By KAIDEN WILSON
Sheridan High School Student
Editor’s Note: The Sheridan Student Column is brought to readers by Sheridan High School’s 10th grade English class, taught by Abby Williams.
Sometimes things just don’t work out. People fall in and out of love all the time. Although, in some situations, divorce does not solve all the problems … especially if you have kids.
I come from split parents, and hate to admit it, but things would be so much easier if I had both parental figures in one home. I constantly see kids happy with both their parents and wish that could’ve been me and my siblings.
I am not complaining about having divorced parents though. The split caused a step-mom, step-dad, another sister, and two more brothers to be brought into my life. I am beyond thankful for all my parents and everything they do or have done for me, but here are some of the impacts the initial divorce has had on my life.
On the positive side of things, children with split parents get to have more than just one Christmas. I know, this might seem selfish, but as a kid it would obviously be quite a perk. It also causes you to get more alone time with each parent and get more attention, which I always really needed growing up.
But on the negative side, divorce affects every aspect of life: How you grow up, who you become, and who you decide to love and trust. How you live your life is all up to how you grew up and who you were meant to be. And love and trust are based on how your parents have loved each other and how they loved you.
Although my life for sure hasn’t always just been sunshine and rainbows, I know that I was meant to live like this, and I can get through whatever life throws at me. If you have ever had to go through anything like this, just know you really are not alone.
In the beginning, when I was a kid, my mom and dad were married. I don’t remember this time very well because of my young age, but I see pictures of me, my mom, dad and sister happy and all together. I really didn’t know what I had. I remember memories from getting to actually run into my mom and dad’s room to see them both there. Now things are different. I can’t just go talk to them, I have to call or text just to ask if I can come over or to just talk. That is one of the hardest parts.
And now that I’m older, I’m way more affected than I used to be by it. I feel distant from both of them most of the time because I constantly have the thought that, well … if they want to talk to me, they will. So, I never really was that outgoing. I’ve now pretty much grown out of that. I know they are both there for me, we just have to put in the effort sometimes.
I’ve heard my friends tell me, “I wish they would just get divorced” when their parents get into arguments. And it makes me upset and kind of mad because most of them have absolutely no clue what it really feels like for your parents, and your life, to just split right into two pieces. I am so happy with my life and have learned to accept what I have and be content with what I get. So many kids these days don’t, and they take for granted everything that is handed to them from the day they are born.
I would be so grateful if I didn’t have to go through trouble to speak to or be with my parents on a daily basis. Stop now and notice how truly blessed you are no matter your home situation or your life. Accept everything that has happened and just enjoy the time you have on Earth. Everything happens for a reason. Never forget that and be happy.