..the CHILDREN.

the average marriage lasts 7 years. 60% of all marriages in US end in DIVORCE. that means more than half of all american kids may be traumatized by their parents' separation around/before they even reach their teens - a crucial stage in psychosocial development.

could this be the conditioning blame for the growing increase in divorce rate of every generation - toward 100% divorce rate, and increasingly violent & mentally disturbed youth? (ie, virtually every major social pathology - including violent crime, drug and alcohol abuse, truancy, teen pregnancy and suicide - is statistically associated with fatherlessness)

or... should we just not take these statistics to mind to much because most separations are not by choice, and besides life just happens! you can't avoid the unexpected inevitables anyways, just deal with it (ie, co-parenting after divorce/separation) and teach your kids to cope, adapt, still love and be loved and live successful independent lives, whether mommy or daddy stay together or not??