Visitation Suggestions

[not2cleverRed]

I am sorry, but that is wrong. If the child has very valid reasons to dislike the other parent, it would be harmful to tell the child their opinion is wrong. When a child is mistreated, abandoned, told they are worthless, etc, that child has every right to dislike that parent. It is bad enough that the child does not have enough of a voice to stop the visitations, they should not be told their opinions are wrong are don't count.

They should be brought to counselling to help develop better coping skills, but that is not going to change the child's opinions.

If both parents were responsible, reasonable, capable, loving parents then I would agree with your approach. But unfortunately, way too often that is not the case.

Actually, they should be brought to counselling because 1) their opinion is reasonable, and they need coping skills, OR 2) their opinion is not supported by the facts of the situation, and they need to work that out.

Either way, it is in the best interest of the child to have an independent 3rd party to talk to, and who can credibly testify, if necessary, that something is amiss.

 

[Ohiogal]

Who are those members? Who EVER said "...the only reason a child doesn't like the other parent is because the custodial parents is not doing their job in encouraging the relationship."? Really, please point out a post...any post...where a member (aside, possibly, from a few newbies at some point in the past) has said that.

Oh god. You are asking LD to support her statement? Hell may have frozen over due to the polar vortex two weeks ago but I highly doubt it is still frozen.

 

[stealth2]

I am sorry, but that is wrong. If the child has very valid reasons to dislike the other parent, it would be harmful to tell the child their opinion is wrong. When a child is mistreated, abandoned, told they are worthless, etc, that child has every right to dislike that parent. It is bad enough that the child does not have enough of a voice to stop the visitations, they should not be told their opinions are wrong are don't count.

There are, however, ways to counteract such behavior and help the child learn coping skills w/o negating the child's opinion. BTDT.