My Parents Broke Up While I Was in College
- Davis
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
I was home for winter break when my life changed.
My name is Adam. I’m a college student, and this is the true story of when my parents told me they were separating. I didn’t see it coming. I always thought we were a normal family. We didn’t talk a lot, but there was no yelling or fighting.
That night, we were eating dinner like any other night. Then my dad looked at me and said,“Your mom and I have something to tell you.”
I felt my stomach drop. I already knew something was wrong.He continued, “We’ve decided to separate.”
My mom nodded, trying not to cry. My little sister Emma, who was 16, just stared at her plate.
I Didn’t Know How to Feel
They said it wasn’t our fault. They said they still cared about each other. But their words didn’t help.
I felt confused, angry, and sad all at once. I didn’t know who to talk to. I was 20 years old—I thought I was too old to be affected like this. But I was wrong.
When I went back to college for the spring semester, I tried to act normal. But everything felt different. My mind was always full. I stopped talking to my friends. I skipped club meetings. I didn’t even care about my classes.
Going Home Felt Weird
A few weeks later, I went home for a weekend. Everything had changed.
My mom had moved to a small apartment. My dad stayed in our house. I had to decide where to sleep. It felt like I was being pulled in two directions.
At dinner, it was quiet. Nobody knew what to say. My sister and I didn’t even talk much anymore. Everyone was trying to act okay, but it didn’t feel real.
I Started to Struggle
I couldn’t focus in class. I didn’t want to get out of bed. At night, I just lay there, thinking.
Why now? Why didn’t I see this coming? Did they wait until I left home because they didn’t want me to stop them?
One day, I missed a big assignment. My professor asked me why. I finally told someone the truth.
She looked at me and said,“You don’t have to pretend to be okay. It’s okay to feel sad.”
That helped more than I expected.
I Got Help
After that, I started seeing a counselor on campus. At first, I wasn’t sure it would help. But little by little, it did.
I told him everything—how I felt lost, how I didn’t want to pick sides, how I missed my old life.
He told me something that stuck with me:
“You don’t need to fix your parents. You just need to take care of yourself.”
That made me feel lighter.
Things Got Better Slowly
That summer, I spent time at both my parents’ homes. At first, it was weird. They were both trying too hard to act happy.
But I started setting boundaries. I told them I needed honesty, not fake smiles. Surprisingly, they listened.
My dad started dating someone new. My mom started gardening and made new friends. My sister and I became closer again—we would message each other at night, talking about how strange it all was.
I Found Myself Again
By my final year of college, I was doing better. I rejoined my campus writing club. I even wrote a story about what happened with my family. It got published in our college magazine.
That felt good—like I had taken something painful and turned it into something useful.
What I Learned
Now, I understand something important:
Even if you’re older, your parents’ breakup can still hurt. It’s okay to feel that pain. You don’t have to hide it.
And most of all:You are not responsible for fixing your parents’ problems.
You can only take care of you.
Helpful Resources (for students in similar situations)
If you are a student going through something similar, remember:You're not alone. It’s okay to ask for help. Talk to someone. Write your story. Let yourself feel. You will get through this—one day at a time.
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