I realize it’s complicated and not always easy to make this happen which is why my comment is strictly based on it being the most ideal situation.

I feel awful for that boy. I don’t know your friend or their situation but that poor kid doesn’t stand much of a chance to succeed in life. The statistics are humbling when you see what typically happens to boys with no fathers. He’s waaaaay more likely to not graduate high school and wind up incarcerated according to statistics.

Due to his mom having to work and not being able to spend quality time with her or his biological father he isn’t receiving the kind of time and investment that a child requires. It’s not surprising he’s struggling to develop the way she’d like to see.

Whether you’re a religious person or secular you just can’t argue against the fact that children are severely disadvantaged when they are missing a parent.

I pray this poor kid doesn’t become yet another victim of prescription drugs which I imagine will be the eventual outcome. It’s a shame, he didn’t ask for any of this.