Leyfi til að elska - mar. 2023, Side 32
8 Journal of Family Issues 00(0)
When my children are with me they must contact their mother often. The
mother also makes sure she posts on social media how much she misses them
and they must reply or they are made to feel guilty.
Some parents described the alienating parent making excuses to withhold the
child from the targeted parent, or enticing the child to engage in other activities
rather than spend time with the targeted parent.
My ex makes accessing my children a daily chore. Unanswered phone calls,
playdates on weekends, bad reception and illness are frequent excuses for
alienating me.
Withholding Information. Targeted parents frequently described being blocked
from information—the alienating parent acting as an information gatekeeper
around the child’s well-being, activities, schooling, and other life events.
[She] says she shares what is happening with sports schedules etc. for the kids,
however only asks for money for the sport or activity after the fact, never even
telling me beforehand what sports or other activities the kids are in and then
says that I am a horrible parent and “no wonder the kids want nothing to do
[with me].”
Some participants reported that the alienating parent moved the child to pro-
hibit the targeted parent from being informed.
[They were] constantly moving, sometimes twice in a year and would change
the kids’ schools.
Defamation of the Targeted Parent. Targeted parents commonly referred to the
alienating parent’s denigration campaign wherein the alienating parent “bad-
mouthed” them to the child to break the parent–child bond.
[My] son tells me his father says I’m stupid and worthless. He uses every
situation to discredit me.
Targeted parents highlighted the damage caused by this alienating behavior
or tactic.
[The children] are very confused because their mom tells them negative things
about me and they do not experience those negative things, so they seem
confused.
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GLEYMDA FORELDRIÐ: FORELDRAÚTILOKUN FRÁ SJÓNARHÓLI ÚTSETTA FORELDRISINS CLARE POUSTIE O.FL.