The family is an important unit that provides economic and social support to its members. It nurtures and inculcates good morals into young ones and encourages them to emulate their practices. Families create the ground on which children develop their future skills and foundation for success (Pedro-Carroll 11). However, not all families achieve their objectives, and some unlucky ones break when children are still too young. A family is a social group established by members connected by blood, marriage, or adoption. This essay explains the negative impacts of divorce on children.
Divorce refers to the permanent separation of spouses, and this means it is a practice that dissolves a marriage. Not all couples live happy lives and those that cannot persevere separate or divorce. Divorced couples have the freedom to get married to other people without restrictions from their former partners (Root 90). Children are usually affected when parents divorce and may suffer the following consequences.
The presence of both parents in a family guarantees that children will have adequate financial and social support (Root 106). However, the absence of one parent means that children may not enjoy all the benefits of childhood. Parents provide money for the needs of children and other family expenses. Therefore, the absence of one parent means that there will be inadequate money to pay family bills.
Sometimes, both parents may be working, and the family may have massive investments that generate high profits (Pedro-Carroll 39). Children require the company and friendship of both parents. The emotional support offered by parents assures children security and assurance that their welfare is protected. Some children who are raised by single parents have some personality disorders caused by poor upbringing.
Stigmatization of children whose parents do not live together due to divorce or separation affects learning and the development and growth of these victims. The society believes that couples should live together until death separates them. However, it allows them to separate or divorce if there are valid reasons to warrant the dissolution of marriages (Root 113). Children do not understand what causes divorce, and this makes most of them stigmatize those that live with a single parent. Stigmatization of children with single parents affects the perception and attitudes of society towards them. These children live in isolation, and this interferes with their normal lives.
The likelihood of committing crimes or involving in antisocial activities is higher in children brought up by single parents (Pedro-Carroll 75). These children believe that they are discriminated against by other members of society. They find comfort in drug abuse, prostitution, and other illegal activities. The high cases of juvenile incarceration have a strong connection with divorce. Divorced parents do not take the time to help their children to develop healthy personalities (Root 121). These children are left to do what they want and suffer the consequences of their actions.
Divorce should be the last option for marriages that do not have a bright future. Children are the greatest victims when parents divorce because they do not get adequate financial and emotional support from both parents. These children perform poorly in schools because they spend most of their time thinking about why they had to live without both parents. Juvenile delinquency is fueled by divorce when children do not get proper parental upbringing. Stigmatization of these children discourages them from socializing positively with other members of society.
Works Cited
Pedro-Carroll, JoAnne. Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive Through Divorce. New York: Avery Press, 2010. Print.
Root, Andrew. The Children of Divorce: The Loss of Family as the Loss of Being (Youth, Family and Culture). Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Print.