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Positive outcomes of parental alienation

40 replies

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 06:54

Hi everyone. Just as the title says really? Currently going through the effects of years of attempted alienation of my dsd of her mum. She's now 18 and not talking to us. It's so upsetting I can't even describe. We have 2 children ourselves who are also massively upset and don't kno what to do or how to deal with it. Some positive stories where the dsc get older and realise the reality would be so uplifting to hear ♥️

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Hotstraw · 03/02/2025 06:56

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cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 07:17

It's been pretty bad the past 4 years or so with feeling as though she doesn't want to come down. Wer mindful of her age that she'll want to see friends etc n her friends have been down here loads and stayed. The consistency with seeing her is upsetting as naturally it doesn't work to schedule the way it did when she was younger. Her phone being in her hand 24/7 but yet never being able to keep contact with us is frustrating. She's now not been in contact for 4 weeks😢

Just looking for any step mums with positive stories and outcomes

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Hotstraw · 03/02/2025 07:32

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stayathomer · 03/02/2025 07:36

Op I’d say it’s hard to get a balance and all depends on how her parents broke up, how quickly you got together etc, it’s a rough age anyway but I’d guess she’s ‘sided’ with her mum as she sees her dad has a ‘new family’- dh was an adult when his parents broke up and he found it horrible to see his mum on her own and his dad in a house with someone else- I’d guess with hormones added that’s hell for your stepdaughter (I know really hard for you and her dad too)

ps at that age they’re not very present anyway, Id say you being in a different house also just means it’s hassle for her

Kitchensinktoday · 03/02/2025 07:39

But would you want or expect an 18 year old adult to visit like they did when they were six?

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 07:46

@stayathomer - thanx for this. Been together since she was 4. Parents split when she was 2 so has no recollection of them being together. I need to keep this perspective of 18 year olds and theyr so hard. Trying to find th balance of knowing what theyr thinking and if theyr happy is difficult. At the end of the day we just love her and want her feel and be part of our house. I know it's difficult tho.

I don expect her to stick to a schedule no Definately not. But to see her more often would've lovely. Gutted for my husband and all the decent fathers out there who have to experience these situations

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Moonlightstars · 03/02/2025 07:52

We had very similar with DSS was very hard at the time. His mum, who we generally got a very well with, has quite bad mental health issues and would go through periods of deliberate parental alienation.
DSS was also a typical teenager and wanted to sleep in at the weekends or hang out with his mates. He was very bad at keeping in touch.
He is now 28 and has a much better relationship with us now. He is very close to his half siblings and sees us much more than his Mum (who is quite difficult for a variety of reasons).

Moonlightstars · 03/02/2025 07:54

Forgot to say, we just kept lines of communication open and tried not to make him feel bad about being a bit rubbish.
If it makes you feel any better I left home 18, once I went away for five months and rang my parents once in that whole time 😁. Teenagers are incredibly self-centered.

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 07:57

@moonlightstars

This is what I'm needing to hear. Thanku. That's so reassuring to hear now that he's older the relationship is positive. That's all we want but it's hard not to feel negative the now. Teenagers r so hard and my parents never had mobiles when I was that age and it was only button phones with snake on them that u cld get consumed by😂! Step parenting is so difficult as it makes u question absolutely everything and overthink it's exhausting🤣!

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Hotstraw · 03/02/2025 10:02

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DaisyChain505 · 03/02/2025 10:29

Any 18 year old is selfish, has a lot going on and is not thinking about if they’re putting in enough time with their parents/family. So try not to take it personally.

I would advise just to make sure you’re keeping in touch with a message maybe once a week (you don’t want to come off over bearing) Just check in and ask how she is/what’s going on for her. Maybe send pics or videos from your younger kids saying hi etc.

Dont turn it into an even more negative situation by telling her that she doesn’t visit enough etc. Just continue to communicate and be positive and she’ll come around.

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 10:42

@daisychain505

Teenagers r so difficult. I'm finding it that u go thru their childhood tryin to show them how much u care to almost having to detach and not care when they get to this stage? I'm so confused and it's Definately th hardest things to get m head around. So grateful to the grounding and wise advice from folks. Thank u

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DaisyChain505 · 03/02/2025 10:57

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 10:42

@daisychain505

Teenagers r so difficult. I'm finding it that u go thru their childhood tryin to show them how much u care to almost having to detach and not care when they get to this stage? I'm so confused and it's Definately th hardest things to get m head around. So grateful to the grounding and wise advice from folks. Thank u

I myself am a step mum albeit to a younger child and I was myself a stepchild in my teens. Looking back now I showed some selfish shocking behaviour to my parent and step parent which I wasn’t even aware I was doing at the time however as a grown up I am so appreciative of them and have a great relationship with them.

