Families are not perfect. They experience misunderstandings and conflicts due to various factors. These problems can happen between parents and children, among the kids or among the parents. Some of the most common causes of these family woes include lack of communication, financial pressures, alcoholism, anti-Christian culture, divorce and lack of balance between work and family among others.
Miscommunication
When communication lines are not open, there’s bound to be some miscommunication which can lead to misunderstandings. As such, it is important to ensure that all family members is heard, understood and valued. A study published in the 2003 Journal of Family Issues noted that many couples admit that communication problems as leading causes for divorce.
In line with this issue, parents should also make it a point not to fight in front of their kids as it can only upset the young ones. Grown-up children, however, can tell their parents about how they feel or seek the help of a close friend or a professional if the fight become physical.
Divorce and Remarriage
“Divorce also has devastating effects to a family,” said Tony Dunne, a San Diego family law attorney. It causes anxiety and worse, even depression which can lead children to perform poorly in school and develop feelings of insecurity or anger. Some kids admit that seeing their parents divorce is their most painful childhood experience the reason why they need all the love and support they can get from both parents.
On the other hand, the remarriage of a parent can also cause confusion among children. The initial stage can be awkward as the child adjusts to the step-parent. In this case, parents should sit down and talk to their kids about the situation and assure them of their continued love and support. It’s a good idea as well to point out that you are not replacing the other parent.
Alcoholism
Having an alcoholic parent can also give problems to children. Kids can feel sad or neglected especially if the parent is not able to care for them or give them the attention they need. But children should not feel guilty and should instead seek the help of the other parent or talk to a close relative they trust to help the problematic parent. Also, parents should always avoid drinking as often as they like in front of their children as it’s a bad influence.
Anti-Christian Culture
On the religious aspect, the anti-Christian culture has also been noted as one of the top issues families face today. With kids exposed to so much social media these days, they have developed their own beliefs and are easily swayed by what they see other people do notably those that show outrageous behavior.
Below is an infographic on the effects of divorce on children.
