Parents who divorce or separate in Tennessee usually share parental rights and responsibilities. They either agree on custody arrangements or ask the courts to establish a custody order.
Once parents have established a custody order, they generally need to cooperate with one another to regularly exchange custody and make decisions that are in the best interests of their children. Unfortunately, some parents find co-parenting to be very difficult. They may allow their personal feelings about their relationship to influence how they behave toward their co-parent. In some cases, their hostilities can actually lead to serious parental alienation.
When the kids grow to resent one parent
The hallmark of parental alienation is a significant negative change in the relationship that one parent has with the children. The children develop negative feelings and beliefs about one parent due to the behavior of their other parent. They may refuse to spend time with one of their parents or maybe come very hostile and resentful toward one of their two parents. They may refuse to spend time with the parent from whom they have become alienated.
What causes parental alienation?
Parental alienation often begins with negativity from one parent. They badmouth their co-parent in front of the children. They may blame them for the divorce or break up or claim that they haven’t shown up for their parenting time. They may influence the children by tainting their perception of their other parent. Eventually, the children develop the same negative attitude that the other parent has.
Parental alienation also frequently involves a degree of custodial interference. One parent begins turning the other away when they show up for their parenting time or cutting their sessions short. They may blame it on the children, fabricate questionable excuses or simply schedule all of the child’s appointments and activities during the other adult’s time.
The reduction in time together combined with negative communications can lead to significant damage to the parent-child relationship. A parent who believes they have experienced parental alienation needs to document their concerns. Keeping records of negative speech and canceled parenting sessions can help one parent prove to the courts that the other has engaged in parental alienation and interfered with the current custody order.
Judges can enforce custody arrangements or even modify a Tennessee custody order because of one parent’s misconduct. The ability to recognize parental alienation can help an adult fight back to preserve the bond they have with their children.
