What are your plans for April 25?

In 2006, I learned that a special day had been designated to honor a child’s absence from their non-custodial parent’s life. Such a parent, grieving for nearly ten years, I found that collectively, we can all gather not only in DC where I was working to reunify children, but also throughout our nation.

Indeed, within twelve months, this exuberant homage to a forever changed family became a rallying cry for further change. A more educated, and sensitive system which sought to reunify and strengthen rather than to permit a continuing struggle to demonstrate a parent’s love and a child’s innate desire to have both parents in their lives.

Fifteen years later, in 2021, fathers and mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews rally, light candles, and blow bubbles. In and out of love.

            April 25 is International Parental Alienation Awareness Day.

Take a moment to honor the value of family. Honor your children. For as the Old Testament proclaims, in the original Hebrews, do not consider your children – as bonim, but instead, as bonayim – builders.

            For it is through them that our society’s strength manifests and binds us together in a shared history of continuing growth.

            As the Christopher’s motto states, “It’s better to light one candle than curse to curse the darkness.”

Wishing you light, and love. Good health, too!

Dr. Mark Roseman