New Jersey co-parents often get along relatively well. But this is not always the case. There are some instances in which you may find yourself dealing with your co-parent’s efforts to drive a rift between you and your child.
This is parental alienation. It is a very real threat that parents like you face, often without being aware of it. But this tactic can and does cause permanent damage to you, your child and your relationship.
Using lies and deceit to alienate
Psychology Today looks at the possible signs of parental alienation. Parental alienation relies on tactics that revolve around defamation of character. A parent may exaggerate things about you or they may outright lie. They often do whatever it takes to bring you down in your child’s eyes, no matter what that is. For example, if you have to miss a child’s birthday due to work, they may view this as an opportunity. They might lie to your child, saying that you did not want to be there.
Signs of parental alienation
Unfortunately, tactics like this are all too common. You should keep your eye out for the following potential signs:
- Your child deciding that they “do not like you anymore”, or making other similar statements
- Being unable to back up why they have come to this conclusion or explain their dislike
- Your child showing reluctance to spend time with you despite not having this issue in the past
- Your child parroting back accusations that are above their level of understanding
These signs may surface over time, or you may notice them all at once. Regardless of how they manifest, it is a red flag that you should not ignore.
