Recognizing Signs of Parental Alienation During a Wisconsin Divorce

 Posted on August 13, 2020 in Parenting

Divorce is never easy for anyone, but for a child, coping with a divorce can be more difficult than it is for other members of the family. This is especially true for divorces that involve a lot of conflict or disagreements between the spouses. In high-conflict divorces, everyone feels the effects of the split, especially a child. In some cases, a parent may even use a son or daughter to his or her advantage during the divorce by pitting the child against their soon-to-be-ex spouse. Parental alienation is a serious issue present in some contentious divorces that can not only cause issues during the divorce process but can have lasting effects on the relationship between the child and his or her parents.

What Is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation occurs when one parent uses various strategies and methods to isolate his or her child from the other parent and attempts to sabotage or harm the relationship between them. Most of the time, this type of behavior is intentional by the acting parent and is intended to “get back at” or hurt the other parent. While parental alienation is aimed at harming the other parent, the child becomes collateral damage and can suffer emotional and mental distress and other long-term effects.

Common Ways that a Parent Can Alienate the Other Parent

Sometimes during a divorce, it is common and natural for a child to be upset and mad at his or her parents. They may even pick sides or “blame” a parent for the divorce. However, these behaviors are different from the behaviors that a child would exhibit if they have been a victim of parental alienation. Parental alienation can be frustrating to deal with and sometimes tricky to spot. Signs of parental alienation can include:

• Your child asks you not to attend certain events or accompany him or her to places

• Your ex removes you from your child’s school emergency contact information

• Your ex does not include you in parent-teacher conferences

• Your child becomes unusually argumentative, combative, or aggressive with you

• Your child refuses to spend scheduled parenting time with you

Contact a Muskego Divorce Attorney

It can be disheartening to think that your ex may be using your child to hurt you, but he or she may not even realize the damage that is inflicted upon your child. However, a knowledgeable and compassionate Waukesha County divorce lawyer will be able to help advocate for your rights during divorce negotiations and protect you and your child’s best interests. At Bucher, Wolff & Sonderhouse, LLP, our skilled attorneys have more than 40 years of combined legal experience and are prepared to help you with your divorce case. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 262-232-6699.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/parental-alienation-syndrome#signs-and-symptoms

https://goodmenproject.com/divorce/9-warning-signs-parental-alienation-cmtt/