Chris, I did not know that your father passed away when you were only five years old. Mine died when I was 12, and my younger brothers were only 7 and 6. I have seen others who managed to be raised, with difficulty and hardship, by a widowed mother or by a widower father when it is the mother who has died. I think that the point is the willingness of the couple to have married and had a family together; it is af the bond of love endures and provides benefits that survive the death of a parent. The trouble comes when a parent, almost always the man, simply never cared at all about the child or the mother.

First it’s important to check the validity of the assumption through statistics or someone who can come up with statistic taken in a thorough manner where measurements are taken from a worldwide perspective. Also, take into account that the phenomenon of husbands or fathers leaving the family or having lack of care is typically male since it is in the genes and is bio-functional. It has all to do with optimal procreation. I read women also have an inclination in that since. I have no profound knowledge on the male/female behavior patterns when it all comes to procreation but the basics of courting behavior are guided by our instinct. Don’t take his as an insult. Humans are basically animals and physically this is measurable by how humans have a primitive brain compartment taking care of the automatic survival elements among which the heart pulse, sweating and adrenaline increase when danger, sleep function, digesting functions, unease feeling when hunger strikes, basic instincts, etc . The challenge is awareness that men and woman worldwide can or cannot properly reply to this condition because of their own family and social environment when they were kids and/or religion during their upbringing. I am caucasian and within my race there’s enough reason to know Caucasian men are equally in such behavior but less open and relations are very much decided by technological ‘progress’ and entertainment. Also a government has influence or blame on the economic and social circumstances and this decides how much the citizen of that country is demoralized or content.

I agree with you wholeheartedly Chris, there is a little doubt and a lot of evidence regarding the psychological impact of children whose fathers leave. I think there is an even greater impact on those whose fathers leave rather than a parent who passes away (please accept my condolences for your past loss Chris and Dan). You will always know that your parent did not leave you voluntarily when they pass away, when they leave, there is a feeling that perhaps they did not want you and that is devastating. Every parent should consider the psychological impact when they have children, both the men and the women. As a woman, it is important to ask yourself, does this individual seem like the kind of individual who is going to make a commitment to care for their child(ren) no matter what happens? Women also bear a responsibility not just to commit themselves to take care of the child(ren) but also to consider the consequences if a child is born. We are animals, yes, but we also have the mental capabilities to understand and feel these complex issues. I see this issue addressed in many quarters and I am glad to say that I see a positive shift in thinking with regards to this, I do hope that trend continues for the sake of all our respective futures. I would like to wish everyone who reads this a great day and Happy New Year. Enjoy.