Well, for anyone who has been raised in a family with their parents divorced, or has been raised by a single parent, I think you can relate to my essay
Statistics say “children of divorce are twice more likely to become high school drop outs, three times more prone to becoming pregnant out of wedlock, five times more likely to be impoverished, and twelve times more capable of becoming incarcerated.”[1] Divorce has been an issue not just for married couples, but for the children who have no choice but to face the consequences they had no part of inducing. However, there are a few exceptions of children with divorced parents, who are successful and override the statistics--I am proud to say that I am one of those.
Growing up, I remember the difficulties of not having a father in my life. The title “daddy’s girl” never existed in my vocabulary. I never received a hard-earned pat on the back for making a homerun at a softball game, nor did I experience the enjoyment of any athletics whatsoever. I never lived with a male role model at home, or saw the image of what a successful marriage was like. All in all, I didn’t receive the benefits of a two-parent home, or the “leave it to beaver” upbringing I had so often witnessed, rather I had something equally, if not more, fulfilling.
Although it’s true that the outlooks for children raised by two parents are brighter than those raised by single parents, I have concluded that statistics, calculations, and quantities can only say so much. What about the in-depth lifestyle of those individuals who don’t fall under the negative notion of those percentages? Because I was raised only by my mother, I have gained more strength as an individual just by observing her victories through trials and tribulations. Because I lived without a father, I gained more love and empathy for those who have suffered through similar means. Because I lived in a single parent home, I’ve grown incredibly close to my mother, who is truly my best friend, rather than divide my love amongst numerous family members. Obviously, I’ve chosen to look at the positive aspects of my upbringing; rather than focusing on what I don’t have, I focus on what I do have. Likewise, I hold an abundance of appreciation for my mother who has done countless sacrifices, and provided enough affection at home to satisfy my every emotional need. Not once did I feel neglected, because her love was a blanket that sheltered me from the harmful aftermath of divorce, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Statistics can tell me I’m more prone to become pregnant, or live in poverty, or end up in prison. However, I choose which paths to take in life, and the results of others, with similar upbringings, do not need to affect my future. I am an individual who’s been blessed to have a mother that’s played both parental roles simultaneously, with victory. Likewise, each adolescent, who’s been raised by a single parent, has a choice to override what statistics state--I am proud to say that I am one of those.
[1] Crouch, John. "Children of divorce: All kinds of problems." Divorce Reform Page. 15 Sept. 2004. Americans for Divorce Reform. 15 Sept. 2005 <http://www.divorcereform.org/all.html>.
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You are lucky that for you it happened this way. There are many cases that 'respect' the statistics, though; but there are also a lot of children coming from families with both parents that can be just as prone to all the things you mentioned.