"I think we have yet to see the results of the abdication of parenthood. "

What abdication of parenthood is that? Sending your child to a nursery or child-minder is not an abdication of parenthood, it is, for many people, a sensible and often necessary part of responsible parenting. For my children it was the beginning of friendships that have been a rock throughout school and beyond. Children have been going to nurseries and child-minders for generations with no ill effects. There seems to be an awful lot of self-styled childcare experts out there who want to tell us what we should be doing when they have absolutely no practical experience. Why don't you just mind your own fucking business - I just wonder how your children will turn out.