The oldest trick in the book.
Some moms trash the dad unmercifully in their absence. They tell the kids he doesn’t want to see them. Then she prompts them and helps them make plans for periods when they are supposed to be with him. Kids buy into it and the dad comes off looking like a bad guy.
In these situations enforcing your rights makes you look like the bad guy too. What dad is going to win a custody battle when the kid has been promised Disneyland with their friends or a visit your dad, which do you want to do?
I’ve seen this play out. It’s not a pretty picture. The kids ultimately lose. The dad loses, and the moms knowing what they did lose too.
My mother did that to my siblings. I was the only one to not buy into her evilness. To this day my siblings hate my father but my dad still loves them unconditionally. I have no part of them nor of my mother. My father is my rock and my best friend.
Parental alienation, turning the children against the other parent. It’s psychological abuse of the children.
Been there. Done that. Have several t shirts.
At least my ex had the decency to drop dead.
L