Mother Loses Interest in 11-Year-Old Son After 7-Year-Old Daughter's Birth
Updated
Updated · Slate · Jul 6
Mother Loses Interest in 11-Year-Old Son After 7-Year-Old Daughter's Birth
1 articles · Updated · Slate · Jul 6
Summary
An 11-year-old boy was left in his father's full custody after his mother, Carolina, allegedly became emotionally detached from him soon after his sister was born.
The father says the breakdown was severe enough for marriage counseling and divorce, and that Carolina even suggested giving Anthony up for adoption; a court still did not classify her conduct as abuse.
The conflict resurfaced when 7-year-old Briana asked why her brother never visits their mother's home, and Anthony replied that their mother would eventually get bored with her too.
Slate's parenting columnist advised the father to let Anthony express his anger, seek professional support for him, and answer Briana's questions honestly without broadly attacking her mother.