Parental alienation occurs when one parent damages the relationship a child has with the other parent. There are legal and emotional consequences for children and parents for this type of behavior, and the ramifications run deep. Even the best lawyer or child psychologist cannot undo what a parent does or says.
“As a PTA member, swim dad, parent and lawyer, I see, hear and read about many forms of parental alienation,” explains attorney Cory Rosenbaum. “If you want to put a stop to the other parent’s conduct or catch yourself from slipping and unknowingly saying something that your children shouldn’t hear, you need to know what is good and what is bad for your children’s relationship with their other parent.”
Parental alienation, in all of its forms, is harmful to children, unless the other parent is truly physically or emotionally abusive. Allowing children to reach their own long-term conclusion about the other parent is what is best for them.
Rosenbaum says: “Parental alienation can take the form of one parent leading the child to dislike the other parent by allowing the kids to know about adult matters, like finances, scheduling, significant others or issues that caused the divorce. Parental alienation that is harder to recognize includes allowing the child to overhear negative comments by one parent about the other parent. Mistakenly thinking your children can’t hear you as you complain over the phone about the ex is a form of parental alienation. Pointing out that you cannot afford something because ‘daddy’ didn’t provide enough money is parental alienation.”
Source: Cory J. Rosenbaum, P.C., a professional corporation for the practice of injury, employment and matrimonial law. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 212-732-7922 (NYC office) or 516-670-9332 (Uniondale office), or visit CoryRosenbaum.com, PreDivorceLaw.com and NonToxicDivorce.com.
