Parental abandonment is not limited to non-custodial parents, either. Sometimes parents with sole custody—even those who have fought hard in court to win child custody—have also been accused of abandoning their children.
Why Do Parents Abandon?
The most common question is, “How could a parent do that?” Sadly, parents who abandon their children often do so because they believe they are ill-equipped to provide the emotional and financial stability the child needs. It’s common to blame this on the previous generation’s ability to parent (or lack thereof), and yet it’s not true that all parents who abandon were mistreated, ignored, or neglected as children. Certainly, we see examples every day of parents who were neglected or abused, and yet later become loving, committed parents. So these types of generalizations don’t hold up when examined more closely. While it is not a legitimate excuse, it may be an important factor to consider when trying to explain to your child why the other parent chooses to be uninvolved.
Explaining Abandonment to a Child
If you’re raising your children on your own, and the other parent chooses not to be involved, you may anticipate that your kids eventually will start asking some tough questions that you’ll need to answer. The following tips can help:
Respect timeliness. It’s tempting to put the conversation off, but if your kids are bringing it up, then they’re ready to talk about it.Trust yourself. You don’t have to have the perfect words planned out. Acknowledge their questions and their hurt. Show empathy and let them know that you’re always going to be there, no matter what.Find something positive to say about your ex. The can be hard, especially if you’re still angry or the separation is fresh. But it’s important to remember that your children carry a part of your ex inside them, so you don’t want to give them the idea that he or she is “all bad.“Continue the conversation. Chances are, you’re going to have many conversations with your kids about this issue. For them, recognizing and naming the abandonment is just one part of the grieving process.
They will likely experience many complex emotions, including sadness and anger, before coming to a point of acceptance. They’re also going to need to know all along the way that you’re willing to hear them out and be a shoulder to lean on.
Loss of Parental Rights
In most states, a parent is said to have “abandoned” a child after a two-year period of withholding his or her contact and financial support. Abandonment can also lead to the loss of one’s parental rights. However, a parent cannot simply choose or elect on his or her own to forfeit those rights. In fact, even in cases of clear and willful abandonment, most states will not legally terminate a parent’s rights unless there is another parent-figure, such as a step-parent, who is waiting to formally adopt the child.
Post-Abandonment Reunification
Some parents who have withdrawn from their children’s lives later recognize their mistake and wish to seek forgiveness and restore the relationship. If the opportunity arises and you’re not sure what to do, consider speaking with a therapist or counselor about your concerns before making a decision.
