Having divorced parents has its ups and downs. For once, you’re no longer having to stay up to listen to your parents argue for hours, or dealing with the awkward silence at home. On the other hand, if your parent(s) remarry, you have to get used to that. It never gets easy, but it does get better.

At first, when my parents divorced, I was obviously upset. I was a young child, around six or seven when it happened, and my younger sister and I packed up our stuff, moved to a new city, and lived with our mother. It was weird at first, only waking up to see one parent, and seeing the other every or every other weekend. It was a lot for two young girls at the time, packing up stuff and moving in between homes. It didn’t just stop there.

The real fun was when both of my parents got remarried. Now everyone thinks that it is SO easy to just welcome another person into your life like that...well, it’s not. I think secretly, kids who have divorced parents hope that their parents will fall in love again. When they get remarried, obviously all of those hopes are crushed. Don’t get me wrong, I like my step-dad and step-mother now, but at first, I had the intention of getting rid of them. I wasn’t very welcoming, just as most kids with divorced parents aren’t. You have to get used to them, and just immediately acting like you love them is all an act.

Also, a lot of people think having divorced parents would be great because you get two of everything. Two holidays, two birthdays, etc. It is SO hectic. First, you have to clear your schedule and make things work when your dad or mom can make it. There is usually lots of rescheduling involved. You have one night to get all dressed up and do one birthday celebration, and then the next day, you have to get ready again to go to another. It may seem great, but honestly, it is just so hectic. Making sure you plan it on days when everyone can make it is a disaster sometimes.

But on the other hand, having divorced parents who remarry can have its advantages. You may get a new sibling out of it. At first, accepting your new sibling can be tough. You have to learn all about a new person and treat them as family right off the bat. It’s scary, you don’t know if you’ll like the same things, or what their hobbies are, or what kinds of food they like, it’s intimidating almost. Once you get to know them though it’s nice to know that there is another person you can call family and your friend.

All in all, having divorced parents is not like you see it in the movies. It not only straight up sucks at times, but it gets hectic, and you’ll also have some great times. It’ll be tough at first, but it always gets better. Seeing both of your parents truly happy again is the greatest feeling in the world.