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"It's no secret that plenty of marriages end in divorce, so chances are if you're not part of a divided family yourself, you know someone who is. It's never easy when parents split\u2014sometimes it can even feel like your life is totally over. The good news? It's not. In fact, we contend there are silver linings that can come out of the breakup. Like what? Well, read on.\n\nYour home life gets healthier.\n\nParents are people too\u2014and like all people, they make mistakes. If there were unhealthy things in their marriage (fighting, cheating, abuse), divorce can end up providing a much more stable home environment for them and you. Just think about all the toxicity that will vanish once the dust settles.\n\n\"There's no fighting in my house now, and both of my parents seem much happier,\" says 18-year-old Jenny. \"Plus, our family is healthier\u2014everybody is really happy.\" Seeing your parents apart and thriving, instead of together and miserable, is better for everyone in the long run.\n\nYou actually get to spend more time together.\n\nTrust us: One-on-one time with your parents is a good thing. And divorce pretty much necessitates spending more QT with both your mom and your dad (or your moms or your dads). \"Since my parents split, I've gotten to spend more time with each of my parents\u2014a lot more time actually,\" says Kari, 16. \"I feel closer to them now than I did when they were together.\"\n\nTake advantage of that quality time! Your parents are adjusting to their new lives too, so occasionally giving them one of your Friday nights is a sweet gesture that you'll get a lot out of too. Plan activities you like to do together, or even pencil in a couple hours for a just-you-two dinner date.\n\nTwo houses can be better than one.\n\nWhile some people only have one place to call home, you're lucky enough to have two roofs over your head. Why is this a positive exactly? Every house has its own set of rules, and living in two places means two completely different environments, each with particular perks. Maybe you have a later curfew at your mom's, or get to eat dessert for dinner at your dad's.\n\nFor Kari, having two homes has certainly had some unexpected benefits. \"I never thought I would like living in two different houses, but I couldn't imagine it any other way,\" she says. \"Each house is fun in unique ways\u2014it makes things more exciting and never boring.\" Another bonus? Two bedrooms means two spaces to decorate. \"My room is completely different at my mom's than it is at my dad's,\" Kari adds. \"I love that I made each have its own look, and it was so fun to put together.\"\n\nAnd you could gain a stepfamily.\n\nIf your parents' divorce and then remarry, you could acquire a rad stepsibling or stepparent in the process. Sure, having a new person in your life can take some major adjusting at first, but it's important to be open to your blended family. \"I never had a sister, and now I can't picture life without my stepsister,\" says Jenny. \"We do everything together. We're seriously best friends\u2014and I get to live with her!\"\n\nAnd no, that \"evil stepmother\" clich\u00E9 isn't (usually) a real thing. Though a stepparent will never replace your biological ones, you can still have a special bond with them. Take Demi Lovato, who has been outspoken about her close relationship with her stepfather\u2014who also happens to be her manager. She's even tweeted her love for her him, saying, \"I hate calling @redraider30 my 'step dad' because he has literally been the greatest dad a girl could ever hope for.\"\n\nThe reality is, your parents' split doesn't mean your world has to crumble. So keep your eyes open for the good stuff, OK?"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/divorce>