What tactic did Jody use to manipulate his ex-wife regarding their children?

Jody's use of the children as a manipulation tactic highlights a common emotional strategy that individuals may employ during contentious situations like divorce or custody disputes. By involving the children, he likely aimed to strengthen his position or influence over his ex-wife's decisions, as children often become central figures in such conflicts. This could involve either using the children to elicit sympathy, create guilt, or exert emotional pressure to achieve his desired outcomes or to undermine the ex-wife's authority or choices regarding parenting.

This tactic can lead to emotional distress for both the children and the parents, as it places the children in the middle of adult conflicts, which can be damaging to their well-being. In contrast, the other options focus on different forms of manipulation, such as legal threats or financial incentives, which do not involve the direct use of the children as pawns in interpersonal negotiations.