Separated and disputing parents of adolescent children
need to guard against imparting any (even unintentional) encouragement to their
children to take their side against the other parent. Teenagers already have
their own developmental issues to deal with - for example, finding a way to
individuate from parents whilst still maintaining close attachments, pursuing
serious educational and career goals, developing adult type relationships and
establishing their own identity in the world. They should be relieved of any
explicit or implicit onus to align themselves with one parent or the other.
Parents who alienate their adolescents against the other parent do so at both
their children's and their own peril. There is a risk to the mental health of
the adolescent and to the later relationship between the alienating parent and
the alienated child.
Denise Britton, Co-Principal Brisbane Mediations
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