The Missouri Divorce & Family Law Blog has 3 interesting posts on A Dozen Ways Children of Divorce Get Caught in Their Parents’ Conflict contributed by James Roberts, a Missouri social worker. I recognise each and every one of them, with one or two cases of mine sadly featuring practically all of them. I was particularly struck by the last one – parents hiding behind an apparently noble position – “I want her to make her own decisions” – as a justification for denying contact (when the child’s wishes & feelings are not so readily accepted when it comes to refusing to do homework or going to school or going to see that boring old aunt. For any parent dealing with separation and contact issues these posts repay careful reflection to ensure that the child is not damaged and that you are not kidding yourself about being right or righteous.
