What Kids Wish They Could Say About Parental Alienation (But Don't Dare To).

Parental alienation is a quiet crisis affecting many families, yet its impact on children often goes unseen and unheard.

These children live in a world where their feelings are tangled in confusion and fear, leaving them unable to speak their truth.

This article aims to give voice to the emotions many kids hold inside, revealing the hidden struggles they face when caught between parents.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then you should join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as several additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI, 1-2-1 help and workshops on family law and mental health.

“I Miss My Other Parent More Than You Think”

Children separated by parental alienation often carry a deep longing for the parent they rarely see.

This longing is complicated by fear.

Many children worry that expressing love or missing the alienated parent will lead to anger, guilt, or punishment from the parent they live with.

This creates an emotional conflict where the child loves someone they are told to reject.

For example, a child might say, “I wish I could tell you I miss Dad, but I’m scared you’ll be upset.”

This fear silences their true feelings and forces them to hide a part of themselves.

The child’s heart is torn between affection and loyalty, creating a painful inner struggle.

“I’m Afraid to Tell You How This Really Feels”

Many children stay silent to keep peace in the family or avoid conflict.

They fear disappointing a parent or losing their approval if they speak honestly.

Being labeled “disloyal” is a heavy burden that makes children walk on eggshells every day.

This fear can lead to emotional exhaustion.

A child might suppress tears or hide sadness to protect the parent they live with.

They learn to mask their true feelings, which can cause long-term emotional harm.

The silence becomes a shield, but it also isolates them from the support they need.

“I Know Things Don’t Add Up… I’m Just Scared to Ask”

Children often sense when stories about the other parent don’t add up.

They notice inconsistencies or exaggerated narratives but feel scared to question what they are told.

Asking questions might seem like opening a door to conflict or punishment.

This confusion can lead to shame and self-blame.

A child might think, “Maybe it’s my fault,” or “I’m bad for wanting to know the truth.”

These feelings push children into emotional withdrawal, making it harder for them to trust anyone or express their needs.

“I Feel Like I’m Losing Half of Who I Am”

A child’s identity is deeply connected to both parents.

When one parent is alienated, the child feels like they are losing a part of themselves.

This loss can cause identity conflicts and insecurity that affect their self-esteem for years.

For instance, a teenager might struggle to understand who they are without the influence of the absent parent.

They may feel incomplete or unsure about their place in the world.

This emotional gap can lead to long-term challenges in relationships and self-confidence.

“I Wish Adults Would Stop Making Me Choose”

No child should carry the burden of choosing sides between parents.

This forced loyalty creates psychological stress and confusion.

Children want to love both parents freely without fear of punishment or rejection.

The pressure to choose can cause children to feel trapped and guilty.

They may hide their true feelings to avoid hurting either parent.

This loyalty conflict can affect their emotional development and make it difficult to form healthy relationships later in life.

“One Day I’ll Want Answers”

As children grow older, they naturally begin to question the past.

They seek answers about why their family is divided and what really happened.

This search for truth often brings grief, anger, and regret.

Despite the pain, there is hope.

Healing and reconnection are possible when honesty is embraced.

Adults who listen and support children’s need for truth help them rebuild trust and find peace.

The journey may be difficult, but it can lead to stronger family bonds.

Giving Kids Their Voice Back Amidst Parental Alienation

Adults must recognise the signs of parental alienation and break the silence that traps children.

Putting the child’s emotional safety first means listening without judgment and allowing them to express their feelings openly.

Children are not weapons in adult conflicts; they are human hearts trying to love both parents.

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.