So many parents are doing it alone these days and compensation seems the rule. Moms try to outdo the dads and vise versa which leads to children of all ages calling the shots. Unlike that modern premise, my seven year old daughter sees friends where either myself or the other parents are present. Movies, trips to the mall, park or playground are all done with an adult in attendance. Lots of my daughter's friends are dropped off here or there with one or two other kids and left to do their own thing. I just don't see that as realistic in most situations now. If the only thing we ever accomplish as parents is showing our children how important they are and how much we care, then I think that is pretty darn good.