As adults we are at liberty to do whatever we like as long as we don't violate other people's rights. Actually the right to swing your fist ends where another person's nose begins. It is your obligation therefore to identify the limits of your own freedom and rights or else the law may define those limits for you. At least this should be the last resort.

Sometimes we need to define out intentions in every thing we do before we make the first step. Wrong intentions and those that are not genuine always result into disastrous actions.

It would be a genuine reason if a catholic converted to Islam because he is convinced with the general doctrines of the new religion not because he wants to enjoy the polygamous aspect in the religion. If your doctor advised you to stop taking liver as means of reducing the fats and instead you decided to start going to the gym, this would mean that you go to the gym so that you continue taking the liver and not because you want to reduce fats.
  
Society calls upon parents to be responsible people since they happen to be the first role models every child must have. Every step a parent takes may have repercussions to the child either positive, negative or both.

A parent who chooses to drink himself silly will end up drinking even his children's share. Chances are high that he will neglect his family and his obligations as a father; domestic violence will get a warm reception in his home and children won't go to school. If a number of families did the same then we are raising future drunkards, illiterate citizens, poor individuals and finally dangerous drug addicts and criminals.

One of the biggest family challenges today is divorce. It has become a relic for people to get married today and get divorced the following day. Today there is no courtship; you meet a woman in May, you marry her in June and sign divorce papers in July.

These rampant and spontaneous marriages we are invited to attend on weekends do not have any foundation of courtship, love and trust. If you asked the newly wed when they first met, you would not be shocked if they told you 'about three weeks ago'. 

Other reasons could be intolerance, lack of patience from both sides, unfaithfulness and disrespect for each.  There is also growing love for material things. Failure to provide them means that the divorce Act will be read. Some people attach the divorce malady to the women emancipation, and the westernization that is eating away society. Whatever the reason, children are the victims and they are heavily affected.

Children need to be happy and cared for as part of growing up. This happiness and care can only be derived from two loving, happy and cooperating parents living under the same roof. Divorce does not only tear a family a part but also tears children and their happiness apart. Single parenthood may create incomplete individuals intellectually and socially.

Single parents may not have all it takes to raise a child. Women are mostly challenged financially while men simply don't have time for their children. Both cases brood different results.

When a man re-marries, his children can hardly find comfort under their step mother. They are mere unfortunate weeds growing under huge tree roots. The  many street kids we see claim to have run away from the terror of their step mothers. A child raised by a single mother may not only lack the basic survival skills if he is a boy but also the means to acquire education. Girls may be impregnated and married off. 

If we must dream of a future of responsible, educated, self reliant, socially upright and all-round citizen we have to find the means to minimize the rate of divorce in our country. The time is now.

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