All Comments on 'Parents...'

I grew up with two parents and my dad was no example and my mom had no heart and soul. In my opinion it's not the parents who define these things in children per se, but the loving, attentive adults in children's lives. Teachers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, mentors, older siblings, coaches. I have a theory that there's a strong correlation between the succuss a child experiences in their lifetime and the number of caring, attentive, committed adults in their lives... and if, in the case of a single parent, that's one, well that's one more than some kids with two parents have.

Then, of course, there's the whole nature/nurture debate but that's even further off topic.

I was looking at the Ideal we think of in the first two parts. The last was the reality, that of being the single parent of a daughter and son from preschool on. They are now 28 and 27 respectively.

I appreciate your comments as much of it is true in today's world. Thank you.

We never stop thinking about them, thanking and blaming. I consciously tried to be the "ideal" described to both my boys because my dad did not. I wonder if he ever said that.

Sacrificing Uncles& Aunts & cousins also : i did have outstandin' teachers , school & College Principals , professors & of course Chartered Accountants under whom i did my articleship & from whom i learnt a lot accountancy , income tax , audit plus how to be a good human being ! Thank you friend40 for writing this poem & sparking off fond remininscin' :5-ed .