The collapse of marriage in the UK and the abundance of one-parent families are certainly part of the problem, although the pressure of economics are slowly forcing a reversal on the population in general - people are staying together longer because housing is so frighteningly expensive. A single parent of exceptional character and strength can bring up decent children even while working full-time; I have seen it happen. But that is the problem: it has to be an exceptional person - and most people aren't exceptional. One person living alone with a couple of children will always have problems imposing her or his will upon them - even two people may not be enough; as someone said, it takes a village to raise a child. These things tend to cooperate, I would say, with the sentimental notion that parents are to be "loving and supportive" - which, in the minds of distracted, weak or unthinking parents, means giving their children everything they ask for and supporting them even when they are wrong. Given that parents, in my view, are the source of basic moral attitudes, this inevitably spoils the children.
These things tend to cooperate, I would say, with the sentimental notion that parents are to be "loving and supportive" - which, in the minds of distracted, weak or unthinking parents, means giving their children everything they ask for and supporting them even when they are wrong. Given that parents, in my view, are the source of basic moral attitudes, this inevitably spoils the children.
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