Migration is a common phenomenon in our society, where families seek better economic and life opportunities. However, when one parent, especially the father, migrates and the separation is prolonged, the emotional impact on young people can be devastating.
Migration as a driver of family separation
In many cases, the father’s migration is motivated by the need to offer his family a better quality of life. Parents emigrate in the hope of finding employment and sending remittances to cover basic needs, education and health. However, this separation, often planned as a temporary or short-term solution, can become a prolonged absence, deeply affecting young people.
It is normal for them to experience feelings of abandonment. The physical absence of the father at crucial moments in their development makes them feel unprotected and neglected. Furthermore, the lack of constant communication and the inability to share daily experiences can deteriorate the emotional bond.
Child abandonment is categorized as a type of violence, because the absence of care, attention and affection, on the part of their parents or caregivers, prevents children and young people from learning to face life or surviving in certain contexts, for example, poverty or war.
Emotional and psychological consequences
From psychology, the figure of the father is a reference of love, authority, respect and work. Through his teachings, self-esteem, autonomy, and security are formed emotionally — for making decisions or dealing with difficult situations —, and social behaviors are governed by norms and values.
Taking into account the above, the impact of the father’s prolonged migration can manifest itself in several ways:
- Emotional problems: many children and young people think that they are not important enough for their parents to return, which causes feelings of loneliness, sadness and, many times, distrust and vulnerability. They grow up with the idea that they can be easily abandoned.
- Behavioral problems: Some youth may seek attention in negative ways, including rebellious behavior or delinquency. In the future, it is likely that they will not be able to become independent or that they will not believe in their own abilities or feel safe to experiment and explore new horizons.
- Academic problems: Lack of motivation and concentration can lead to low grades and a general disinterest in studies. Psychology attributes the construction of a sense of responsibility and commitment at an educational level to the influence of the father figure, as well as the development of one’s potential and the desire to improve oneself.
- Relationship problems: Prolonged father absence can influence how young people perceive and manage their own relationships in the future. Difficulties appear in trusting others or extreme emotional dependence, as a tool to prevent them from abandoning them again.
Support and resilience
It is crucial that families and communities recognize these impacts and work to mitigate them. For young people, the grieving process can be confusing because, in many cases, there is no definitive closure.
An interview conducted with young people in Michoacán presents different experiences. There are many parents who send money and talk sporadically with their children, without really getting involved in their lives. There are also young people who never knew them and only know of their existence through their mother.
- It is vital to maintain regular communication between the migrant father and his children. The use of technology can help maintain the emotional bond. An activity that you can do together from a distance is to watch the same series to talk about it on your next call.
- There should be a lot of talk about future plans, so that children and young people feel involved and there is a promise of reunion. If in the process, the distancing has to be prolonged, there should be a conversation about how much longer it will last and what actions to take.
- Communities should foster support networks that include other family members, friends, and mentors. It is important that they do not seek to replace the role of father, only to function as caregivers or protectors, unless the absence is total.
- Involving young people in extracurricular activities can provide them with a sense of belonging, as well as distract them from negative feelings.
These experiences keep the grieving process unfinished. There is an image that does not finish fading. For this reason, it is important that, after the father’s absence due to migration, strategies are implemented that help preserve the bond or work through the absence as best as possible.
The absence of a father does not have to define a young person’s future. With the right support, these young people can overcome challenges and become resilient and successful adults. Let us always remember the importance of empathy and community support in these difficult times. We remind you that at Del Pueblo Funeral Home we make the most difficult moments easy.
