs during contentious divorces involving custody and visitation disputes.
Typically, the parent manipulating the children in this harmful way is the parent the children are living with, though not in all cases. Despite increased awareness of parental alienation syndrome (PAS), incidents of PAS continue to grow, too, with devastation impact on both children and the targeted parent.
PAS Deprives Children of a Loving, Stable Bond
When parental alienation actually sticks, children are deprived of a loving bond that they have enjoyed since birth. Parents are robbed of their ability to parent. Children get the message that their needs are meaningless and that parental love is conditional. On some level, they believe that their parent will only love them if they reject the other parent.
Signs of parental alienation syndrome include:
• You used to have a mutually loving and warm relationship with your child, who now for no logical reason does not want to see you.
• Your child is afraid of you for no reason.
• You know your ex is saying bad things about you to the children.
Parental alienation syndrome succeeds when the manipulated child turns against the other parent. It can be considered as a form of mental abuse.
Talk to an Family Law Attorney in Dallas, Texas
It is possible to counter parental alienation syndrome. If you believe that your child’s other parent is attempting to turn your child against you, act quickly to get the help you need. For a consultation with a divorce lawyer at Len Connor & Associates, in Irving, Texas, call (972) 445-1500 or (817) 288-4168 if you’re in the Dallas / Fort Worth Area. Call us toll free at 1 (877) 613-5800 or email our office.
