If you are the parent of one or more children and you and your children’s other spouse are getting separated or divorced, you know that your kids will experience some changes and difficulties as they adjust to their new lives. There are many things you can do to help your kids during this transition and for the remainder of their lives. Much research has been conducted that shows the importance of having both parents active in a child’s life. While this is not always possible or even healthy, it is a positive goal to strive for.
Some divorcing spouses, unfortunately, put their own feelings ahead of the feelings and needs of their kids. Instead of adopting a child-centered approach to coparenting with a former spouse, one spouse aims to turn their kids against the other parent. As explained by Psychology Today, this can result in parental alienation syndrome. The name of this syndrome may make it sound like one parent voluntarily leaves the children but, in reality, it is the other parent who alienates the kids and the parent.
Jealousy, envy or the desire for revenge may be some of the factors that drive one parent to do this. They may even seek the help of others to support their efforts to drive a wedge between kids and the other parent.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support your children and their emotional health and development during and after your divorce, please feel free to visit the divorcing parent’s page of our family law, child custody and divorce website.
