Parental Alienation and Divorce
Parental alienation occurs in divorce when a child develops an unreasonably strong dislike of one parent that makes an ongoing relationship or visitation with the rejected parent difficult if not impossible. Here’s how parental alienation impacts your children for years to come. By Judge Michele Lowrance As a domestic relations judge since 1995, I have watched the wreckage of the corrosive legacy of parental alienation and visitation interference play out over decades. We have no statistics for measuring this group because the victims are too vast. But the concentric circles include th...
4 Common Mistakes When Co-parenting with an Antagonistic Ex
Although there might be bumps along the road, most parents are able to put their children first and become successful co-parents post-divorce. Sometimes, however, one spouse can’t let go of the bitterness and anger caused by the failed marriage; consciously or unconsciously, the angry ex attempts to turn the children against the other parent. By Amy Baker (Ph.D.) and Paul Fine (LCSW) How you handle your emotions when your children are experiencing loyalty conflicts is important. Start by trying to avoid the following common mistakes when co-parenting with an antagonistic ex. 1. Giv...
8 Signs That Your Child Is Caught up in a Loyalty Conflict
If you’re co-parenting with an ex who engages in behaviors that induce loyalty conflicts, your child might become alienated and exhibit the eight behaviors described in this article. It’s important for you to develop a sense of the ways in which your ex may be turning your child against you, and the signs that your child is being affected. By Amy Baker (Ph.D.) and Paul Fine (LCSW) Some children who are exposed to behaviors that may induce loyalty conflict can maintain a relationship with both parents. Unfortunately, not all children are resistant to parental pressure. Some get caught...
The Essential Elements of Your Parenting Plan
Children go through many stages and phases growing up, and having a clear and thorough parenting plan can help keep you and your ex-spouse on the same page in terms of how to raise your children. Here are some of the most important elements to consider when putting together your parenting plan. By Carolyn Ellis When you get divorced and have children, you’ll be required to create a parenting plan which is a written document that spells out how you agree to parent your children. The parenting plan needs to be clear and practical and keep the best interests and needs of your children in ...
Top 10 Tips for Divorcing Parents from a Family Law Attorney
Divorce can be an emotionally complicated and trying time, especially when there are children involved. As a family law attorney, mediator and coach, the author has seen a lot of ways parents mistakenly end up hurting their children in the process. These tips will help you keep your focus on your children’s needs. By M. Marcy Jones Divorce is such a complicated process, and there is so much emotion that needs to be sorted through. Putting your children’s needs ahead of your own isn’t easy, and parents constantly have to check in with themselves to make sure they are doing so. Many ...
Stepfamily Dynamics
Stepfamilies are unique and individual – what works for one family may not work for another. Understanding the dynamics of your children and partner in the new constellation of your stepfamily helps create more harmony, trust and connection. By Jeffrey Cottrill Stepfamilies have unique and changing dynamics you need to respect and navigate along the way. "It's important not to diminish the biological, non-residential parent in any way," says Lillian Messinger, author of Remarriage: A Family Affair. "The children have a right to that parent's love." Ex-spouses will still be linked to ea...
The Challenges of Re-Marrying and Becoming a Stepparent
With two of three remarriages ending in divorce, it’s clearly challenging to successfully create a happy and lasting stepfamily. Preparation and good communication go a long way to helping you overcome the challenges of re-marriage, blending families and becoming a stepparent. By Jeffrey Cottrill Perhaps you're getting married to someone with children from a previous relationship, or else you have children and are getting remarried. Are you (or your new partner) ready for an instant stepfamily? To make it work, you need to let go of any preconceived notions you may have about stepfamil...
20 Signs of Parental Alienation
Parental alienation occurs when one parent starts to alienate the affections of the children so the child does not want to be with or spend time with the other parent. It can have a devastating long-term effect on the children’s relationship with both parents. You may need to seek help from your family law attorney and/or a counsellor to help stop this pattern of behavior. Here are some of the most common signs that parental alienation could be taking place. by Douglas Darnall, Ph.D. To prevent the devastating effects of Parental Alienation, you must begin by recognizing the symptoms o...
Setting Ground Rules In Your Stepfamily
With two of three remarriages ending in divorce, it’s clearly challenging to successfully create a happy and lasting stepfamily. Preparation and good communication go a long way to helping you overcome the challenges of re-marriage, blending families, and stepparenting By Jeffrey Cottrill Stepfamilies are very different than a “traditional” family where all the children have the same parents and require new rules, guidelines and agreements than you might have been able to use before. Experts say that clear, all-inclusive plans are necessary to make a stepfamily work. Who spends tim...
10 Tips for Keeping Love Alive
Knowing how to nurture and strengthen your love relationships on a daily basis helps pave the way for sustainable love and connection. Here are some tips for keeping love alive in your relationship. By Diana Shepherd 1. Make time to connect lovingly with your partner every day. A couple can significantly improve their chances of relationship success by devoting as little as 15 minutes a day exclusively to each other. For instance, choose to go to bed a little earlier and wake up a little earlier, and spend the extra time in bed cuddling, making love, and reaffirming your love for each ot...