[KelleyF]

Originally Posted by Lumpkin

I don't think there is always a clearcut answer to what is best for a child, but I do think that we need to think we need to look past emotions and think about the possible impact such decisions have on a child's longterm development.

Very well said
I have participated in some posts, but this is one of the few that I have felt very passionate about, only because I have seen it first hand several times in my life, and the outcome has always negitively affected the child. I too had a high school friend with elderly parents. They were too old to be able to wait up for her to come home at night, so many times she didn't, knowing she wouldn't get caught. She was so wild, making very poor choices because there was vertually no discipline from her parents. They just couldn't keep up with her, so they stopped trying. She has so many regrets as an adult (including 2 abortions) due to the fact that she practically had to raise herself. She loved her parents dearly, don't get me wrong. But love isn't always enough in some cases. Unfortunately, her parents didn't live to see her marry or see their grandchildren. It also really bothers her that her kids never got the chance to have a relationship with their grandparents.