From the Inbox

Child of Divorce - Ari Goldman
[today's Daily Dig from Bruderhof.com]

To my mind, divorce is a deplorable breach of contract, and I say without humor that children should be allowed to sue.

Consider the facts: Two people agree to create a human being and promise to give it love, a home, security, and happiness. They take this step with the best of intentions, to be sure, but then something goes awry. They find they really hate each other or for some other reason cannot live together. But in separating, they put themselves first and forget about the contract they have with their child. I do not believe, as you often hear soon-to-be-divorced parents say, that the separation will be “best for the child.” My experience has taught me better.

One of the things that bothers me about divorce is that there's usually very little consideration given for the other people in the couple's life. They will worry about the children, seeking to make it as easy and transitional as possible, but everyone knows it's incredibly hard and undeniably harsh on a child. But what about the mutual friends, other family members, co-workers and church friends? Those people are pulled in, too, needing to adjust to new life-connections as the divorcing couple moves on in separate directions.
- posted by Rick @ 08:52