I never said it was an ideal situation or even a good one. In fact, I simply noted that in the face of the way the world is today, it's good to note that this is not the automatic road to delinquency and substance abuse it has been touted as if the child has sufficient economic and emotional support.

No parents are "necessary." Orphans can grow up to become functional, successful people. That doesn't mean that parents are expendable. It just means that if for some reason, you don't have one (or both) of yours, you can still grow up OK.