Denying Contact is Abuse.

I make no excuses for this post.
So much has been in the press over the last few months regarding  abuse of children, abuse of any sort against anyone is totally unacceptable and the perpetrators must be named and shamed and punished.
Children must be protected.
I consider that to stop a child having a relationship with both parents is also, abuse.
Why is it that these cases come to the public eye when a celebrity is involved or a person in power is involved.
It is time for us to accept that abuse is happening to over million children in the UK, by a parent who thinks it is ok to prevent their child from seeing the non resident parent.
IT IS NOT OK.
My parents split when I was just 16 years old, and I know how it feels to be 'piggy in the middle.' As a child you desperately want things to go back to how they were, you at home with Mum and Dad.
Of course that is not always possible, but the damage that is inflicted can be enormous and irretrievable.
A child who has to perhaps spend time with Mum one week and Dad the next is literally torn in two, they love them both just the same, they are Mum and Dad.
They will have to tow the parent 'party line' with whoever they are with, they behave differently with each parent, trying to make them both happy.
Children should not have to be thinking this way, they are after all children, they should not have to be burdened with adult conflict.
If they are denied contact with one of their parents they feel the bereavement of 'losing' one parent, although it is not anything to do with them, they are changed forever. They have to listen to horrible things being said about one of their parent, who they love, what would you do if this abuse was happening to you?
This is not to say that when couples separate it is always like this, many, many couples do whats right by their children.
This abuse has to stop, say it like it is, don't flower it up, this is abuse of children.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk