Problem Definition & Problem Analysis

         The  Webster dictionary defines divorce as “ The action or an instance of legally dissolving a marriage.” However, there are a series of consequences that can be developed when the marriage involve children. As an adult, we cope in different ways when our family somehow is torn apart. It would not be less excruciating for the children. According to Jayna Solinger, one of the biggest problems that divorce imposes on children is the decision of whom to live with. Usually parents divorce when children are small and the children have no say in where they go (Solinger). Also, because a child will be living with only one parent, consequently the relationship with the other parent can be somehow damaged.
   

The article Effects of Divorce on Children written by Christina Gregorie, explains the reaction of each age group. Children under the age of 5 have various reactions depending on their personality. These kids will probably have one of these responses; they will: Cry. Then, they will act as if they didn’t hear about the divorce. Change the subject. That's because they want to stop their feelings. Show no emotion. Then, they will leave the room to process their feelings. (Parents should continue to reach out to this type of quiet child.) When young children need to understand the world around them, they use toys and play. For little ones, play is work. Parents need to use playtime, art, and stories to talk to young children. Children over 5 or 6 will usually either: “Get sad and cry”, “Get angry and yell”. After this initial reaction, a school age child will either: “Ask questions immediately”, “Stomp out of the room” and come back with questions. (Possibly, several times). Parents of schoolchildren should be prepared to answer these two common questions: "Can I still see my Daddy if he moves away?", "Will Mommy and I have enough money to live on, if Daddy moves away?". An adolescent’s reaction will probably be extreme. Teens who hear about their parents’ divorces will probably react in one of three ways: Intense anger. Then, they will scream something like: "Why are you trying to ruin my life?" Tears and bitterness. Then, they'll give a sad retort like: "How can you do this to me? It’s so unfair." Have no visible reaction. Then, they will add a nonchalant quip like: "Who cares, anyway?" (With this child, parents must brace themselves for a major backlash) (Gregorie).
        
Some children will understand that braking vows without a second thought is ok, and will believe that it would be correct if it happens to me too. Children are like sponges they learn and develop everything they see and hear. Some of them will understand from this experience that they do not have to work out their problems, as long as they can run away.

Aline Barros.

Criterion

Criterion

$500,000.00 – Create awareness to reach parents in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Why Divorce Affects Children?

A child's perception of divorce will be largely determined by age and gender, as

 well as the child’s history of stress and coping. When stressful events out weigh

 the positives memories, even the most resilient child can develop problems. Some experts suggests that certain factors may make some 

children more at risk for maladjustment than other children. Some are

 unalterable and some existed before divorce.  Almost everyone agrees that divorce affects all the children

 in the family at some time and to some degree. Some effects of divorce emerge

 rapidly following separation and some of these increase over the first years 

following divorce and then decline; still other may emerge later.

      

Almost everyone agrees that divorce affects all the children in the family at 

some point. Some effects of divorce emerge rapidly following

 separation and some of these increase over the first years following divorce and

 then decline; still other may emerge later. Another factor is that the non-custodial 

parent, usually the father, tends to progressively disengage from his children over

the years following a divorce, both geographically and emotionally. A nurturing

father-child relationship is crucial for children' long term development. Without

such a relationship, children may experience emotional frustration and confusion.  

As indicated earlier, inter-parental conflict has powerful direct effects on 

children functioning. A rule of thumb is the greater the conflict between 

divorcing parents, the greater the number of problems the children will

 experience. Findings from several research studies indicate that certain effects of

divorce are quite persistent even when a wide range of pre-divorce conditions is

considered. 

Children can sometimes experience what might be called the “sleeper

effect”. They recover rather quickly following the divorce, but because of denied

feelings at a subconscious level, feelings about the divorce may emerge at some

point later in life. It is a delayed reaction. Professional counselors have shown that

all kinds of traumatic experiences of childhood can be repressed in the

subconscious. For example, sexual abuse or physical abuse might be “forgotten”

for a number of years and emerge at some later point in adulthood. The same can 

be true of the trauma caused by divorce.

Nooshin Pourkarim

Where Does Divorce affect the family?

Divorce occurs when the two parents seize living together as husband and wife after the hearings in the court. According to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the effects of divorce on children varies from child to child.  First, insecure and afraid of future whereby children start to wonder what will happen next, whether they will have enough food to eat, go to a new school whether they will loose their pet or still see their friends hence otherwise being fret about all the things that are important in their world.  Furthermore, they feel rejected and unloved by the parent who has left.  Also, they believe that they are at fault in that they did something that was not right hence causing their parents divorce.

To some, they undergo an emotional effect:  for instance anger which is caused by lack of understanding or acceptance of the divorce. However, these children can be helped in certain ways in order to accept the changes in their life, and the way the parent talk to their children about divorce is important. They should be monitored the way they think about divorce hence nipping these emotions in the bud.  In addition  to being monitored, the parent should also watch their own behavior ensuring that they do not overestimate their children's maturity henceforth being available to their children thus keeping their negative feelings about their spouse under wraps. Finally, parents should also discuss about divorce with their children even though it is painful.  This will enhance the relationship with their children.

Jacklyn Ngesa

Who is affected by the Divorce? And What are the effects of Divorce?

The answer is everyone. Parents, children, even closest friend and relatives feel the emotional, and not comfortable ride a divorce can be. The effects of divorces can be short term or long term. According the Family Science Department at the University of Maryland, Children have less access to an absent parent’s resources if the parent is divorced.Divorce brings instability to children’s lives – new family arrangements, new residence, new schools, and the psychological toll of a change in family structure may have especially harsh effects on children of divorce.
In statistics provided by Maryland Circuit Court, a total of 15,778 divorces and annualments were performed in 2009. Montgomery County holds the number of 2,358 divorces in 2009. The situation will take a long time to heal, and it is a process that will involve, whether someone like or not, more than only two people.

Aline Barros.

 What are the effects of Divorce?

When it comes to divorce, children are always the first to be effected by it. There is an universal assumption that the supports and caring of both parents are instrumental to the children's growth. However, the inability of children to cope with  living without one of their biological parents has often hindered this process. One of the effects that divorce exerted on children is the psychological well-being of the children. Children of the divorced parents will have difficult time establish stable and satisfying relationship with others. These children could also have poorer academic performances comparing to the children from non-divorce family.

Yizhuc

How are they affected?

Children from a divorced couple are generally emotionally disturbed. It might not be seen right away, surely can be seen in the future. A child who was use to see both parents together does not understand why and how one of the parents is not there anymore; especially when he(she) is a small child. According to Scott J. South and Stewart E. Tolnay in their book, "The changing of American Family", “Children feel left out when parents are getting divorce; and this situation leads to instability in emotional contact." 

In addition, these children become very violent and go easily on the road and do drugs because they don’t trust any body. Also, they can be home not on the street, but they can tempt to commit suicide, so the reaction is very diverse depending on one to another. It is very easy to see an outgoing child to switch to ashy one because of divorce. In addition, the school results can show very well how serious children are affected by parent’s separation. In conclusion, divorce has a bad impact on children, it’s disturbed them emotionally and their behavior can change automatically or later on.

Divorce is an act of dissolution, the cease, the break, or the termination of the act of marriage.  The separation of two people causes many damages; consequences are very intense on the concerned adults and kids as well.
The two parties can be disturbed financially, emotionally, physically, and so on…But the situation is awful when kids are involved, because adults cannot control kid’s reaction after the separation, and reactions depend on one kid to another. Kid’s behavior can change due to divorce, they can become aggressive, very shy, or attempt to suicide. Kids are lost when their parents get divorce, because they consider their parents like their role model, and also their emotion are very troubled since they cannot see one party of the people that they love the more on the earth. School results are a good sign of how children can be disturbed. In fact, the separation, or the divorce has a bad impact on children. They are emotionally troubled and the change of their behavior is the good sign to show how serious is the damage

Mwamba Nkulu.

• Town Hall Meeting, with Guest Speaker Dr. Phill held at Marriott Bethesda, Maryland ( Mwamba Nkulu);
• PTA Meeting at various Montgomery County Elementary School ( Nooshin Poukarim);
• Concert with Local Artist from Montgomery County, Maryland ( Jacklyn Ngesa) ;
• Walk in the city of Rockville, Maryland (Yizhuc Chen);
• Blog ( Aline Barros).