Hearing your child refuse to spend time with you or watching him or her develop a harsh negative opinion is painful, but you must remember that the child does not carry any fault for the strained relationship.
According to Psychology Today, parental alienation occurs when one parent pushes the child away from the co-parent. The parent may punish the child for attempting to maintain a relationship with you or could spin stories that damage your child’s view of you. Once you have access to your children, you have to navigate the relationship to mend it carefully.
Be patient
Most changes cannot happen overnight. If your child does not immediately open up to you or if he or she still wants to spend more time with the other parent, do not become upset with the child or with yourself. If you need to vent about your problems, make sure to do it with close friends or family members outside your kids’ reach.
Avoid bad talking
While your ex wronged you, avoid talking badly about him or her in front of the child. When you ostracize the other parent, the child might feel guilt or align him or herself with the other parent. They may feel you are putting them in the same position as your ex did.
Stay encouraging
Encourage your child to express his or her feelings. Children may thrive by increasing time with you and slowly decreasing time with the other parent. Do not dismiss how your kid feels about your ex or you. Try to discuss neutral topics first and help your kid distinguish his or her experiences and interests from the other parent.
Spending time with a kid after parental alienation can feel strained, but gradually, the relationship changes.