I told my hubby early on what his ex was up to, but he failed to believe me and gave her the “benefit of the doubt.” He called me “paranoid” and “jealous” well fast forward to seven years later. It’s been 9 months since the youngest has been at our house. Two years for the older two. The ex has an upper hand because she works daily in the court system so has all the court officials in her county eating out of her hand.
Looking the other way and inaction is the biggest enemy because it emboldens the perpetrator to escalate the alienation campaign. You have to recognize it immediately and nip it in the bud right away or it will result in complete alienation of all children.
The turnarounds for me were two separate occasions.
The first was when the clock ran out on her attorney postponing a deposition. The day before the deposition the ex caved and grated joint custody.
The second was a couple of years later after a pattern of visitation had been established where the kids were staying with me as much or more than with their mom. I was so cooperative with her dating schedule that she could rely on me to be available to keep the kids while she “entertained”.
I waited until the oldest was ready to testify to the judge about her drunkenness. When she landed a job where she was driving 200 miles both ways I filed for a visitation change.
When she realized her own son was going to spill the beans she caved.