What does that make me?”
When you teach a child to despise their other parent, you are teaching them to question half of who they are. Children don’t carry your court orders.
They carry your blood. Your features. Your temperament. Your history.
They are not divided by your separation — but they can be divided by your words.
A child should never feel they must amputate part of their identity just to stay loyal to you. You are allowed to feel hurt. You are allowed to feel angry. You are allowed to grieve what was lost.
But your child is not the battlefield.
They are not the messenger.
They are not the weapon.
Because every time you tear down the other parent, your child stands there
— silently —
made of both of you.
And when they hear you attack the other parent, they don’t just hear criticism.
They hear:
“Half of ME is not good.” they are always listening.