by Thomas M. Loarie (Danville, CA, USA)
I became a single parent of a 13 year old son and a ten year old daughter when my wife of 16 years decided to pursue a “new” life 400 miles away from
our home.
I spent a great deal of time and money doing what I could to minimize the damage that abandonment and divorce would have on my children. I came to
know Judith Wallerstein and her 30 year Ford Foundation-funded longitudinal-study of the effects of divorce on both parents and children. Her books,
“Second Chances,” and “The Legacy of Divorce: 25 years later” are must reads for anyone who is contemplating divorce or who has suffered from divorce
(again parent or child). A protege of hers, Elizabeth Marquardt, also authored a book, “Between Two Worlds,” that I highly recommend. These are
also great books for those involved in family counseling.
Finally, Mitch Pearlstein, former deputy secretary of the Department of Education, added another important book, “From Family Collapse to America’s
Decline,” that deals with government policy, unwed mothers, incarceration, poverty, and education. All who have been touched by divorce and remain
open to changing the direction of our country will find this useful. Pearlstein presents the evidence and connects the dots.
Educate yourself and get involved. The family is becoming extinct.
