Difference between revisions of "Children Who Resist Seeing a Parent"

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*expressing ambivalence about visiting the parent (not caring one way or the other about seeing the parent),
*expressing ambivalence about visiting the parent (not caring one way or the other about seeing the parent),
*grumbling about having to go to see the other parent, and
*grumbling about having to go to see the other parent, and
*stating a preference for an activity (playing a game, seeing friends and so forth) over seeing the other parent.
*stating a preference for an activity (playing a game, seeing friends, and so forth) over seeing the other parent.


More serious expressions of a change in the child's attachment to a parent include:
More serious expressions of a change in the child's attachment to a parent include:
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* expressing a preference for one home over the other,
* expressing a preference for one home over the other,
* expressing a worry about missing the parent the child is leaving,
* expressing a worry about missing the parent the child is leaving,
* being upset that an activity (playing a game, an outing, seeing friends and so forth) will be interrupted by the visit,
* being upset that an activity (playing a game, an outing, seeing friends, and so forth) will be interrupted by the visit,
* stating that visits with other parent are boring, and/or
* stating that visits with other parent are boring, and/or
* being reluctant to speak to the other parent on the telephone.
* being reluctant to speak to the other parent on the telephone.
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* crying before the visit (younger children),
* crying before the visit (younger children),
* complaining that it's not fair to have to visit (older children),
* complaining that it's not fair to have to visit (older children),
* offering promises (studying harder, doing more chores and so forth) in exchange for not having to go on the visit,
* offering promises (studying harder, doing more chores, and so forth) in exchange for not having to go on the visit,
* claiming that the other parent doesn't parent properly (bad food, unfair discipline, unwanted outings and so forth), and/or
* claiming that the other parent doesn't parent properly (bad food, unfair discipline, unwanted outings, and so forth), and/or
* refusing to talk to the other parent when they telephone.
* refusing to talk to the other parent when they telephone.


The most serious expressions of a change in the child's attachment to a parent include:
The most serious expressions of a change in the child's attachment to a parent include:


* pitching temper tantrums before leaving for the visit (younger children),
* throwing temper tantrums before leaving for the visit (younger children),
* becoming enraged about being forced to go to the other parent (older children),
* becoming enraged about being forced to go to the other parent (older children),
* stating that they hate the other parent,
* stating that they hate the other parent,
* threats about running away or involving the police (older children),
* threats about running away or involving the police (older children),
* pleading to do anything except go on the visit,
* pleading to do anything except go on the visit,
* making bizarre and unlikely claims about the other parent's conduct (abuse, neglect and so forth), and/or
* making bizarre and unlikely claims about the other parent's conduct (abuse, neglect, and so forth), and/or
* constantly making insulting comments about the other parent or putting the other parent down ("he's such a jerk," "she can't do anything right," and so forth).
* constantly making insulting comments about the other parent or putting the other parent down ("he's such a jerk," "she can't do anything right," and so forth).


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