Divorcing parents should always use their best judgement in speaking to their children about the other parent. From a litigation prospective, a parent can face negative consequences for alienating a child from the other parent, as such behavior is emotionally harmful to the child. In one recent Virginia case, abuse and neglect findings were made against a father after he conveyed to his child negative misinformation about the mother and the divorce, causing the child enough distress to run away from home to avoid the mother. As a result, a protective order was issued against the father and he was subject to supervision during his visitations with the child.