9 Children On The Devastating Moment They Learned Their Parents’ Marriage Was Over

The Cut recently featured nine women who shared the “Moment They Knew Their Marriage Was Over.” However, what our society often neglects to mention is the lifelong impact of divorce on children. We tend to prioritize parents’ happiness over their children’s need for stability and continuity. In this article, we hear from nine individuals who were profoundly affected by their parents’ decision to call it quits.

Samantha, 59, from Michigan

At 17, Samantha’s mother informed her she was divorcing her father. She believed the family fighting would stop; instead, she struggled with feeling unlovable and abandoned.

Ava, 23, from Minnesota

Ava was 11 when her mother shared that she was leaving, and Ava felt guilty by association.

Chapman, 31, from Utah

Chapman was five when her parents split, and she felt unstable and confused. Her dad eventually remarried and she felt replaceable; now, she struggles with anxiety and PTSD.

Rachael, 34, from California

When Rachael was 19, her brother was 15 and her sister was 14 when their parents got divorced. Their dad disappeared, and they haven’t seen him since. Both siblings now struggle with addiction.

Jennifer, 29, from Indiana

Jennifer had never known what it was like to have a father in her life, so as a married woman, she finds it challenging to trust and commit fully to relationships.

Gabriel, 27, from Australia

Gabriel felt like the second parent when his father told him about the divorce at 13. The divorce led him to have suicidal tendencies; however, his faith and therapy have helped him process his emotions.

Faye, 34, from Illinois

Faye was seven when her parents divorced, and everything from relationships to everyday decisions has been shaped by the divorce.

Allie, 30, from Florida

Allie was 13 when her dad informed her and her sister that their parents were divorcing. She felt like she had become the “second parent” and struggled with mental health issues when her father began dating other women.

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