What You Need to Know When Your Ex Manipulates Your Child's Reality
Kids First Co-Parenting with Dr. Royster · Dr. Karalynn Royster
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Show Notes
Ever wondered if your child is being gaslit by their other parent? Manipulated into questioning their own reality? You're not alone, and you're not being paranoid.
Gaslighting - that subtle psychological manipulation where someone makes you question your own perceptions and memories - can be devastating for children caught in high-conflict co-parenting situations. When a child starts doubting what they saw, heard, or felt, it undermines their entire sense of security and trust.
In this deep dive, I explain exactly what gaslighting looks like when children are involved. From denying promises ("I never said I'd take you for ice cream") to rewriting family history or undermining your rules, these manipulative tactics create confusion and anxiety for kids. The damage runs deep because it erodes their internal compass - that essential ability to trust their own experiences and feelings.
But not every disagreement or difficult moment with your ex qualifies as gaslighting. I'll help you distinguish between genuine differences in parenting approaches and true manipulation, because labeling everything as "gaslighting" only dilutes its meaning and can make it harder to address the real problem.
This episode lays the foundation for understanding this complex issue, while a future episode will focus specifically on how to protect your child from gaslighting. Because w
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