Divorce laws have evolved over centuries from only allowing divorce for causes like adultery to broader acceptance and regulation of divorce through state laws. Currently about half of first marriages in the US end in divorce. Divorce affects both parents and children, with common parental issues including emotional distress, unhealthy coping habits, and social isolation. Children of divorce often experience lower self-esteem, difficulty with relationships, feelings of responsibility for the divorce, and behavioral or academic problems. Effective co-parenting with open communication helps children adjust after a divorce.

1. By: Rachel Dibble
http://www.peoplerecords.com/divorce-records/

2. History:
• seventeenth century:
▫ Puritans decided marriage was a civil contract that
could be broken under certain circumstances
 adultery, cruelty, and long absence (At Issue: “Long
divorce”).
• 1800’s,
▫ almost all states enacted divorce laws and additional
grounds were granted (Trends in Divorce: “Divorce in
America”).
• 1900’s
▫ Over 55,000 marriages ended in divorce (Trends in
Divorce: “Divorce in America”).

3. What is Divorce and why does/did
mom and dad get one?
• -divorce is the legal and final dissolution of a
marriage.
• common problems that result into divorce are:
▫ They’re growing apart
▫ They feel unloved from the partner
▫ Unappreciated
▫ Finances
▫ Too much miscommunication
▫ Violent spouses
▫ (At Issue: “Divorce”)

4. Facts:
• Yes marriage vows usually include the phrase, “till
death do us part,” about half of all first marriages in
the U.S. end in divorce. That’s 50%!
(Divorce: Current Issues, 2010)
• age, education, and social class are factors
▫ ex) Likelihood of Divorce:
Who? More or less likely for divorce?
Older couples Less likely
Less educated (will have money More likely
problems)
Living with spouse before marriage More likely
▫ (Trends of Divorce: “Factors of Divorce”)

5. http://seniorjournal.com/Features.htm

6. U.S. compared to the rest of the world
http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/YouthIndicators/Demographics.html

7. Effects on Parents:
• Almost all divorced couples experience some of
the following emotional distress:
▫ Anxiety
▫ Fear
▫ Anger during and after divorce (Consequences of
Divorce: “Effects on Divorced Couples”).

8. Future expectations of successful
marriages:
http://captaincapitalism.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html

9. Habits of Parents After Divorce:
• Overeating
• Smoking All common up
• Increased drinking to 2 years after
• Sleeplessness the divorce.
• Nervousness
• All of the above can lead to
▫ Loss of friendships and increased isolation and
loneliness (A Kid’s Guide to Divorce).

10. Facts of the Effects on Children:
• Young people whose parents are divorced are
more likely to leave home earlier because of
family difficulties.
• Boys tend to suffer greater emotional and
psychological problems following a divorce than
do girls (Consequences of Divorce: “Effects on
Children”).

11. Effects On The Kids Of A Divorce:
• Low self-esteem
• Problems with relationships (trust issues)
• Feeling like they’re the problem
• Depression
• Problems coping with issues between parents
• Relocation between parents for certain periods
of time
• Being the “reporters” and “messengers” between
parents at visits.

12. Problems in kids and teens resulting from
bad handling of divorce from parents and
kids
• Sleep problems
• Poor concentration
• Trouble at school
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Self-injury/cutting
• eating disorders
• Frequent angry or violent outbursts
• Withdrawal from loved ones
• Refusal of loved activities.
http://www.familylawcollaborativedivorce.co.uk/articles/children-divorce/

13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parent_Trap_%281998_film%29
What kids sometimes think during
or after their parents separate:
• Life doesn’t work like the movies.
▫ You won’t be able to change your parent’s minds
about the divorce
• You can’t fix your parent’s divorce
▫ Acting differently to get your parent’s to work
together won’t make the divorce go away (A Kid’s
Guide to Divorce: “Kids Can’t Fix Divorce”).
• “it’s not your fault.”
▫ Have you ever felt like it was your fault?

