Parental alienation is more common than many parents think, and fathers are more likely to be victims of this form of abuse.
Parental alienation is a common occurrence in child custody cases following a divorce, and fathers are disproportionately more affected by this form of abuse.
As a rule of thumb, parental alienation occurs when the custodial parent alienates a child from the non-custodial parent. Although men are getting more custody than they used to back in the day, mothers are still more likely to get more custody when parents divorce.
Statistically speaking, there are over 10.3 million custodial mothers and nearly 2.6 million custodial fathers in the United States. Because fathers are less likely to receive custodial rights of their children, parental alienation is more common for fathers than mothers.
How Does Parental Alienation Occur?
Parental alienation occurs when the disparaging parent puts their needs above the needs of their own children. A parent may even unknowingly engage in parental alienation when they cannot separate their conflict with the other parent from the needs of their children.
Basically, parental alienation occurs when children become estranged from one parent due to the psychological manipulation of another parent. Usually, parental alienation takes the form of disrespect or hostility toward the non-custodial parent, who is usually the father in the vast majority of cases.
As a result, the child’s relationship with the disparaged parent is damaged. At Musemeche Law, our experienced family lawyers have seen many custody disputes involving parental alienation. We help clients recognize signs of parental alienation and fight back against this form of abuse.
Five Signs That a Mother is Alienating a Child from Their Father
If you are a father who is concerned that your former spouse and the mother of your child is alienating you, it is vital to know the signs of parental alienation. Parental alienation can be subtle, which is why it may be necessary to consult with an attorney to determine whether or not your ex is trying to alienate your children from you.
Watch out for the following signs of parental alienation if you are a father concerned that the mother of your child engages in psychological manipulation.
- Your child no longer wants to stay at your home, play, or even speak with you for no apparent reason. It may be because your co-parent is trying to turn your child against you and says unpleasant things about you in front of the child.
- Your child says the things only your former spouse knows. If you noticed that your child echoes the things your co-parent says or knows, it might be a tell-tale sign of parental alienation.
- Your child is angry with you. If your child seems distant or is angry with you, it may be because your former spouse told you bad things about you or blamed you for the divorce.
- Your child shows unwavering support for the mother. If your child always seems on their mother’s side, it may be because the mother is using manipulation or lies to win the child over to their side.
- Your child dislikes or does not want to spend time with the father’s relatives. If your child no longer wants to see your relatives but has no problem spending time with the mother’s relatives, including grandparents, it may be a sign that your former spouse is alienating your family from your children.
Contact a League City family lawyer at Musemeche Law if you believe that your ex-spouse is trying to alienate your kids from you. Schedule a consultation with our attorneys to discuss your situation.