National Parental Alienation Awareness Day

Today is National 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 Wellesley. It does happen and it is happening to me and it is happening to my two boys.

Wellesley has been very nice to me. I have done everything (and more) asked of me to be an incredible dad “remotely”. I can tell you that nobody knows my story and the hell I have been through. 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.

Unfortunately my sons and I have battled for almost ten years. I should have every right afforded to all of the parents reading this article. I have done nothing wrong. I have joint legal custody of my kids but for some reason, I have not seen or talked to my kids for over 9 months. I attended a meeting for my youngest at the middle school 2 weeks ago. Pathetically as I walked through the school to the meeting room I looked into each and every room desperate for a glimpse of either of the boys. At the end of the meeting I asked the guidance counselor to see them. I then found out that one son was purposely kept out of school that day and that my other son was told to say that he wasn’t “keen” on seeing me. I went home devastated…again.

I will continue to fight for them while educating families about Parental Alienation. People need to know that there are two sides to every story just like there needs to be two parents involved in their children's lives. Mother's Day and Father's Day are 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. Today, please hug your kids and keep us in your thoughts as we try to educate, not alienate.