Many thoughts and feelings often go through their minds. A child may feel

confusion, grief, guilt, anger, sadness, and isolation when his or her parents separate from each

other. During a divorce, there are many changes. These changes can be very hard on

children. They have to move back and forth between parents, often every week. They

may have to change schools or move to another town. One parent may end up living so

far away, that they only get to see them once or twice a year. And sometimes, they never

see the parent again. Their comfort zone has been breached, and they often, especially

younger children, think that the divorce was somehow their fault. Divorce affects the

children’s self image, their role in the family, their personality, and all of this follows

them into their adult lives and relationships.

A child’s self-image may also be severely damaged, especially

affecting the child’s self-esteem. This is especially true of teenagers, where being

accepted by peers is often worth a lot to them. Without self-confidence, a child can be

miserable throughout his or her life. At school, a child may suffer i

the divorce experience is sure to affect them throughout their lives. In the 1980s, nearly 1

parents for divorcing and bringing chaos into their lives. This game of playing the

parents usually creates more conflict and only serves to hurt the child later in life.

of her kids by buying gifts, thus spoiling the children; or she will be more lenient in her

• Jamiolkowski, Raymond M., Coping in a Dysfunctional Family. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 1993.

there are younger brothers and sisters, the oldest child will often take up the reins of the

Some topics in this essay:
Effects Children, Mary Pipher, divorce children, Publishing Inc, Heath Company, life children, York Putnam, parents divorce children, parents divorce, children divorced, hard children, children children, adult lives, reaching effects,