The common trend of divorce is a bigger issue than most people think. Divorce tears apart an otherwise normal family and leaves children with only one parent.

Sometimes the family is better off with only one parent, because the other parent is abusive or alcoholic. Sometimes the only way to deal with a severe problem like alcoholism or abuse is to put distance between the problem and the family. At times this solution seems to be the only one that works.

At other times, divorce is not the right answer even though it is the chosen path. Divorce hurts the family more than some think. It creates an imbalance within a child of divorced parents. Both roles that parents play are vital and when one is missing, the child misses a vital part of growing up normally. To create a balanced child who understands both genders and can empathize with problems of both is to have a product of a happy, married home.

Of course, this is assuming that staying married is the best course of action. Sometimes a child is better off being imbalanced than mistreated. It is even possible for a child to be completely normal and wholly balanced coming from a divorced parent. However unlikely it may be, it does happen.

Another thing that tends not to work out so great is absentee parenting. If a parent wants to still try to give life lessons or advice on life, it would be better done from directly next to the child in life instead of over the phone or Internet.

It is simply easier to produce happier, more balanced children when the children have two dedicated parents.

It is sad in today's society that hardly anyone stays married, and many more stay married but are miserable.

Is it that we have become more promiscuous as a society, or maybe we're all just harder to please?

Whatever the case may be, let us hope that future generations may learn from their parents' mistakes and realize a commitment is a commitment for yourself but especially for your child as well.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Peter Reindl is a sophomore at Munster High School.