The Unfortunate Role of Family Court in Parenting.

Navigating parenting after separation or divorce is challenging, especially when it comes to maintaining healthy relationships between children and both parents.

Unfortunately, the family court system can become a battleground, particularly when one parent attempts to alienate the other.

This article examines the role of family court orders, the implications of parental alienation, and why cooperative co-parenting is essential for children's well-being.

If you are a parent currently going through family court, it is important that you join PAPA Plus and make use of our courses and other resources, including PAPA AI.

If you require direct assistance with your case, you can also book a call or support session with PAPA as a 'Plus' member. 

The Sad Need for Family Court Orders

Family court orders can be vital in ensuring children maintain connections with both parents.

However, many may wonder why some parents need these legal orders to facilitate contact with a loving parent.

Often, it is the controlling or alienating behaviours from one parent that lead to court intervention.

For instance, a parent might repeatedly make it difficult for the other parent to see the child by cancelling visits at the last minute or manipulating the child's schedule.

A 2019 study showed that nearly 40% of parents reported experiencing difficulties in accessing their children due to the other parent's actions.

When a loving parent is compelled to seek a court order for visitation, it raises significant concerns about the motivations of the other parent.

This situation can point to feelings of distrust and a willingness to manipulate circumstances, ultimately harming the child's emotional health.

Trust Issues with Alienating Parents

Parents who engage in alienation tactics undermine trust.

Their actions often demonstrate a clear intention to harm the child's relationship with the other parent, which can result in lasting emotional scars.

Some common behaviours of alienating parents include:

• Speaking negatively about the other parent, specifically in front of the children.

• Limiting communication through texts or phone calls.

• Denying or delaying visitation, putting the visiting parent in a difficult situation.

  
  

According to research, children subjected to parental alienation are 60% more likely to experience anxiety and have trust issues in relationships later in life.

It is critical for the family court system to facilitate positive relationships rather than allowing its processes to become tools of conflict.

The Power of Cooperative Co-Parenting

Many parents successfully co-parent without needing family court intervention.

Cooperative co-parenting thrives on mutual respect, open communication, and a shared commitment to the child's best interests.

When parents work together, they create a stable and nurturing environment.

A study by the American Psychological Association found that children with cooperative co-parents displayed improved emotional well-being and better academic performance.

Conversely, parental alienation tactics disrupt this balance and introduce emotional turmoil for children, leaving them feeling distressed and unsure of where they belong.

Encouraging cooperation helps children thrive.

Abuse of the Court System

Regrettably, some parents manipulate the court system to punish the other parent.

This abuse can manifest in various ways, such as:

1. Filing false allegations, which can lead to unnecessary investigations.

2. Accumulating excessive legal fees that burden the other parent financially.

3. Using the court to establish visitation schedules that are more about control than the child's needs.

   
   

Such actions waste court resources and prolong emotional distress for all involved, especially the children.

The court system must serve as a protective measure, not a weapon for revenge.

The fallout from these manipulations can be profound.

According to a 2021 survey, 45% of children caught in these conflicts reported feeling like pawns in their parents' disputes, leading to anxiety and confusion.

The Minimum Contact Standard

Court orders define the baseline for parental contact, with a growing focus on achieving 50/50 parenting arrangements.

This approach underscores the critical role both parents play in a child's life, fostering balanced relationships that benefit overall development.

When shared parenting responsibilities are encouraged, children benefit from stability and consistency, which is crucial for healthy emotional and psychological growth.

But achieving this requires cooperation and a commitment to putting the child's needs first.

Family courts should strive to support equal parenting arrangements, understanding their importance in a child's life.

The Need for Enforcement of Court Orders

While family court orders are vital for facilitating contact, effective enforcement is equally essential.

Many parents express frustration when court orders are not consistently tailored, leading to ongoing conflicts and emotional strain.

If one parent frequently violates court orders, it diminishes the authority of the court and negatively impacts the child.

The family court system must adopt a more proactive enforcement approach, ensuring compliance with established agreements.

This enforcement is critical not just for the parent seeking time with the child, but also for the child, who deserves the stability that comes from regular contact with both parents.

The Harmful Impact of Family Court Processes

The family court process can create significant emotional strain on both parents and children.

Navigating court proceedings often leads to feelings of helplessness and distress.

Children may experience anxiety and loyalty conflicts as they grapple with the impact of parental disputes and court involvement.

Research indicates that children exposed to high-conflict custody battles are up to 70% more likely to struggle with emotional challenges.

To minimise these impacts, the family court system must prioritise mediation, counselling, and other supportive measures.

These initiatives can help reduce harm and foster healthy relationships.

Moving Forward

The family court plays an important role in parenting, but it often faces challenges.

While court orders provide a framework for parental contact, they should not replace the need for healthy co-parenting dynamics.

Alienating behaviours can erode the trust necessary for effective parenting.

Parents should focus on their children's well-being and seek cooperative solutions that benefit everyone involved.

Ultimately, the family court system needs to prioritise effective enforcement and support equal parenting to create a healthier environment for parents and children.

By addressing these issues, we can promote lasting, positive relationships that help families thrive.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.