In many instances, mothers think they know what’s best for their children. While this might be true in some circumstances, in other instances mothers do what they can to push a father aside simply because they erroneously think that cutting a father out of their child’s life is in the child’s best interests. This is unacceptable behavior, which is why fathers in the Georgetown area need to know how to spot these tactics and take action to protect their rights.
Beware of maternal gatekeeping
When a mother is a custodial parent, she has a lot of power to dictate who has access to the child and what information the child receives. In other words, she is the child’s gatekeeper. In many cases, mothers who have assumed this role use their power to drive a wedge between their child and their child’s father.
There are a number of ways that a mother can accomplish this goal. The mother may speak poorly of the father in the presence of the child, or she might refuse to keep the father updated on the child’s medical, school, and social activities. She might also continuously tell the father that she knows what’s best for the child and, as a result, constantly tries to correct the father’s parenting style
Maternal gatekeeping can be frustrating, but the ramifications are much more severe than that. Maternal gatekeeping can limit the amount of time that a father spends with his child, and it can severely impact his relationship with his child. The child may develop negative views of his or her father, which can make it even harder for a father to build and maintain a relationship with him or her.
Stand up for your rights as a father
Maternal gatekeeping is more common than most people realize. Yet, few fathers take action against it. Don’t let that be you. If you feel like you’re being unfairly cut out of your child’s life, then you might want to speak with a skilled family law professional who can help you fight for the child custody arrangement that is best for you and your child.