Barry wrote:
>Why is there no "optimal" situation? Mom + Dad + Kids + God.
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to always work. Yes, ideally it does, but I would have to say that I grew up with a lot less emotional trauma than friends of mine who grew up in homes like the one you describe. I grew up with my mom and my brother. My father was entirely out of the picture. Yet, somehow, I still felt sorry for my friends who grew up in homes where there was mom and dad and God because their lives always seemed a bit more screwed up than mine.
Granted, there's still a bit of baggage over the absentee and abusive father, but I like to think I am taken care of among the fatherless and the widow.
So I disagree that that Barry's solution is optimal.
Samantha (so there) :)