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Not that long ago it was perfectly acceptable to go out for the evening and let your teenage son babysit his elementary school age siblings. It also used to be common practice for a child to ride their bike through the neighborhood without a helmet, knee pads, or elbow guards. But today, if a parent lets their kids go to soccer practice without a “healthy snack”, tongues start wagging. The practice of “parent shaming” has gone so far that there are now stories of strangers taking matters into their own hands and getting the authorities involved in other people’s personal business.
The issue was recently given center stage attention, when Good Morning America did a story on parent shaming. The report focused on a mom who opted not to answer her door for a delivery, only to have the delivery man call the police out of a claimed fear for the kids’ welfare. Other examples of parent shaming include posting stories about neighbors or other moms from school on social media and reporting things to protective services or the principal. In many instances the issue is resolved without fanfare, but this new phenomenon is something to watch out for if you are getting divorced.
Three ways your case might be harmed by an outsider involved in parent shaming include:
- Making your private information public, by posting it on social media. If untrue or inaccurate stories about your parenting are made visible on someone else’s feed there is a chance your ex will see the story. This can lead to reporting the information to the Court and may put you in the position of having to defend yourself.
- If school officials are provided information you will likely be required to provide an explanation, or face an escalated procedure within the educational system.
- When police or child protective officials are brought into the picture it can be difficult to reach a resolution that includes those persons taking a back seat role, or removing themselves entirely from your business.
It has been said before that you should be careful about what you post on social media if you are going through a divorce, and now it seems you may have to be aware of what others post as well. For answers to your questions about divorce and how to handle less than flattering information, call us today.
Let us put our experience to work for you. Call The Sampair Group in Phoenix and the West Valley today to schedule an appointment to discuss your case.
