National Parental Alienation Awareness Day

April 25th is National Parental Alienation Awareness Day. It's actually International Parental Alienation Awareness Day. There seems to be a new cause, a new movement, a new protest or a new march every day but many people aren't familiar with Parental Alienation. Many people think that it doesn't happen in their town. It does happen and it could be happening to children in your middle school, children on your football teams and even older children who mask what has happened to them for many years as they try to put on their best happy face when they are actually tormented inside.

We can all Google the definition of Parental Alienation but let's simplify it. One parent of a divorced or separated family encourages their child or children to alienate the other parent. Visitation is stopped, phone calls and text messages are blocked, and children are manipulated psychologically to turn against the other parent and/or family members. It's sad...very sad...and to the Dad writing this article it has been devastating. Quite frankly, it is child abuse and it undermines core principles of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.

In my case judges, lawyers, law enforcement, psychologists, therapists, pediatricians and schools have not helped. I am helpless. My boys are helpless. They miss their Dad and have been forced to treat their Papa, Stepmother and Step Brothers like we don't exist.

Think about your kids and the love and happiness that you wish for them. As I've told my boys, your only job or care is to be a kid. Unfortunately they have battled like I have for almost ten years.

We'll continue to fight for them while educating families about Parental Alienation. People need to know that there is two sides to every story just like there needs to be two parents involved in their children's lives. Patriots Day is next week, the Bruins and Celtics will be playing in the playoffs, there will be both Mother's Day and Father's Day coming soon. Unfortunately I need to take Father's Day off the calendar. The same will be true for hundreds of thousands of loving Dads and Moms internationally.

We need to help these children. On April 25th, please hug your kids and keep us in your thoughts as we try to educate, not alienate.