CHILDREN, DIVORCE AND PAIN: WHEN DIVORCE HURTS MORE THAN IT HELPS - A PERSONAL REFLECTION ON CONFLICT AND CHILDREN
Divorce is often described as a breaking apart of a marriage, a family, a life once imagined. For children, that break can create deep and lasting emotional wounds and scars. They may carry feelings of guilt, anger, anxiety, and confusion. Some start to worry about their future, wonder if they caused the breakup, or feel pulled between two people they love equally. But an important question remains: Does divorce always damage children? The honest answer is no . Divorce itself isn’t automatically harmful. What truly shapes a child’s emotional experience is the level of conflict surrounding it. In my own journey, conflict was the unexpected anchor pulling us all down. For years, the tension between my ex-husband and me had been heavy, constant, and exhausting. When we finally parted ways, I genuinely believed it would bring peace — not just for me, but for our children too. I imagined a quieter home, a calmer heart, and a happier environment for everyone. I was wrong. W...
