If you could ask adult children of divorce questions about the impact of their parents’ divorce, what would you ask? More important, how would they answer? Leila Miller found out by asking seventy ACD the same eight questions. Her book Primal Loss: Now Adult Children of Divorce Speak not only gives their answers, but except for the introduction, the entire book is their answers—no commentary, no “expert opinions,” no “it’s not a big deal” bravado.
As a result, for me, reading Primal Loss was like drinking orange juice concentrate without the three cups of additional water. I’m used to reading ACD stories that are liberally separated by statistics, comments, etc, so you get a break from the intensity of the parental divorce experience.
Miller gives us 100% ACD dialog and it’s a tough read at times. However, two important things occur as you read: you realize your challenges aren’t unique, and you learn you aren’t crazy because of your challenges (for the most part!).
Miller’s eight questions were:
What effect has your parents’ divorce had on you (the longest chapter)?
What is the difference between how you felt about the divorce as a child and how you feel about it as an adult?
Has your parents’ divorce affected your own marriage or your view of marriage?What do you want to say to people who say that “children are resilient” and “kids are happy when their parents are happy” and “kids of divorce will be just fine and will go on to live successful lives”?
What would you say directly to your parents about the divorce and how it affected your life than and now?
Would you advise them to do things differently, and, if so, what?
What do you want adults in our society to know about how divorce affects the children?
What role has your faith played in your healing?
What would you want to say to any children facing their parents’ divorce today? What would you want to say to those parents considering divorce (leaving out cases of danger)?
How would YOU answer these questions? Does it even matter now with their divorce so long ago? YES!
Because your answers (and the emotions surrounding them) are inside you and probably leaking out in various ways (anger, fears, troubled relationships). Also because, as the individuals in the book found, thinking through it helps.
Important recommendations
For those of you who are ACD, before you start reading Primal Loss, I encourage you to let your loved ones know what you’re reading. This is to prepare them for the up and down and all around moods you’ll experience.
I also recommend reading it with a friend or two. The Bible says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”1 As you read through the chapters, get together weekly and debrief. This will help keep you focused on the healing process God desires you to complete.
Lastly, please leave a comment about how the book affected you. I’m very interested in your thoughts!