I want to be a better man than my father (From Warrington Guardian)

I want to be a better man than my father

MANY children go through the traumatic experience of seeing their mother and father divorce but the suffering is often made worse if one of the parents severs links with the child.

That is what happened to a 14-year-old Winsford boy, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons, when his parents divorced seven years ago.

He said: "At the time I didn't really understand what was going on and I was really scared.

"It was horrible because I missed him and I was always arguing with my mum.

"I did want to see him so when he said in court that he didn't want to see me it was devastating."

In the past seven years, the teenager has had virtually no contact with his father and believes children should be given more rights.

He said: "You hear about all this Fathers For Justice campaigning for fathers' rights but what about the kids who want to see their dads and can't?

"If someone like me wants to see his dad then I think we should be able to."

Despite having little contact with his father, the boy believes the situation he has found himself in has made him a stronger person.

He said: "Because of the way I have been treated by my dad it has given me an aim in life - to be a better person than him.

"I understand how much that kind of thing can hurt people so I never want to be anything like him.

"I saw him once getting into his car and when I shouted he just drove off.

"If there was a way that I could have forced him to see me then I may well have done it.

"But my feelings have changed and if he came and knocked on my door now I think I would just laugh at him."