When parents in New Jersey split, you must handle many child-related matters. Who will hold primary custody? Will you go for joint custody instead? Which parent moves out of the house? What will your visitation schedule look like? Who gets your child during which holiday? It is a mess of unpleasant questions.
Unfortunately, in this chaos, your co-parent may be up to no good. Sometimes, co-parents use the cover of chaos to turn your child against you. This is parental alienation.
The tactic of parental alienation
Healthline looks at potential signs of parental alienation. This is a tactic some parents use to drive a wedge between a child and co-parent. Many manipulative tricks can change a child’s opinion. As a victim, you may not know what is happening until it is too late. If your child is young, they may not understand what is happening, either.
The manipulative parent may make up lies about how you do not want to see your child. They may make claims about your personality, work ethic and morals. They might paint you as a villain and emphasize the traits they dislike.
Signs your child is a victim
One of the best things you can do is keep an eye out for some telltale signs of alienation. For example, does your child suddenly show reluctance to spend time with you? Have they started parroting back slanderous claims? Do they insist that you are “bad”? When asked to explain how you are bad, do they struggle to come up with an answer?
If you notice any of these signs, you and your child may be victims of an attempt at parental alienation. Over time, your child may come to believe these tactics, damaging your relationship.