Post 1: "A Tree With Broken Branches"

A family consists of people, not necessarily blood related, who are faithful to you whether you’ll be or not. They give you the fullness of joy and make you cry because of such laughter. They are the reason why you exist and they will be with you no matter what. But what would you feel if one of your parents leaves not because they need to go, but because they want to? How does it feel to be a part of a broken family? How do people who grow up into this situation react to this?

Being in a broken family would be one of the hardest parts in someone’s life. No man wants to be placed into a situation where one can’t find a shoulder to cry on or another heart to share your happiness with. I, myself, have experienced this situation. My dad used to work abroad to support the needs of the family, while my mom chose to stay at home and fulfill her role as a house wife. Though at an early age my dad had left us because for another woman and my mom was force to leave and work in abroad to support my needs. Because of this, I had to adjust to different guardians’ ways of raising their children. Now that I’m older and able to think on my own, I still wonder how it would feel to grow up in a ‘stereotypical’ kind of family.

They say that people find closure in others who can relate to their own experiences. As I was reading different articles regarding people who have experienced the same things as I have, I found an article that had sparked interest in me. Alaissa Nerriel’s blog in Blogger, “broken family article”, had caught my attention. It inspired me to think more about my situation, and how to overcome it. She gave her own insight about what a family is and stated the difference between a complete and broken family. Though in her article, I've noticed that it was obvious she was simply stating facts but not out of experience. In my blog, I want to share my own opinions and feelings regarding this topic.

The article shows that a home is not a home without the bond that each of the family members share physically, emotionally, socially and manifests and affects through each of the member's lives. The people who are a part of a complete family have more of a chance to be with both set of parents, who can look after their children with more love and attention than those with a broken family. Most often, these children graduate with flying colors, and are more than capable of handling their problem head on.

Meanwhile, those within a broken family are a complete contrast. Teenagers that grew up in a broken family do not graduate, and suffer from emotional stress, depression and most often lead to suicide. But not everyone from a broken family grew up in negativity, as some have learned through their experience and led them to success. It is because of their experience living in a broken home inspired them to have a happier family than the ones they grew up in.

But for me, it doesn't matter if one is in a broken family; it all depends on the parent who handles the situation, whether or not they've given the warmth of their love for their children to make up the lack of another leading adult, and how they handle their situation. If they go through it with confidence and careful thought, I think the child will grow up as normal as any children that grew up in a normal and complete home.

“The impact of having a broken home usually manifests in the adolescence of the child experiencing the trauma of separation. It may cause an internal conflict which may result to depression, anxiety, disobedience, aggression and low self-esteem. “

According to Alaissa Nerriel’s blog, it would create a big impact on a person’s life to experience this. My mom always says, “Everything starts in a place where you call home”. I have been in a point where I felt insecure with my classmates, who all came with both their parents during school events, distribution of class cards, recognition and all. But my mom always assured me that I shouldn't feel as such. She always made me feel that I’m precious and secured, that I’m the best among the rest. She never spoiled me, and she disciplines me without going too far. Single parents must show more affection to their children, as well as explain things at the right time as to not make things complicated, and tell it when it's already too late.

Well for me, being in a complete or broken family does not matter as long as the love and affection in the family is present. All the child needs is more love, special care, extra time, attention and emotional support. My family is my weakness and in my situation, I made my weakness to be my strength. Let your weakest point be your strength. Misunderstandings, problems and circumstances are really part of any relationship; it’s how you handle situations. In the end, they’re still your family no matter what.