If people in love view each other through rose-colored glasses, then divorcing spouses seem to view each other through dark smoke-colored glasses, which don’t allow any good to shine through.   In some divorces, love turns to hate and rather than protect the “family unit,” parties hurl insults, denigrate the other and bad-mouth the other to the children, destroying the sense of security that children count on and need.  In the most severe cases of parental alienation, one parent intentionally sets out to break the bond between the other parent and the children.  The worst of the worst cases involve a parent falsely accusing the other parent of abuse to the children.

Generally, the courts can see through one parent’s attempts at alienation.  Often courts, upon request of the attorneys, will appoint appropriate professionals, who can ascertain the truth behind accusations of abuse and alienation.  Recently, one victim of severe parental alienation, including accusations of sexual abuse finally received his justice.  A jury heard the father’s story and found the accusations of abuse to be false (See article in Leesburg Today).

While factual abuse should always be addressed swiftly, fabricated accusations of abuse and alienation should be a red flag to remove the children from the offending parent.  Divorcing parents who care so little about their children to use them as pawns in their war against the other parent, make a clear statement that they may not be the best parent to have primary custody.