The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-21
Burdens Put
on Children
byDiUOrces
BY MARTHA LEE

If there is any situation at all
where that "sins of our fathers
proverb can be hooked up WITH
little or no effort it is in the case
Of divorce. I'm not the one to in
sist that persons stay together afte
life becomes unbearable, but 1 Ger
tainly do insist that. in the case O.
q divorce in a family where there
are children, the more the children
are considered in the case, the
cetter.
When couple is childless, and
there is no ones happiness to con-
cider but the individual man and
woman, a divorce may have only
Slight bearing upon the lives Of one
or the other. But children reac1
differently to this. 1t is breaking
the routine of life as they see IL
around them. 1t is robbing then
of part of their childhood that is
as important as eating at regular
hours, or exercise or sleeping.
And each individual child must
be considered in the affair. Some
children would be little affected
by the change In their home life
Others more sensitive to changes
might be so affected that it woulI
influence the rest of their lives.
Individualism, that much touted
virtue among older folk, is totally
lacking in most children. They are
uncomfortable and unhappy when
they are not dressed like other chif-
dren, when they have not the same
toys, the same books and most i'm
portant of all these, the same kind
of home-life. If a break must come
in a family, it would be wise ami
humane for parents to wait until
the divorce would not make so much
difference.
I have a letter from a young
boy today, which illustrates better
than words, just how divorce car
affect a child who is sensitive.
Dear Miss Lee:
am IS years old and a senior in high
school. Eighteen is old to still be in high
school, but as the letter continues. you
viii understand that 1t is not because I
am utterly stupid.
When was 10 my mother and father
decided definitely they would not make a
go of things any longer and so they we're
divorced. Unfortunately for me. was an
only child. I was 'signed over to my
mother. with three months out of each
year to be spent with my father.
Their divorce was not one OF these
friendly arrangements, for when they
finally separated they bore positive
hatred for one another. AS a consequence,
when I am with my mother hear moth
ing. every time my fathers name comes
into the conversation, but bitter things
said about him. and vice versa. Now
like them both lot, and it annoys me to
have them talk about each other the way
they do
After their divorce, my mother decided
she would like to travel bit. so 1 was
sent to my father. I. entered school, and
before I had gotten started well, mother
came back and I was sent back to her.
And that's the way it's been ever since.
I'm not in one place long enough to make
anything more than chance acquaintance
and certainly not long enough to get my
balance enthusiastically.
am, of course. under their Jurisdiction
until I'm 81. And I'm sure fed up on
being shipped around from place to place
like choice antique that they don't want
to get out Of the family. There is no
special advice 1 am seeking. because after
all, there is nothing to be done until I'm
81. I'm writing this to ask the mothers
and fathers who are contemplating divorce
to think of the poor kids. It's hard on
them. and I don't mean maybe.
RAMBLER.
That's tough break, Rambler.
but bear with things. 1 only hope
that your letter will help to hold
some childS family together and
the more, the better. or perhaps 1
should have said the longer the
better. You're a good soldier.