The absence of a parent or the separation or divorce of a parent, when the child is developing, can affect the child's future relationships. “Data shows that, on average, children who have experienced parental divorce score slightly lower than children from first-marriage families on measures of social development, emotional well-being, self-concept, academic performance, achievement education and physical health” (Demo, Supple) Since there are high divorce rates in America, I decided to write about it. Provide facts that might convince the reader to think like me. Divorce is like a disease, it starts with a disagreement until the relationship is destroyed. According to Princeton University, fewer than half of children today grow up with both parents, a third are born to unmarried families, and another third are born to married parents who divorce before the child reaches adulthood. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the child population in the United States is approximately 26% [70.2 million]. If the Princeton University research is accurate: half of the child population grows up with both parents, then that is obviously 50% of the child population. Breaking down the numbers, there would be approximately 35.1 million children living with both parents. A third are born into unmarried families, around 23.4 million children, 33%. And the other third of children in the United States who are born to married parents and then divorce before the child reaches adulthood would be approximately 23.4 million children, or 33%. I was shocked to see these numbers so high. It was just crazy to see how many divorced families reside in the United States. According to divorcerate.org, the 2010 divorce rate in America is between... middle of paper......among couples, see a counselor. Try to work things out. If the relationship still doesn't work, then why have a child! Works Cited David H. Demo, Andrew J. Supple. “Effects on children”. Nd web. October 31, 2010.DivorceRate.org “What is the current divorce rate in America?”.Nd Web. October 31, 2010. Eunice, Kennedy, Shriver. “Child and Family Statistics Forum.” National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 2000. Web.Michael E. Agnello. “The role of the father in the development of the child”. 2004. Network. October 31, 2010. Michael E. Lamb. “Parenting and child development in “non-traditional families”. 1999. Network. 31 October 2010.>