Parents' decisions affect children

Did you know that everyday, a different child throughout the world struggles with the trials of having parents that are separated? Children all over are being affected by this, and it is causing physical and emotional destruction in their everyday lives. Most people assume that the child is depressed from school, by not fitting in or they just make the assumption that the child is anti-social. Sadly, this is how our generation today judges people in the world. They don’t stop to think that maybe it could be much deeper. To help this problem, we need to work harder to prevent this situation from happening.

While talking to friends or family members, such as cousins for example, the conversation usually starts talking about how cool their stuff or their room is, or simply how they enjoy eating dinner as a family. Wither way, the child of the divorced parent starts to think of how they wish they could have one place to stat, one to call home. It has to be aggravating having to pack a bag every other day and every other weekend just to turn around and pack it all back up. Everything is separated and it’s difficult to keep up with. It is much easier to just have it all together, and after school go somewhere you can call home. Calling one place home is just heart-warming.

Most adults don’t realize it, but their actions affect the child in so many ways. Emotional destruction is one because it can mess with your head. Kids start asking themselves what they did wrong, or why their separated. Was it their fault? They start blaming themselves for their parent’s choice. Theses emotions can very easily lead to physical destruction. Sometimes the constant arguing and going back and forth takes a toll on the child. All emotions start building up on them and it can have a negative effect. Most kids could start harming themselves, and all the pressure could cause them to take drastic action. It could get so bad that some kids may actually want to see a therapist to help them over come their parents’ problem that they are involved in.

Most parents don’t realize it, but their decisions they make have an effect on the child as they grow older. Such as when a child grows, childhood memories start coming back. The child, now older, starts questioning weather they themselves, can hold a successful relationship with someone. Some prefer not to go through the emotional rollercoaster their parents had. In conclusion, they push everyone away, trust becomes a huge issue. A child, or teenager, needs a social life to be happy. No one prefers to be lonely.

There are many different ways that divorce is bad for children. These are just a few examples of why this problem is bad. So, if at all possible, we need to prevent this from happening. Before a child’s parent decided to make this drastic decision to get a divorce, they need to think of the children and what effects it may have on him or her. I don’t think that parents want their child unhappy and depressed. Couples should work out their problems, especially if kids are involved.

Leslie Goodson

Holmes County High School Junior