I'm beginning to reconsider a number of things... the answers are quite surprising even to me!

I grew up in a household in which I had around 5 mother figures and 3 father figures. My mother figures were: my grandmama, her sister, and my two aunts. Then there was my mom who visited when she could. My father figures were my granddad and then two uncles removed by marriage. My father and I were pen-pals.

My parents, who were far too busy working all the time, were occasional guests. It worked this way: whoever was free to spend time with me and help me with homework spent time with me. As a result, I hardly felt any resentment at having to take care of me every day; yet I suppose as a parent myself, I don't seem to have achieved any focus at parenting 'solo' either.

One thing is quite true to all this, of course: it really takes one village to raise a single child well. A study that needs more in-depth analysis asserts that where a child has at least two paternal figures, the child would grow up a better person, to put it plainly.

This is why I wouldn't mind my children having more than one parent-figure in their lives. Our closest friends (child's godparents) are regarded by S (at present), and later when I have more children, as back-up parents of our offspring and thus should be treated with the same respect.

Westerners don't always get it; I don't expect them to.