My Child Never Sees Their Other Parent

Having one parent who is not involved with the child can cause a lot of hurt. There is no easy way to handle it.

1. Answer your child’s questions as honestly as possible, taking age of the child into play.
2. Avoid saying negative things about the other parent. You can comment on his behavior (“Daddy would see you if he could, but it can’t happen right now, he is too sick to be safe around you” for example) but don’t make a judgment about the parent.
3. Find other role models for your child of the opposite sex – this is important for children of both genders. Take care of yourself so that you can care for your child, paying attention to your own need for proper nutrition, exercise, rest and adult companionship.
4. Be careful about introducing new partners to your child; make sure the relationship is truly long term before you bring a new person into your child’s life.
5. Remember that even though the other parent may not be seeing the child, they are obligated to pay child support and medical expenses. Get legal help, if you are not receiving this support.