Thirdly, work is allowed to take control. It may be that father sees his most pressing need to be to advance his career, or to earn as much as he can so that the family's material circumstances may be improved. Or he may just have to work very hard indeed, for long hours, simply to pay the bills. Or employers or business partners may demand too much, expecting a dedication of time and effort that leaves little or no time for family life. Some things I hear about what is expected of young professionals make my hair stand on end.
Some employers have a lot to answer for.
But so does society as a whole, in permitting these pressures to be applied. Fourthly, and perhaps overarchingly, as a society we have lost faith in those values of simplicity and fidelity and responsibility that are essential to a healthy and constructive home life. There is no substitute for a complete family unit. Preparation for marriage and its responsibilities, and preparation for parenting and its responsibilities seem to me to be inextricably bound together. A successful marriage is the best assurance of successful parenting.