The War in Iraq Has Affected American Families, Essay Example

The war in Iraq has affected American families in both positive and negative ways. For some, it has given soldiers who were considering marriage the extra push needed for a commitment to marriage. Many women were waiting for more stability and surety in their relationships now have that. Furthermore, children of soldiers now have more of a reason to be proud of their mothers and fathers. They know for a fact that their parents are willing to sacrifice their lives for their children and country. Meanwhile, families that have to sacrifice time together often have a deeper appreciation for family time. For the boy whose father comes home every night, seeing his father may not be a big deal. But one has only to look at the reactions of families when their soldier fathers and mothers return home by surprise to see how much family time means to a military family.

Yet there are negative sides to this as well. Newly married couples might postpone their decision to have children until the war is over. They will have to know that if the soldier in the family dies on duty, they may never have the chance. On the other hand, some might decide to have children in case of such a tragedy. While a soldier is gone, housework and child-care responsibilities fall on the shoulders of the one who is left behind. Parents can no longer take turns bringing their kids to school, attending games, taking out the garbage or doing the laundry. All the responsibility is on one person. This is generally enormously stressful. Indeed, while a soldier is away, a military home begins to look a lot like a single-parent household. In some cases, when a soldier loses a life, it actually becomes one.