Sacred bonds, silent scars – The Hindu

The cracks in a marriage don’t just affect the couple — they reverberate through the lives of the children.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Marriage, often heralded as a union “made in heaven”, carries with it a promise of love, companionship, and joy. Beneath the surface of this ideal lies a truth that cannot be ignored: marriage is not always the fairy tale you hope for. In the eyes of many, it is the ultimate bond, an eternal commitment designed by fate or divine hands. But in reality, the journey through marriage is not always so heavenly. For some, it is a battle of enduring challenges, testing faith, patience, and love itself. What happens when the ideal of a perfect marriage becomes marred by the pressures of life? What happens when the fairy tale turns into a battlefield?

The answer is not just in the couple. It is in the eyes of their children.

Children, with their pure hearts and innocent minds, bear witness to every unspoken word, every lingering silence and every strained glance between parents. They may not understand the intricacies of adult relationships, but they feel every moment of tension and sorrow. In their world, love is supposed to be unconditional and safe. But when that world is disrupted, it is often their hearts that bear the deepest scars. The effects may be felt for years to come, colouring their understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like. The unspoken burden they carry through life can leave them fearful of their own ability to form lasting bonds.

The emotional turbulence of a marriage does not end at the front door; it seeps into the very lives of the children. The tension in the air, the silence at the dinner table, the lack of warmth in their parents’ touch — these are things they feel long before they can put them into words. And these feelings, often unexpressed, stay with them.

The cracks in a marriage don’t just affect the couple — they reverberate through the lives of the children who call them ‘mom’ and ‘dad’. Whether it’s the emotional distance that forms between parents or simply the absence of affection, the impact is profound. Children are sponges for emotional energy — they absorb everything, even the pain left unsaid.

In the midst of marital struggles, it’s easy to forget that the emotional landscape you create is not yours alone. Your children are living through it, carrying the weight of every unspoken sorrow. They may not voice their hurt, but it’s there, lingering in their hearts, shaping their understanding of love and trust for years to come.

And so, if you choose to marry, remember that this bond you share isn’t just between two adults — it is the foundation for the next generation. It’s where your children will learn to love, to trust, to forgive, and to grow. You owe it to them to create a space where love is not just a word, but a daily action — a place where respect, kindness, and understanding fill the home, making it a safe haven for both partners and children alike.

For in the end, a true relationship is not just about the partners involved. It is about building a space where love is always the answer, where peace is the goal and where every individual, especially the children, are uplifted, nurtured, and cherished.

jeslitha23@gmail.com