A child should never have to choose which parent to believe, defend one parent against the other, or
become the referee in an argument they never created. Yet in many families, when parents fight, the child is pulled straight into the conflict. “Tell your mother…” “Ask your father…” “You saw what he did…” “You know how she is…” The child becomes the witness, the messenger and sometimes even the judge. Then the parents make peace, go back to normal and expect the child to do the same. But what happens to the child who was left carrying the emotional weight of that fight? And who checks on them when the adults have decided that everything is fine. Kefentse Mkhari is in conversation with Social Worker, Nombuyiselo Lestoalo and Social Commentator, Emmanuel Masuku