Page 177 - The Intentional Parent

they hear negative things about their parents it makes them feel guilty; to absolve themselves of that guilt, they will often run to the other parent and retell what they have heard.
It would be a shame if it had to come to this point, but if your mother doesn't censor what she says about the children's father you will have to limit her contact with the children.
FALSE ALLEGATIONS BY PARENTS
I am the father of a three-year-old child and just went through a very messy divorce. My ex-wife will do absolutely anything to keep me away from my son, whom I love more than anything else in the world. Lately, my son has been asking me why I hit him when I am angry. The first time he asked me this, I nearly fell off my seat. I have never laid a hand on him, and never will. Since my ex-wife and I have begun fighting for custody, she has made many false allegations about my behavior toward my son. The thing I want to know is: Is it possible for my ex-wife to convince my son to tell stories about me hitting him, even if they are not true?
Yes, it is possible for a person to encourage a child of three to tell stories that are not true. Three-year-old children are just learning to tell the difference between fantasy and reality and are very easily led when it comes to situations like this.
Unfortunately, it is very common for parents to make false allegations of child molestation and/or child abuse during custody disputes. Statistics vary, but some tallies indicate that as many as 60 to 80 percent of all allegations of child abuse during custody disputes prove to be unfounded.
Your belief that your ex-wife is behind your son's concerns does not suggest that women are any more likely to participate in
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 177