Teens are tricky and a teen that isn’t your own is even trickier but hang on in there.

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 11:00

@daisychain505

I can't thank u enuf or tell u how much I needed to hear this. Also how much it reassures me everything will be ok in the end. I have tried to make her see how much it upsets us with not seeing her and I see now it's done the total opposite of what I meant n I deeply regret It. Her mum has also told her how awful I am and a lot of lies which is hard to no feel emotional abou knowing it's not true and I only want the best. I really hope it comes ok n how lucky for ur sc to have u ♥️

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DaisyChain505 · 03/02/2025 11:03

Don’t blame yourself for letting her know your feelings about her not visiting etc.

You’re allowed to be upset about that but now just try and chat to your partner about it instead.

Restart up casual communication with DSD and go lightly for a while.

”look DSD, your siblings drew this picture for you, isn’t it cute?!”

”DSD, just walked past the new pizza place that’s opened in town. Next time you visit we should go and try it out!”

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 11:09

@daisychain505

This is exactly what il do from now n keep I light. I do feel terrible over telling her but also know it's came from love and upset at wanting to see her so it's very conflicting over what the right thing to do is. Her sister misses her terribly and hard to explain to her where she is. I appreciate it must be difficult aswel and going between 2 houses 50/50 all her growing up life must've been hard. Thank u for ur time in replying with what is exactly all the advice I need right now ♥️

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CraftTea · 03/02/2025 12:00

OP I was fully estranged from my father as a child due to parental alienation by my mother. I’m still not close to my father (he holds a lot of bitterness about my mother, which I understand, but it’s not a fun topic to keep rehashing) but I am on good terms with my half siblings.

Keeping it light and positive is absolutely the right call and she’ll appreciate you when she’s finished with being a teenager.

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 12:13

@craftTea

I am sorry uv had this in your life. That can't be an easy situation. I do find it difficult to try and ignore her mums opinions of me. It's hard not to overthink when i get hints of what is said from the other house. It has now been said to my dsd that I'm trying to emotionally manipulate her because iv said about our upset which was never my intention and I'm now mortified and upset at her thinkin this of me now when I have been in her life for so long and only wants the best for her and our family. I am Definately keeping all this advice in mind and will follow it to keep things light and pics of the younger kids who she does adore.

I am very aware of how that could also be perceived as trying to manipulate her so it's difficult to know what is going to be the best without my intentions getting twisted. Do you still think it's best to keep in touch as sometimes I feel leaving it to my hubby to Text her but I also know that then it will appear/be told to her that I don't care about her so it's just feels like a situation I will never win😢.

Thanku so much for ur helpful reply♥️

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CraftTea · 03/02/2025 12:36

You can’t win, but remember her mum isn’t winning either by isolating and manipulating her. And SD isn’t winning by losing one side of her family. Unfortunately there’s no winners with this kind of behaviour.

In your position I’d send a light text every month or two, be consistent, and focus on the relationship between her and her siblings. X drew a picture for you, here’s a photo of Y at sports day and she wanted to tell you she won a race, etc. And check in on birthdays, Christmas and with good luck for new terms or exams. Just show the relationship is open and she’s in your thoughts without any need for a reply.

KhakiShaker · 03/02/2025 12:45

OP I don’t have any wise words but just wanted to say you’re not alone. I’m watching my DSS (11) distance himself further and further as his mum alienates him. She has serious MH problems and this is no excuse. He parrots her words, it’s horrible some of the things he says to his dad. I’ve no idea if it’s ever going to turn around but I’m holding onto the hope he will seek the truth when he’s older.

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 14:14

@craftTea that hits the nail on te head about the non 'winners' in the situation and makes me think a lot about how I have viewed all this the past few years.

