Maria Isabel F.

Tamayo
BSED ENGLISH

What It’s Like To Be Part Of A Broken Family

Being part of a broken family is something that many people live with, though a lot of
the time, they don’t show it.

That one kid from class, a work-mate or even that cashier from your local Woolies could
come from a broken family and you’d never even realise.

You learn from a young age that people are often insensitive, as most people don’t care
about what’s going on at your home and often don’t acknowledge it if they don’t see it.
While you’re not seeking any pity, a little consideration goes a long way. However, you
go on to learn that if it doesn’t leave a physical mark, people often don’t care.

When you come from a broken family, it feels like you’re isolated and cut-off from the
rest of the world. Being so distant to a parent or a sibling often pressures you into
feeling like you need to deal with it by yourself. Why? Because it’s embarrassing.

It’s embarrassing because it feels like you’re the only one with a family who can’t seem
to get along. It’s embarrassing because while everyone gets picked up by their parents,
you’re left to hitch a ride or public transport.

It hurts. It hurts because it’s sometimes difficult to understand why your family is like
this. Why do you have to suffer while everyone else is so seemingly happy with their
families. Why do you hurt so badly when other families get along so well? Why is it not
your fault?

It’s difficult to accept that it’s not your fault. A spiralling mind with endless thoughts and
loneliness with no escape often leads to self-blame and guilt; the feeling that your birth
was a burden and the cause of this whole mess. But you learn to accept that it’s not
your fault, ever so gradually; that you shouldn’t take responsibility for other people’s
actions.

Most holidays pretty much suck. This is when an abundance of friends’ family pictures
flow through your feeds, capturing everything your family isn’t. Christmas is especially
bad. You hear of your friends’ families travelling overseas just to be with their extended
relatives. It’s astounding and you just long to be part of a family willing to go to such
lengths to be with each other.

You dread parent teacher nights. It gives you anxiety because you don’t want your
teachers to call home; you don’t want your teachers to know of your situation.
You hate every other event that requires a parent present, and it makes you crazy
jealous when you see other parents who care enough to make such an effort with their
children.

That being said, while it does suck to come from a broken family, you learn many things.
You learn to endure hardships and persist in the face of adversity. You learn to face and
deal with embarrassment. You gain a unique sense of compassion and empathy. You
know to never mistreat someone as you never know what they have to face at home.

With these experiences, you form strong bonds between your friends and while you fear
one day creating a broken family of your own, you know you’ll do whatever it takes to
uphold a happy and supporting household.