Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek Divorce

Redefining Free Agent

Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek filed for divorce at the end of July, according to various news sources. Jason Varitek is also at the end of his four-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. In more ways than one, Jason Varitek will be a real free agent soon. The Boston Red Sox captain and catcher, Jason Varitek has three daughters with his wife, Karen Varitek. The Varitek children are three, six and eight.

Neither Jason Varitek, 37, or his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Karen Varitek have commented publicly on the divorce. The Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek divorce news follows another high profile MLB player's divorce. Yankee rival A-rod also announced his divorce this summer. With three children in the mix, it's not surprising that Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek would not want to speak out about their divorce.

Jason Varitek, Middle-Aged Slump?

Is the popular Boston Red Sox catcher in a middle-aged slump? Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek are divorcing at a time when Jason Varitek's performance on the field has been mediocre. The Boston Red Sox's batting average is currently .216. The Boston Red Sox as a whole tend to struggle this time of year, when they seem to lose steam.

Divorce and Children

The children of Jason Varitek and Karen Varitek are all young to have to see their parents divorce. I was about the same age as Varitek's middle daughter when my parents divorced. For a six-year-old child, divorce is a confusing time. One parent moves out, another adult may move in, and the child is left wondering, "what did I do wrong?"

While the parents may feel relieved when their partner moves out of the home, the children are left feeling confused. Older children can experience separation anxiety and act out when one parent moves out of the home.

Children of divorced parents also harbor fantasies well into their teenage years that their parents will get back together someday. The Parent Trap movie and the remake both capture this sentiment, especially for tween children.