Divorce Hits Home
One of the major cultural revolutions discussed in last week’s alert was the “divorce revolution” that began in 1969 in California, with Governor Ronald Reagan making “what he later admitted was one of the biggest mistakes of his political life,” by signing the first no-fault divorce law. By the early 1980’s almost every state included some form of no-fault divorce, and “since 1974, about 1 million children per year have seen their parents divorce.”
In today’s alert, UFI has included, below, two important articles from two such children, showing how divorce impacted their lives — one of them in a very tragic way. While not every divorce produces such dramatic consequences, there are certainly some that do. These are just two of many articles randomly sent to UFI, that are examples of the tragedy that divorce brings into the lives of children and adults.
Although some divorces may be necessary (for example, in abusive situations), too many divorces are unnecessary, and actually generate new problems. Before you or a loved one consider divorce, remember that research shows that “most couples that are able to stick it out and stay together usually end up happier down the road than couples who divorce.” In fact, “about two out of three unhappily married adults who avoided divorce ended up happily married to the same spouse five years later.”
We also invite you to visit our most frequently viewed Family Issues Guide, “Divorce: 100 Reasons Not To.” And if divorce has hit already your home, take comfort that the past does not need to determine the future.
Warm Regards,
Laura Bunker
United Families International, President
How My Family Fell Apart
Author’s name with held by request
On October 26th, 2013 a phone call changed my world forever and caused me to reevaluate just how much my family had been impacted by my parent’s divorce. “I have terrible news,” my father said–a phrase that would prove to be a gross understatement. The night before, my younger brother, who was only 16 years old, had committed suicide in my father’s home. Unfortunately the years leading up to his death were difficult, as my brother had been the center of a custody battle that caused him great distress.
My parents divorced when I was a toddler and my brother was just an infant. Through the years I felt confused as my father was framed as the ‘bad guy’, and I let myself believe this for a while until one day I decided to form my own opinion of my father. I have tried to be more open minded, and even though this decision created a greater bond with my brother, it sadly created distance between me, my sisters and mom. As in many divorce situations, I felt torn between family members. Read more …
Instant Divorce – Mix In & Stir Well
By Laura Chesley
It was 1973, deep into the uproar and chaos of the sexual revolution. The winds had begun to shift concerning marriage and families; it was time to hurl the historic chains of domination by men to the ground and take control of personal destiny. Equal Rights was the call sign for every self-respecting feminist and Jimmie was one of them.
She gloried in having a name that belonged to men and enjoyed the discord between the name and her bra-less body. She wore the garment of self-fulfillment proudly, proclaiming her right to do as she pleased with her body and her life. The fact that she was married, and had children, wasn’t really an issue. She was determined to shed the oppression of the ages by doing just as she pleased.
At that time her marriage was unsatisfying and her husband, boring. The excitement was gone and what was left was comfortable, but dull. Read more…