|
Parent-Child Reunification & Re-integration
Do Any of the Following Apply to You?
-
Has your relationship with your child been strained by loyalty issues related to your divorce?
-
Has your relationship with your child been influenced by parental alienation syndrome?
-
Have you and your children endured a lengthy and bitter custody battle?
-
Has your relationship with your child been interrupted because of geographical distancing?
-
Do you want to establish a relationship with your child whom you never knew?
|
If you answered "YES" to any of the above, read on!!
THE PROBLEM
The bond children have with their parents is essential to their development, their self concept and their self esteem.
It provides children with the framework for how their view themselves and the world around them. More importantly,
it sets the blueprint for how they form relationships with others. The importance of this bond cannot be over stated
or under estimated.
Sometimes events or situations occur and result in this important bond not being formed
or disrupted or broken. Some of these circumstances include but are limited to:
-
A child may not have established a relationship with their biological
or birth parent
because of adoption or separation from that parent at birth because
of geographic distancing and/or because the relationship between the child's parents
broke down. Some times a parent chooses to not establish a relationship with the child because he/she feels at the time,
it is not in the child's best interest to do so. Often times, a father is not even aware of his child's existence and
as a consequence, he never had an opportunity to form a relationship with the child.
-
A parent's physical and mental illness or events that alter
a parents' ability to function and relate to his/her child at times might have a significant impact on a relationship
with his/her children. Some illnesses or medical/psychiatric conditions such as stroke, depression, bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, drug and alcohol addictions or brain injuries, may result in impairments in the affected parent so
great that it might be difficult for a child to continue his/her relationship as it once was.
-
A divorce and its fallout often leads to disruption in children's
lives. During this time, children might become hostile toward one or both parents. Most often this disruption is brief
and resolves in itself within the first year post separation. However, there are times when it is difficult to sustain
a relationship that once particularly when a custodial parent relocates.
-
The most serious consequence of divorce is when one parent deliberately
attempts to distance their child or children from the other parent. It is even more painful and devastating to the
children and the affected parent when the children engage in the alienating process. Without
intervention, preferably swiftly, the chances of re-establishing the important parent-child bond and repairing the
relationship becomes increasingly difficult as time goes on.
|
What Can You Do?
Needless to say, re-establishing a relationship and/or repairing a damaged or disrupted relationship requires the
participation of parent and child. There are no guarantees that your efforts will be successful, but what is certain
is that if no effort is made, the chance of realizing any improvement is remote.
There are a number of things parents can do or not do. Some of them are:
-
DO keep the lines of communication open through phone calls,
emails, cards, postcards & letters. Always let your child know that you are thinking about them by remembering
birthdays and other special events. Maintain an interest in what they are doing. Email is an excellent way of
communicating
and re-establishing relationships.
-
If calls are not accepted, DO continue to communicate in the
others ways listed
-
If you have reason to believe that your letters, cards or even emails
are being intercepted and not reaching your child, DO consider sending a letter by special delivery and
spending an extra dollar to receive a signed receipt by mail. You will then know that your letter did arrive
and who signed for it.
-
DO NOT deluge your child with calls. Respect the
child's need for distance but balance it with appropriate concern and attention.
|
Remember above all, that if your messages are being received, they will make a difference to your child.
For more information without obligation, feel free to email or phone us at 281.534.3923.
QUESTION!
Did You Find This Information Helpful?
Dear Friend:
I sincerely hope you did. If you know of someone you think would benefit from what you just read, please forward this web page to them.
I've developed a number of ebooks and ecourses that may be of interest to you. They contain very useful information on a variety of topics related to divorce, custody and extramarital affairs.
I invite you to take a few minutes to check them out. You won't be sorry. Just click on any of the product covers on the sidebar to the left. While you're at it download a FREE COPY of "The Divorce & Custody Resource Handbook" - CLICK HERE!
Have a nice day...
Dr. Reena
|
|
