Nothing worse can happen in a child’s life than living with parents who are fighting for divorce; nothing more traumatic could be the experience of a juvenile than spending time in a broken family. A broken home is nothing but a child’s nightmare. A Supreme Court Bench seems to have come face-to-face with this reality while hearing a divorce case, prompting it to warn the couple against destroying the childhood of their kids. In a recent order, the Court observed: “Torn between their parents, children are left confused, and they lose the bond they should have with their siblings. We always say that these are not the cases for a court to adjudicate. When a couple has a fallout and they come to a court, everything is hit below the belt.”

The concept of family is complete when parents and children live together, respecting and loving one another. Neither high education nor sound financial position can save the marriage from disintegrating. It is love for each other and willingness to make compromises that keep the institution of marriage intact. At times, ego clashes could unsettle the ‘house boat’. But parents should have the magnanimity to bury such irritants for a safe ride. Researches have proved that children who live in broken families are more prone to depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. Once they fall into the depth of such disorders, they would not be able to concentrate on anything. 

There is yet another danger that comes along with a broken family. The parents, in their attempt to show each other in poor light, drag the children to false cases and fake issues. A recent case that came to light in Kerala proves this point. A man, who got married for the second time without getting divorce from the first wife, apparently made one of his minor sons from the first marriage to file a case against his mother alleging sexual assault. Such instances shatter the lives of children beyond return. Moved by self-interest, parents give a damn to the impact of their uncouth act. It is immaterial whether the divorce takes place amicably or after a period of violent bouts between the partners. It permanently alters the original family and children will find themselves in completely alien situations with increased burden. Often, they are not prepared for this drastic change thrust upon them.   

The impact of a broken family can be gauged from the fact that most of the children sent to remand or juvenile homes are from such families. Those children grow up with pent up feelings of anger and neglect, pushing them into wayward behaviour. When children see that they do not have a complete family they can call their own, they chart their own course which often end up in dark tunnels. A home is where family lives. It is the basic unit of a society. If it flounders, the biggest adverse impact will be on children. Parents should realise that their ‘broken promises’ not only split their lives but cause irreparable damage to their children’s lives too. This realization should help them keep the ‘knot’ once tied intact.