their lives and with each other are far less likely to be abusive. Studies have shown that single parent homes are more likely because of the stress on the parent of being alone. On the other hand though, homes with unhappy marriages are even more susceptible to violence. (Encarta 3) More than anything though, it depends on the maturity, background and personality of the individual parent. On a personal note, I have myself watched over the past few years, a family that I am very involved with fall apart as a result of abuse. These children, two sons and two daughters, experienced more abuse than I ever thought possible in one family. Each of them were continuously beaten from the time they could walk till their father left in 1997. Both girls were each sexually abused at least once in their childhood. All four were undeniably neglected of emotional support, educational and medical needs, money, food and especially love. Now, as Ive watched the four victims of their parents ignorance grow up, I see an inevitable tragedy. The oldest son, 19, did not make it through high school, He has not held a job for longer than two weeks in his whole life, he has a serious drug problem and now, has no place to live. The next son, 17, suffers from a more severe drug addiction and he also will not graduate from high school. But unlike his older brother, he does have somewhere to live. Six months ago, he was sentenced to spend three years in a juvenile detention home when his mother turned him in to the police for drug trafficking. Unfortunately, these authorities were not aware that until very recently, that same mother was one of his best customers. The third child, a 15 year-old-girl, had the most promising future of all, until recently. Currently she is 6 months pregnant, despite her mothers constant pleas to abort the baby. She has dropped out of high school and is now working at Kentucky Fried Chicken so she can save up money. Shell definitely ...
