Negative Effects Experienced by Our Children

Cause and Effect

Negative Effects Experienced By Our Children

MaLinda J. DiTonno

Professor Powell

English 101

28 December 2004

MaLinda J. DiTonno

Professor Powell

English 101

28 December 2004

Cause and Effect

Negative Effects Experienced By Our Children

What have I done? What will my children have to endure today because of the mistakes I made yesterday? “… but causing the negative effects of the parents’ offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren…” Exodus 34:7 (Complete Jewish Bible)

“And do you, MaLinda, take this man to be your lawful…” I don’t think I love this man, but what do I do? I’m four months pregnant. What would people think of me if I didn’t get married? And all these people-how would they feel-making them come here and then I say no? What do I do?

“…To have and to hold, so long as you both shall live?” Sigh-“I do.” Oh God, I hope I didn’t just make a mistake.

Sometimes I wonder how different things would be had I not made that second mistake. The first, well that was having sex outside of marriage. I knew it was wrong, but who knew HOW wrong? I didn’t just affect me-it affected my family, his family and the lives of my two children. Sometimes I think they got hurt the worst. Eight years of marriage. How long did they suffer? How long before I realized what was going on?

My daughter was two years old when I decided that maybe another baby would help. So we had our second child, a boy. It didn’t help. There wasn’t a lot of arguing. There was no communication, just existence.

It was April 1998 when I received the call. One of my former daycare children had made a complaint.