You obviously had some very real reasons for wanting to end your marriage. If you share children with your former spouse, though, you probably cannot cut him or her out of your life forever. Indeed, you may have to co-parent your kids at least until they become adults.
Co-parenting can be challenging, especially in the immediate aftermath of a bitter divorce. Still, your ex-spouse should not badmouth you or otherwise try to turn your kids against you. If he or she does, you and your children might be victims of parental alienation.
A serious form of psychological child abuse
According to reporting from Psychiatric Times, parental alienation can be a form of psychological child abuse. Like with other types of child abuse, parental alienation can cause kids to develop low self-esteem, depression and behavioral issues. Victims of parental alienation also might struggle with addiction later in life.
Immediate relief for your kids
If you suspect your ex-spouse might be alienating your children, your kids may be in need of immediate psychological relief. That is, it might be beneficial for your children to meet with a child psychologist or family counselor. After all, prompt intervention can ward off many of the long-term consequences of parental alienation.
Your legal options
Your ex-husband or -wife might be incapable of stopping his or her alienating behaviors or simply unwilling to do so. As a result, it may be necessary to take legal action to protect your children. Among others, your options might include reworking your existing custody agreement to have more parental time.
Ultimately, because you do not want your kids or your parent-child relationships to suffer irreparable harm, you must act quickly to curtail parental alienation.
