"I'm a dad to two boys (13 and 11), and I just divorced their mother a couple of months ago. We're currently all still living in the same house together, but I'm going to move out at the end of the calendar year. I'm writing because I know that my ex-wife has poisoned the mind of my oldest son to the point where he barely talks to me and meanwhile gushes over his mom."
"Parental alienation during a divorce is awful, and my heart goes out to you for having to deal with it firsthand. I've seen this play out so many times, and it's straight up despicable and immature to include children in adult problems. I'm not a family law attorney, but I think you should seek the counsel of one, because you could take her to court over this depending on where you happen to live."
"That said, I'm glad you mentioned that you would never resort to these tactics, because it will only hurt you in the long run. You may despise your ex, but if you keep those feelings to yourself (or at least away from your kids), it will help them to manage their new normal in a healthy way. Not to mention, your ex may think she's winning by dragging you through the mud, but when your kids become adults, they will resent her for treating you this way."
A recently divorced father of two teenagers reports living with his ex while preparing to move out later in the year and believes his ex is poisoning their oldest child against him. The father describes emotional distance from his oldest son, reports from mutual friends and the younger son that the mother is trashing him, and worries about long-term damage. Legal counsel from a family law attorney is recommended as a possible remedy. Maintaining composure and avoiding negative talk around the children is advised to support their adjustment and prevent future resentment.
Read at Slate Magazine
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