Cutting Ties By Melanie Sponagle Analysis

Cutting Ties Benefits “Breaking up with someone you love is difficult under any circumstance,” according to Michele Sponagle. Sponagle knows all too well how difficult it is to end a relationship with someone that you love and care about. She grew up in a home with a father that wasn’t there for her. Although, deep down, she knew her father had to love her, she felt as if she was completely invisible to him. This took a major tole on her emotionally, which led her to make some life-changing decisions. Sponagle’s childhood caused her a lot of emotional damage. In the article, she appeals to the readers pathos by describing her childhood, and the damage her father caused her emotionally from his actions and unkind words. “I struggled for a year to make the decision to end the turbulent relationship with my dad. I was never hit or sexually abused. His abuse was emotional, which made the decision to disconnect much cloudier since every parental relationship has ups and downs,” …show more content…
Internationally renowned therapist and author, Susan Forward, like most of her family and friends, tried to persuade her to talk through and work things out with her father. Forward thought rather than completely cutting the ties and removing Sponagle’s father from her life all together, there was still a chance to repair the broken ties between the two. Forward advised, “Disconnecting with a parent should be a last resort, and that there are ways to try and improve a bad relationship, even something as simple as an honest confrontation.” Forward seemed to think that most parents don't realize when they are causing pain or hurt to their children, they might think they are being stern and a “parent.” However, Sponagle didn't see it this way. Although Forward was seen as being a very prominent therapist, Sponagle didn't agree with the advice given, and still made the conscious decision of letting