Single Parents and Stepfamilies
By: Kyle Russell
Sometimes relationships don’t work out. You get a girlfriend/boyfriend or get married, and things start to go downhill when you or your significant other find that things aren’t as special as they used to be. But what happens when there is a child involved? Sure, one of the two parents become the sole guardian of that child, but how does it affect the child?
Research shows that it can be very stressful for children. I’m an example of that. I would always ask my dad when he and my mom would get back together. A divorce can even increase the risk that children will suffer from psychological and behavioral problems, and are particularly likely to develop problems with anger, disobedience, and rule violations. However, it also goes into depth about the fact that most children do not develop these problems and that most children are ‘resilient’. But these resilient children do develop problems such as painful memories and ongoing worries about relationships with their parents.
Not only can divorce affect children, but even remarriage can affect children. The fear of having a new parent or even a new family can be a problem to children. As another source describes, ”It’s normal to be sad and scared as your family changes, and it may take some time to get adjusted to your new family situation.” Within my family that I love, it took some time to get used to the fact that I’m living with a new family I don’t know. It was terrible. The new family that I lived with had stricter rules than I was used to. However, in the long run, it helped me become a better person. This new family helped me learn more manners and morals than my single dad could have ever taught me. They were tough on me, but it helped me become better. But this could not be the case for another child or teenager dealing with remarriage. When my stepbrothers and I couldn’t get along we saw a counselor at our local church. It is often recommended to see a family counselor to try to work out some of these problems. Or maybe a therapist isn't needed. Maybe a family could just sit down and talk to one another. If it can make you happier and healthier, then why not try it?
Living with a single parent can be hard, and remarriage can be even harder, but in time everything might will turn out alright in the long run. Giving a new stepfamily a chance might even be beneficial.