It's a sign of the times, and the country will have to evolve to get beyond it. I think it is a problem that can be addressed on a personal and spiritual level much more than on a national level. You can't really write laws to correct the trend. I do think that the next evolutionary phase of humanity will have to become more values-oriented and spiritually based if we are to thrive and survive as a species.

Yes I think the American family has changed it's path, it used to be about famly, love and spending time. And now parents are ignoring children, parents are too busy working for something that is materialistic. Parents actually raised their kids. How would I correct this problem? I don't have the slightest clue!!

There will always be screwed up families and likewise there will always be families that hold themselves together, there always has been. I don't feel that Western families have become significantly more messed up than they have been. Fifty years ago, you guys had lynching and backyard abortions, orphaned children the result of people who believed that people just HAD to get married to have kids. Now, although that has decreased significantly, you have Opus Dei and global militarisation to contend with, other such concerns as well. People just have to adjust to the times.

Oh sonny, don't even get me started on that one! What with people not staying together anymore, absent fathers and mothers, parents who care more about drugs than their kids, All the child abuse and spousal abuse going on it just makes me wonder where in the heck we all went wrong.

Like one poster said.. they do not have the answer ..me either =( Having worked with children a few years back.. I can tell you that absent fathers <mothers to but the % is more against absent fathers> effect the lives of children on a scale much larger than some people ever imagine. Marriages/Divorces are so easy to obtain and do away with. Things are so expensive both parents have to work in order to provide..schools are not allowed to discipline their students because now people cry wolf at every little turn.. so we have unruly kids being raised by each other and what they hear and see.. blah.. sad stuff. Parents not able to discipline their kids without having children's services at their door.. People are so stressed out from trying to do everything they need to do and failing in important areas that they turn to doing negative things to escape their realities.. drink.. drugs.. affairs.. it is very sad. My personal belief also.. is the lack of faith and understanding in Jesus Christ - a lot of people are turning away from Him.. and His love and guidance.. let's not start a debate about it.. it is just my belief.. because for ME.. without His help.. I sink. I cannot do it all by myself.

With the massive divorce rates and so many single parent familes you bet the American family is having some problems. We need to encourage people to get proper counciling before marriage and well before divorce is even considered. As for single parent families I belive abstinence until marriage is something that should be encouraged which of course I am sure I will get downrated for.