Argumentative Essay: The Effects Of Divorce On Children

The Effects Divorce Leaves on Children Ever hear of the saying, “the children come first” or “no matter what the children are the most important”? Well that may not be the case when it comes to divorce. According to D. Wayne Matthews, “Every year, over 1 million children under age 18 are involved in a divorce” (para 3). When at that moment, all the parents’ concerns are about themselves and their marriage; not what they are putting their children through or what effect it is having on them. Although it may not be intentional, parents expose their children to hundreds of effects both short-term and long-term. When it comes to divorce, the simple fact of the matter is that the children do not “come first” nor are they the “most important thing.” Divorce is very common and popular among the adults in today’s day and age. The definition of a divorce is the legal termination of a marriage by a court or other capable body. However, just because it is common and more acceptable in today’s society, does not mean it is always the right answer to solve one’s marriage problems. In the legal aspect of things, a divorce isn’t a simple one and done process. It is actually a very long and …show more content…
Some of these short-term effects may include, but not limited to: sadness, aggression, stress, acting out, non-compliance, increased dependency, struggle with social adjustment, personal conflict, lower academic achievement and even depression (Matthews, para 27). The effects can be different for every child, given the fact that not all children are the same and that every situation is different. These effects tend to show more on younger children than children in their upper teens. However, if these short-term effects aren’t dealt with then they have the possibility of building up over that brief period of time and turning into a long-term