Being raised by two people is vital for growth. You get to experience two different points of view and get twice the amount of love. But what happens when your parents split? I’m going to share MY story of what it was like living with divorced parents.
The Beginning
I’ll be honest; I don’t really remember the fighting or the talk about divorce because I was around 6 or 7 years old. I don’t even remember my parents talking to me about the decision. What I do remember is playing my games in one house and suddenly going to a different house without games on the weekends. It took me a while to figure out what was happening; then it hit me: my parents are divorced.
I didn’t have many friends back in the day, and the friends I did have still had their parents together. It was a new experience, and it was a bit frightful. Not having one of your parents around can cause a lot of stress and confusion in your life. I was never a bad kid, but not having a parent around caused me to have attitude problems.
Single Parent
My mother had custody of my brother and I. She worked a full-time job and did everything to help raise her family. As a kid, I didn’t see any of that. I just wanted things my way. I was a spoiled brat with an attitude.
My poor mother had to deal with my BS every day, and the only thing that would shut me up was to have whatever I wanted, so I was spoiled. When you’re a single parent dealing with a lot, having a nagging child is the last thing you want to have around, so I get it. This showed me the importance of having both parents.
The Importance of a Parental Figure
Since I would only see my father every other weekend, I lacked a father figure. My brother tried to fulfill this role at the house, but I never noticed it. I just saw him as a bit bossy. My brother played a vital role in my life, and I wish I had seen it sooner.
Even when I saw my father, he wasn’t really a father figure. He spoiled me and let me do whatever I wanted at his house. I was rarely disciplined. This eventually led to my video game addiction, which I talked about on my About Me page.
A quick story about my addiction: I became extremely anti-social and depressed. I would turn to games as a way to escape from the world. It was a great escape because I didn’t think about the drama in my life, the bullying, the divorced parents, or anything else that was negative in my life. If you’re curious how I broke that addiction or what to know more about it, check it out here.
My mother was always there for me whenever I needed her, and she still is to this day. But I imagine if I didn’t have a mother figure in my life, I would be lacking an emotional side. I consider myself pretty emotional for a “man,” and I’m not ashamed of it. I believe people should feel things.
Growing Questions
I had many questions when I was growing up: sex, shaving, how to treat people, etc. It’s difficult to know who to go to when your parents are split. I felt that one side didn’t care and the other knew little about the topic, so I never asked. I kept my curiousities to myself, perhaps that’s why I’m introverted and mysterious today.
Conclusion
Living with divorced parents isn’t just stressful for the child but for the whole family. Parents who care will feel the pressure of having to raise someone alone, which can be taxing on the individual. The child may turn out like me and have an attitude problem, which can be hard to correct, or they might just be fine. Of course, new people can be added to the family to help alleviate the stress. Everyone’s case is different. My life turned out to be a life of self-discovery, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Are your parents divorced? What was your experience living with divorced parents? Let me know in the comments below.