Re: paternal abandonment: I really feel such abandonment cripples the man for life. I do feel great sorrow for them. But there is a lack of paternal guidance that just can’t be overlooked nor overstated. Unless the step-father is a very strong and supportive man, that lack seems to impact them the rest of their lives. I’m sure freeper psychologists can give us a lot more insight to this phenomena.
There are many men who have succeeded against those odds (and women too) but we have noted the increase in single mothers who depend on welfare (not fathers) to raise their kids; with no uncles or grandfathers filling the void.
We attempted to eliminate poverty, but created a bigger problem for those children and society as a whole.
Kudos to those who survive and flourish in spite of rough beginnings. Being an optimist, I prefer to believe that adversity doesn’t create character, it validates.