Even the strongest marriage can fall apart: 1 in 4 couples is likely to end up getting divorced, according to statistics. But things can get pretty complicated if the partners have a child. So they have to decide whether staying together for the sake of the children is really the best option or if it’s better to move on with their lives.
Bright Side has come up with the consequences of sacrificing your happiness for the children and some of them are pretty alarming.
A child sees an example of parents who can’t remove themselves from a stressful situation and are stuck in old patterns of behavior. So they learn that it’s too difficult to lead a happy life and it’s more secure to settle for less. Fighting for the things that make you happy seems like a useless and dangerous task that could only bring disappointment.
Parents should teach their child that we only live once and that they should make the most out of it despite all the difficulties. Life isn’t an easy ride, but that doesn’t mean that we should settle.
Even if parents fight in private, children will notice that something is off anyway and may become afraid of the future. They don’t know that it can become a trigger that will make their parents split up. They also might be worried that they’ll have to make the decision of who they will have to stay with. So they may suffer from a lack of initiative and be afraid to do anything that may cause a family breakdown.
Communication is the key to the emotional stability of the child. Parents should explain to the child what’s going on and prove that they’ll do anything to keep them happy.
When marriage is centered around the children, parents can easily forget about their own lives. They may start to manipulate their children or be too controlling since they gave up their own happiness for them and subconsciously want to get something in return.
While some parents are able to easily let go of their children, others may struggle with detachment issues that can become more serious as the child grows up and doesn’t need them as much as they used to.
Children can feel the resentment and uncertainty of their parents, so they might feel like they’re sitting on a time bomb that could explode at any moment. They don’t feel like their parents can protect them from any danger and aren’t sure that their parents will always be on their side.
The primary responsibility of any parent is to shelter their child from any problems they’re too young to solve and make them sure that they’ll face all their life changes together.
According to this study, children who live in a hostile environment, even if the conflict between the parents isn’t so apparent, are likely to suffer from health issues and problems with social development. Psychologists suggest that this stress can cause hormone imbalance, increased heart rate, sleep disorders, and some psychological problems, like depression.
Even if the parents don’t drag the child into the conflict, it won’t improve the situation: children can feel the tension anyway and will suffer the consequences.
Many families pass their attitude toward relationships from generation to generation. When children grow up, it may be difficult for them to build strong and healthy relationships if they’ve been told from early childhood that “the family needs to be saved no matter what.” They feel like their opinion and emotions aren’t important enough and they have to make sacrifices to achieve a higher purpose. So they follow imposed standards and don’t value their happiness.
Remember, that children look at their parents and learn the basics of love and emotional connection that will help them navigate through their love life as adults.
When parents decide to stay together, the children may feel like it’s their fault that the parents are unhappy and that they’re the reason for all the family problems. They are extremely sensitive to arguments and are likely to take the blame. This can result in lower self-esteem, problems with sleep, and even self-harm issues.
Parents should explain that their feelings toward each other don’t affect their love for their child and their personal issues have nothing to do with them.
Children mirror the behavior of their parents. If parents stay in a conflict for far too long, instead of resolving it somehow, children may project this behavior in their future lives. Children learn that keeping silent or just expressing your emotions, but not solving the problems, are acceptable patterns of behavior and may suffer from communication issues.
Parents should set a good example to help children understand that all relationships have their ups and downs, but it’s essential to find a compromise and make sure all the partners are satisfied with the decision.
Parents usually don’t ask their children what’s good for them or let them make decisions on their own. So the child can feel a hidden resentment and tension, but they have no idea what they can do to make the situation any better. It can negatively influence their self-esteem and ability to make decisions in the future.
Of course, there’s no need to let your child know all about your personal problems, but it’s better to let them feel like their opinion counts when it comes to family matters.
Parenting is hard enough just the way it is. But it’s almost impossible to pay enough attention to a child, when parents are under constant pressure trying to save their marriage or living with a spouse they’re no longer in love with. Co-parenting with a partner can be easier if the spouses are no longer together and have time to work on their own lives.
Leading a happy life provides parents with enough inner resources to be engaged in their child’s upbringing and doesn’t make them feel like they’re sacrificing their own happiness for the sake of their child.
Have you ever had to make a decision about staying with your partner for your kids? How did it work out? Feel free to share your personal experience in the comments.
what ever religion one profess or even one does not have any, every one is well aware of the significance of marital status. it's a huge cruelty one does not know the requirements of this status and particularly the responsibility being father hood and motherhood. please learn how to be grateful human, responsible parents.
if any parent is readinf this article then please I beg you your children has only one childhood please make it better as much as you can there is nothing for them without you, so please. I suffer a lot a lot I think I cannot Express what I suffer from. I have mental issues I have health issues when I go to doctor at the age of 19 i have literally no part of my body which is not in pain every part of my body is in pain due to different causes but the root causes the same. please I beg you if you read the article please give your child childhood what they deserve. it destroy all the things all the dreams all the creativity. intially any child learn from their parents that What a relationship is. if relationship is not idle due to any reason everything goes down ,everything.please give them your time your affection.don't tell them what the causes of your fights please don't fight at least for the sake of God please don't fight. please do believe on each other please. it destroy many things eventually whole life whole generation it is my real feelings which I am expressing. though my English is not so good but if anyone if only a single person can understand what I am trying to say, I thought that I win.
number 3 is really true, I can notice this when i visit my friends house.. maybe it's better if her parents were honest to eachother :/
This is common knowledge and something everyone should learn about. Good article