@kahkishaker I am sorry ur also experiencing this. It's so awful and the lack of control over it is heartbreaking. I feel as tho iv slowly watched her be now and more distant over the 4 years. Covid really ranked it up as the amount of time she had to isolate at her mums for 2 weeks was ridiculous. Left here absolutely fine...1 hour after being at her mums shed 'spiked a temp' and that was her for 2 whole weeks. I wish we could all get along and I really tried for my sd sake but her mums words of lies just got to us after so long. Wev never went out our way to put sd right as knew that would be putting her in the middle but I feel now that wev maybe led her to believe that her mum is speaking the truth because we haven't said anything otherwise. Ooft it just feels hopeless at the minute and really hoping it gets better. I hope ur situation doesn't get any worse either. Step parenting is the hardest job on the planet 😣

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NorthernSpirit · 03/02/2025 15:01

I’m a SM to 2 SC - both of whom have been alienated by their mother (by the time SS & the courts got involved they said there was nothing that they couldn’t do anything as the oldest was 15.5 at the time (and in the opinion SS old enough to decide / be responsible for her actions).

In our case there had been years of dripping poison in the kids ears and withholding contact by the mother (despite a contact order & years of taking the mother back to court for breaching).

The children were only allowed to call / refer to their dad as ‘him’ and me as ‘her’ as using the word ‘dad’ or anything else upset mum.

We were constantly badmouthed by mum and the children interrogated when they got home.

They weren’t allowed to take any Christmas or birthday presents etc given by their dad back to mums house.

They weren’t allowed to call dad or text him (kids were 12 & 15 at the time) outside of the times / days given in the court order.

When the family home was sold (which the mother agreed to & was court ordered). She told the children their dad was making them homeless.

When he refused to give the mum more money for something - the kids rang dad up in tears saying they couldn’t visit as he didn’t pay mum any money (he paid £775 per month in CM at the time).

A holiday that had been agreed to by mum, booked & paid for. The night before the 6am pick up - she emailed & said she had changed her mind about the kids going. When that went to court for breach of the contact order - the judge did threaten to remove the children from her.

We haven’t seen the oldest for over 4 years (she’s now 19). Her mobile phone was confiscated by das after some very bad behaviour. She then rang her mum - told her she had been kicked out of the house (all lies). An hour later the mum & new boyfriend turned up on our doorstep banging the front door down threatening to beat my now DH up. At the time we had no idea who the new boyfriend of 6 months was. The police had to be called - 2 police officers couldn’t deal with them, so a Moria van had to be sent and they were arrested. All the time this was going on the SD was sniggering watching what was happening.

Since that incident - we haven’t seen or heard from the SD. In those 4 years she’s completely erased her dad and anyone associated with him out of her life (aunties, uncles, godparents, grandparents). My OH is devastated. All he has tried to do is be a good dad and he has fought to hard to see the children. He writes to her once a month, sends cars, texts, presents. He’s had absolutely nothing back in 4 years. She’s completely erased him from her life.

Personally - it’s a huge relief that she doesn’t visit as it was absolutely miserable when she was here (would ignore me, wouldn’t look at me, wouldn’t talk to me & I got one word monosyllabic answers). But I am upset for my husband and the pain he feels.

Its worth mentioning that his son (3 years younger) does still visit and he has a good relationship with but he has said that his mum has made things very difficult for him.

My only advice would be bide your time, never say anything bad about the mum and keep reminding her you are there. In our case, we hope as the daughter matures and gets older, she will realise what has gone on (she thinks her mum can do absolutely no wrong).

Good luck 🤞

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 20:22

Northernspirit - I honestly don't kno what to say to this. I don't think there's any words to say how terrible this all is. I can't imagine what uz have been through and how u and ur husband must feel. No decent dad deserves any of this. I'm just shocked n sorry for what iz have been thru with it all. I hope the relationship u have with ur ss makes up for it and he can see things for how they r in order to have a balanced relationship between both houses ♥️

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Pickledpoppetpickle · 04/02/2025 22:42

cherry2924 · 03/02/2025 07:46

@stayathomer - thanx for this. Been together since she was 4. Parents split when she was 2 so has no recollection of them being together. I need to keep this perspective of 18 year olds and theyr so hard. Trying to find th balance of knowing what theyr thinking and if theyr happy is difficult. At the end of the day we just love her and want her feel and be part of our house. I know it's difficult tho.

I don expect her to stick to a schedule no Definately not. But to see her more often would've lovely. Gutted for my husband and all the decent fathers out there who have to experience these situations

Plenty of decent mothers this happens to as well.

RustyNails · 06/02/2025 00:14

My brother in law's ex alienated his kids. His daughter didn't see through her mother and still barely speaks to him. Only if she wants something. His son did see through his mother and as soon as he got his driver's licence spent as much time as he could with his father. Even after joining the Army he spoke to his father or my sister whenever he could his mother not so much.

Given time and patience they do sometimes come back.

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