14. How can kids and parents work
together through a divorce?
• Parents leaving the kids
out of marital problems
• Talking together on:
▫ A visiting schedule (if not
already set in custody
claims)
▫ agreeing to work things out
and communicate
▫ Family counseling (with
both parents)
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-08/entertainment/17942984_1_parents-study-pediatrics

15. How can parents try to fix things before
the mention of divorce comes up?
• Marriage counseling
• Improve communication skills
▫ take time to discuss the problems and come up
with a comprable solution for BOTH people
• Desire:
▫ Nothing can get done or overcome if one or both
people in the relationship don’t want it to work, or
don’t try to make it better

16. Marriage counseling funny:
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directo
ry/c/conflicting_occupations.asp

17. What you should know as of today:
• “I believe essays”
 For those of you who suffer from a divorced family,
and whether your situation is good or a bit harder
than others, please remember, you’re NOT alone.

18. Family is always there, but with family
issues, you sometimes need your second
family, whether you’re
Young ...or… Old
http://clarelafferty.wordpress.com/2 http://mindofmyown-supernova.blogspot.com/2011/01/friends-
011/08/26/the-value-of-friends/ forever.html

19. Citations:
• "Divorce." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale
Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Dec. 2011.
• "Changes in U.S. Marriage and Divorce Since 1960." Encyclopedia of Sociology. 2nd ed. New
York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Dec.
2011.
• ProQuest Staff. "At Issue: Divorce." ProQuest LLC. 2011: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.
22 Dec 2011.
• "Archived: Youth Indicators, 1993 - Demographics and Family Composition." U.S. Department
of Education. National Center for Health Services, 1990. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
<http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/YouthIndicators/Demographics.html>.
• Pew Research Center. "Senior Journal - Features." Senior Citizen News and Information Daily
On The Web at SeniorJournal.com. Pew Research Center, 15 Dec. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
<http://seniorjournal.com/Features.htm>.
• Capitalism, Captainn. "October 2011." Captain Capitalism. Captain Capitalism, 8 Oct. 2011.
Web. 10 Jan. 2012. <http://captaincapitalism.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html>.
• Block, Jocelyn, Gina Kemp, Melinda Smith, and Jeanne Segal. "Children and Divorce: Helping
Your Kids Cope with the Effects of Separation and Divorce." Helpguide Helps You Help
Yourself to Better Mental and Emotional Health. Oct. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divorce.htm>.
• People Records. "Divorce Records." Background Checks. People Records America's
Background Checks, 2007. Web. 10 Jan. 2012. <http://www.peoplerecords.com/divorce-
records/>.
• Wikipedia contributors. "Parent Trap." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia, 3 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Jan. 2012.

20. • Sharp, Richard. "Bath Divorce Solicitors : Sharp Family Law : UK Collaborative
Law & Family Mediation : England Civil Partnerships & Cohabitation : Children
& Divorce : Family Law Collaborative Divorce Blog." Family Law Collaborative
Divorce Blog : Bath Divorce Solicitors : Sharp Family Law : UK Collaborative
Law & Family Mediation : Bristol, Swindon & Southern England. Richard
Sharp, 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.familylawcollaborativedivorce.co.uk/articles/children-divorce/>.
• Chernikoff, Leah. "Too Late for Birds and Bees? Many Parents Give 'the Talk'
after Teens Become Sexually Active - New York Daily News." Featured Articles
From The New York Daily News. Daily News Staff, 8 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Jan.
2012. <http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-
08/entertainment/17942984_1_parents-study-pediatrics>.
• Kohl, Joe. "Conflicting Occupations Cartoons and Comics." CartoonStock -
Cartoon Pictures, Political Cartoons, Animations. Cartoon Stock. Web. 10 Jan.
2012.
<http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/c/conflicting_occupations.asp>.
• Lafferty, Clare. "The Value of Friends « Random Thoughts from Scripture."
Random Thoughts from Scripture. Clare Lafferty, 26 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Jan.
2012. <http://clarelafferty.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/the-value-of-friends/>.
• Supernova. "F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Forever." Mind of My Own. Google Images, 26 Jan.
2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2012. <http://mindofmyown-
supernova.blogspot.com/2011/01/friends-forever.html>.
• "A Kids Guide To Divorce." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about
Children's Health. Michele New, Jan. 2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.
<http://kidshealth.org>.