Chattel

That’s a term that seems to fit when the parents treat their child as ‘property’. It is not uncommon to hold access to a child from grandparents whenever they don’t comply with parents’ wishes/demands. Happens all the time. “If you want to see your grandchild, then give me what I want,” is the message. The blow ups or disappointments escalate into an all or nothing situation, no discussion, compromise or reasoning, but instead alienation. The theme is to cut off access . Instead of getting rid of the problem, the angry parent gets rid of the person. The child is caught in the middle and becomes the prize or ‘chattel’. They don’t get to choose.