This paper will also examine the reasons a father abandons his family, suggest possible reforms to reduce the numbers of fatherless families in the future and discuss the controversial topic of divorcing a parent. American fathers are more removed from family life today than ever before in our history. There are two proximate reasons for the recent outbreak of fatherlessness. The first is a sharp increase in the divorce rate. One out of every two marriages in the United States fails.
Fathers leave for many reasons.
They can range from repeating a cycle of their own agonized childhood, to low self-esteem, to desires to start a new life with another woman who does not desire his baggage . Whatever the reason for leaving may be, the effects of his leaving scar the child for the remainder of his or her life. When my father left, he took everything with him. He cleared out bank accounts and cancelled the credit cards. My mother was left with three children, ranging from nine to sixteen years old, with no income and a mortgage to pay.