Undoubtedly, all of us were born and raised by a mother and father. Normally we must have them by our side when growing up. The existence of parents is vital for any child. Both mother and father play key roles in the psychological and emotional development of a child. “It is important to recognize that both parents bring unique strengths to their parenting roles. These roles complement each other, and are each necessary for healthy child rearing” (“The Kanaweyimik Communicator, 2”). Unfortunately, some children are deprived of this natural right.
As you know, lack of parents can result from many different reasons such as natural deaths, accidents, divorce, social and political problems, etc. Although the reasons are very essential and re searchable, here we’ll focus on the effects of the absence of parents in a child’s life. The root of most social anomalies starts from home and in early childhood. Misbehavior, aggression, depression, suicide, rejection in school, exclusion from society, lack of affection and emotional support, turning to alcohol or drugs, and many other effects can be the result of parental deprivation. To sum up, both mother and father are the role models of the children. If somebody asks me, “who was your first teacher?” Surely, I will answer, my parents. They were more than my first teachers, they were the best teachers ever.
Because of the lack of parents, children are more likely to become depressed. According to the Federal Center for Mental Health Services, depression affects as many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents. Depression is the most common effect in people who grow up without parents. According to the experts’ ideas, the incidence of depression starts to climb between ages 7 and 10. Consequently, the children usually try not to get close to other people, in fear that the person will end up hurting them. In addition, “teens growing up without parents are more vulnerable to emotional distress” (“Depression Often Starts in Childhood”). This is a hard subject for them to discuss because it forces them to recall very dark times in their lives.
Also worth noticing is children without parents feel sad during birthdays and holidays because they don’t have parties and aren’t receiving any presents. They always envy their friends who have supportive parents. This means that they are not able to relate with their friends normally, and for that reason, they are isolated. It also affects education and relationships at school. Thus, they always feel different from other kids, and this situation can create misbehavior in them.
As a result, children who grow up without parents are at a much greater risk for depression and unfortunately, suicide. “Shocking new statistics show that nearly 63% of youth suicides are associated with these cases” (“The Fatherless Generation”).
Studies in the field of behavioral problems show that the lack of parents can cause teenagers to turn to alcohol and drugs. Every person needs someone to lead him or her and to guide them with some templates of behavior, but children growing up without parents are deprived of this blessing and as a result, they face many threats in their lives. I think one of the most dangerous threats is turning to alcohol and drugs. “It’s very important for teenagers to discuss drug use with their parents because by expressing this topic, parents can guide them and give advice regarding this matter” (“The Kanaweyimik Communicator, 4”). We need to talk to adults about our problems because most likely our friends wouldn't understand.
In effect, our parents teach us with reward and punishment. How we communicate, how we socialize, how we love, how we solve problems, and how we cope with stress are all lessons taught by our parents. They are the ones who encourage us to become a decent human being. They make us cry, they make us laugh, and they push us to do well in school and life. All of these put together form our personal character and behavior. Considering that, without the key role of parents, we will not be able to recognize right from wrong.
“Researchers at Columbia University found that children having a poor relationship with their parents are 68% more likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs compared to teens in two-parent households” (“The Fatherless Generation”).
Likewise, one of the other effects in this case is the lack of love and emotional support. Love is the key to growing up and becoming an adult. It is often harder for people to show love or affection towards others if they did not receive love while growing up themselves. “You have to receive lots of love as a child to see the world from an abundance perspective rather than a scarcity perspective” (“Depression Often Starts in Childhood”).
In addition, emotional support is necessary for proper emotional development. Your parents typically ask you questions and help you process your life experiences and problems so you can move forward. Knowing that they are there to support you provides an emotional safety net. If you fall down, your parents will help you get back up, meaning failure is a learning process for those who have parental support. If you don't have parents and you fall down, no one is there to help you get up. If you fall down too many times, you may just stay down and not get up.
To conclude, parental deprivation will change a person’s mental health, decisions, and life paths. Even mutual relationships of those who faced parental deprivation can be affected, meaning they may face difficulties entering a stable long-term relationship. Growing up without parents is sometimes like being in the middle of the desert without a compass. Parental absence does have lasting fundamental effects on children's life outcomes. Therefore, it is vital for all parents to think of the future of their loved ones before giving birth. A child is very dependent on his/her mother and father. Becoming a parent is a responsibility. Take responsibility.
Works Cited
“Depression Often Starts in Childhood.” WebMD, Reviewed by Cynthia Dennison Haines, 2004,
www.webmd.com/depression/features/depression-often-starts-in-childhood#3.
“The Fatherless Generation.” IDS 302 Project, Posted by Sabrina, 23 April.2010,
www.thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com.
“The Kanaweyimik Communicator.” Kanaweyimik’s Counselling Corner, Sep.2015,
www.kanaweyimik.com/mrws/filedriver/Newsletter_September_2015.pdf.