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November 11, 2005
Divorce
After seeing Issac deal wtih a divorce in Empress of the World, and watching and listening to this presentation, how would a parent's divorce affect a child? How would a divorce shape their view of the world? How did you feel after watching it?
-Kimberly Dolan and Sandy Briscoe
Posted by Sandra Briscoe at November 11, 2005 01:22 PM | Empress of the World
Comments
The music emphasized the depth and range of feelings associated with children of divorce. The images/words were simple enough to focus on, and profound in the context of your presentation.
"They spun a web for me....they spun a web for me."
"and here I am just caught in the middle."
These are excellent glimpses of the complexities bound up in dissolved relationships when you have lives depending on a whole support system.-
-Sad.
Posted by: Mary F. Wright at November 14, 2005 03:07 PM
I think that divorce effects children in more ways than adults are aware of at the time. When their parents go through a divorce, the entire environment surrounding that child becomes unstable, different, intimidating, confusing. This has a great impact on how the child develops. I think that how the child turns out has everything to do with how they view the circumstance and their attitude toward how they are going to overcome, learn, and become stronger because of this. It is a very sad idea, especially since it happens so often...
Posted by: Robin at November 15, 2005 05:09 PM
Amazing choice of music, it really highlighted the feelings and the mood of some children of divorce.
Specifically, and I think Mary mentioned it before: "They spun a web for me"
This line hits on the fact that children of divorce are not in control of their own circumstances, which is completely terrifying, especially at a time of adolescence, when we struggle with a million other issues. Thinking of Isaac, he was trying to sort through all of his changing emotions, his place in his life, and then he had much of his stability removed. It is horribly sad to think of the effects of divorce on children, but I do believe there is an up side to divorce as well-- if children grow up watching their parents fight and have a dysfunctional relationship, I think that's also pretty devestating to their future lives.
Basically, I just really believe people should be absolutely sure of what they're doing when they wed and have children. The effects of a marriage dissolving are immeasureable.
Posted by: Randi at November 20, 2005 02:18 PM
I think divorce sends a lot of mixed messages to the children involved. Children become confused as to why thieir parents could not love each other while other friend's parents can. I think they often wonder if they played some role in the reasons for the divorce and even sometimes begin blaming themselves for this reason. Children in divorced families often times get stuck between the two parents who both tell the children why they should be with them and not the other parent, only furthering the confusion. I think divorce can also lead children to growing up believing that they are going to end up down the same path, or with fears of commitment because of the pain they have experienced because of relationships. These are merely my observations, as I have not in fact experienced a divorce.
Posted by: Nate Miller at December 4, 2005 10:48 PM
The music and images were quite powerful and made, for me, an image and mood while thinking about the affects of divorce. I think in some cases divorce can be a "good" thing if parents are not providing a safe and secure environment for their children, then maybe its best they aren't together, however, divorce, I think always is something children have or will have a tough time understanding. There is always the, "well was it my fault" thing which is a common misconception children have when their parents are getting a divorce. I guess because I haven't experienced divorce first hand it is difficult to really describe the magnitude of how a child may feel after or during a divorce. When any relationship dissolves I think there are questions floating around in everyone's mind, the real challenge is for the parents to be able to resolve their differences enough to still provide a safe, loving, and healthy environment for their children, even if that means they can't be together.
Posted by: Erin at December 7, 2005 08:14 AM
I feel that a parent's divorce effects a child in many ways. A child might feel that they did something wrong to make this happen and not know what side to take if the parents are asking for their input. I feel that it puts a huge tole on a child's life emotionally as well as physically. They become a lot more quieter and self-absorbed. I feel that a divorce would shape a childs view of the world by maybe making it a worse place to live in as it once was or maybe making it a better place by not having the parents living together. Even though I haven't had to deal with divorce with my parents, a couple of my close friends have and i've seen the depressing effects it can have on an adolescent. I felt that i learned a lot after watching the presentation. It was very well put together.
Posted by: Brittany at December 12, 2005 03:33 PM
This was an extremely powerful depiction of the pain and confusion that can be experienced with a divorce. Like the cartoon included in the movie, often times children, particulary young children, become afraid that their parents will also stop loving them and are confused, like Isaac, about why this is happening and is it their fault? A divorce can shape a child's world because when the see love end between their parents, their value of marriage and love itself can change. They can also become isolated and very emotionally distraught if they no longer get to see one parent very often. Their family is separated, and that is never easy for anyone. I felt very melancholy afterward. I grew up witnessing several of my close friends' parents get divorced, and I can only imagine what that must feel like.
Posted by: Rachel at December 18, 2005 11:46 AM