My name is Sarah and my parents should be divorced (1)

I refer to Valerie Borg’s letter (Hello, I Am Dawn And My Parents Are Divorced, November 12).

My name is Sarah and, like Valerie (or was it Dawn?), I am also a child from a broken family. My childhood was also good and filled with laughter; though I would not venture to say my family was the envy of all my classmates. I do believe my parents loved each other when they decided to get married. However, this seemed to change while I was growing up.

As in most cases that end in separation or divorce, my family went through years of struggle, suffering and hardship because of numerous underlying problems in my parents’ marriage. For quite a while there were fights, tension and emotional detachment between my parents, which, as you may apprehend, had an impact on me as well as my sister. When I was 13 my parents decided to separate, which I would like to point out to Valerie, is allowed in Malta despite divorce not being an option.

This news did not come as a shock to my sister and I, although I cannot deny it was very upsetting for us both. The first year was not easy but things started to fall into place quickly and my parents, my sister and myself all found our feet again and were finally in an environment bereft from fights, tension and unease.

Today, my parents are both living with new partners and are in happy, loving relationships. For once, I think I can honestly say I understand what love truly is, which makes me happier and more hopeful than when my parents were still living together. Luckily or unluckily, my parents found their true loves in their 40s, after having children with each other. But who is to blame?

What is sad about this situation is that my parents are still technically married in Malta while living complete separate lives with different people. Does this make any sense to Ms Borg?

If she and others view divorce as the breakdown of families, doesn’t separation result in that too?

Malta is one of the only two countries alongside the Philippines in the world where divorce is still illegal. Divorce is recognised as a civil right in a large part of the world. Why should Malta as a member of the Commonwealth and as part of the EU not recognise this right as well?

So, no, Ms Borg, I do not think the “buzzword” of today “I want a divorce” will result in a boring, lifeless and loveless life. On the contrary, although keeping in mind that I do consider any breakdown of a family as a hardship, it could in fact also result in happiness, hope and love.

My name is Sarah and my parents are separated. They would be happier if they could get divorced.