Some parents try to use their children for personal gain, whether social or financial. My hypothesis is that a person who is selfish through his or her life will remain so even after having children. Habits don't break easily, especially if they are needed to satisfy insecurities. I honestly believe that many parents publicly "care" about their children only because it would make them look bad if they didn't. Hence, it's just a show. I had only one parent, and that parent couldn't have cared much less about my future. This is not to say that anyone else (other than myself) cared more. I didn't mean to suggest that non-family cared more than family. I also didn't mean to suggest that nobody has caring family and friends, since I'm sure some do.