After 25 years of working in psychiatry and seeing more than anyone's share of PPP (Piss Poor Parenting) I never was on that team. Adolescents need their parents more than any other age. But that seems to be the age that a lot of parents crap out on them. I just got so tired of hearing the old refrain 'it's not fair that so and so (the non custodial parent) can have a life and I can't.' WTF? They weren't complaining when the child was conceived! Now, they need the parents, it's 'I want a life for myself!'
I've also seen a lot of really good and successful people overcome that type of thing in their lives. They didn't go out and become street thugs then chuck it back on their deprived childhoods. Those people are my heroes. But a lot of people DO become street thugs. And when they do the people they victimize who are tying to make something of their lives have the right and the duty to protect themselves from them.
Good point. I agree, ticks me off when parents abandon their kids for convenience.