National Parental Alienation Awareness Day
Shedding light on the impact of family separation, and fostering understanding for the emotional toll it carries on individuals.
When an adult family member chooses to use their power to turn a child against one of their parents, the result can be devastating to families. A child is taught to believe one of their parents doesn’t love them or is even dangerous and should be feared, and the other alienated parent is often powerless to change the situation.
Parental alienation affects millions of adults and children every year and that’s why National Parental Alienation Awareness Day was founded.
History of National Parental Alienation Awareness Day
Parental Alienation has to do with parents or some other trusted adults who behave in a way that creates alienation between a child and one of their parents. This often happens when one parent bad-mouths another parent or there is emotional manipulation that estranges a child from the targeted parent. It may include bullying, withholding, and a wide range of unhealthy behaviors that are to the detriment of the child.
This type of manipulative behavior is mentally and emotionally abusive to children and can have an impact for the rest of their lives. It often goes along with family separation or divorce when legal action is involved. Individuals or families who are having such an experience with parental alienation should know that it is possible to get help.
The Parental Alienation Awareness Organization (PAAO) got its start in 2005 when it was founded by a Canadian woman named Sarvy Emo. The purpose behind the organization was to educate the public about this growing problem, and provide support for those who have experienced parental alienation. It was through this organization that the idea for Parental Alienation Awareness Day was established.
How to Observe National Parental Alienation Awareness Day
Get involved with raising awareness for this important cause by connecting with different plans and activities to observe National Parental Alienation Awareness Day:
Raise Awareness about Parental Alienation
An excellent way to show support for National Parental Alienation Awareness Day would be to share some information or a personal story about parental alienation with others. This might be through a personal conversation with a friend or with a larger audience on social media. Don’t forget to know about resources so that families and individuals who have this experience can get the help they need.
Learn Signs of Parental Alienation
One of the most important purposes behind National Parental Alienation Awareness Day is to educate and inform people on how to spot this type of behavior in others and themselves. Professionals, especially those who have access to children such as teachers or pediatricians, should be on the lookout for various signs as they are in a relationship with children who are struggling.
There are many signs and anyone can learn more by speaking with an expert or doing some research. Get started with a few of these signs that might show up in child who has been a victim of parental alienation:
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Adopting the alienating parent’s opinions as their own
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Expressing disapproval toward the targeted parent
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Believing their rejection of the alienated parent is their own idea
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Hostility toward the family of the alienated parent
