Generation Divorce

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  Posted By: mfk46 @ 04/24/2008 4:08:46 PM

  I went to Grant, too, but graduated 15 years earlier. I'm also a child of divorce, and gay like David and Laurie. So did this article resonate with me, or what! When my parents split, though, I knew only one other classmate who was the child of divorce. Like Josh Gruenberg (gee, I remember your dad, the teacher--Dan, right?), I didn't tell my best friend for a week. It felt so shameful. I also didn't domestic-partner for good until my early 40s, nor did my sister marry until her mid-40s. I don't care if this piece was filled with stats or not; it's right on the money. By the way, I remember an old quote from Jodie Foster to the effect that of COURSE she believes in true love--she's a child of divorce!

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  Posted By: Not_Going_to_Make_That_Mistake @ 04/22/2008 1:47:54 PM

  Overall, I appreciated the perspective David offers in his article. However, I can't agree with the conclusions reached by some of his subjects at the end of the article. Several of them talk about being afraid to get married and wanting to wait for "the right one." Yet, most of the people quoted have had children outside of marriage. Don't they see that they're putting their children through the same ill effects of divorce that they themselves suffered? Just because they never actually made the legal commitment doesn't mean that the kids don't feel the loss or absence of a parent, emotionally, financially, socially, etc. The pieces of paper we sign (the marriage certificate, the divorce papers) don't mean a thing on their own. It's the sense of commitment, responsibility and hard work that form the foundation for a lasting marriage. All of those things are lacking for these kids, whether mom and dad ever actually married or not. Maybe their children will be wiser when they grow up and only have children with people firmly committed to their relationships.

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  Posted By: SteffieB @ 04/18/2008 1:09:40 PM

  As a child of divorce in the early 70's, I saw myself here, too. Yes, this was an anecdotal article for the most part, but I thought it was insightful, too. I spent my childhood hoping my parents would get back together, even after both had remarried -- now as an adult I have a much better understanding.
  
  DoctahS, your comment on Joanne's observation displays the myopic and oversimplified view I can only attribute to a man. Blame it on the "feminist movement". Amazing that we ever even got the right to vote, huh?