Madam, - Practically no one would disagree that children's welfare is best served by being raised in a two-parent family. Initiatives to encourage marriage and its endurance are to be welcomed.
In the meantime, however, those of us who have done Trojan work in rearing our children alone, for whatever reason and rarely by choice, are not helped by being reminded that "on average children in stable marriages do better on a whole slew of social science indicators" (Breda O'Brien, Opinion, October 15th). We could become demoralised.
Thankfully, when I look at my five grown sons, such statements are meaningless. No thanks to Ms O'Brien's cold research quotations. Single parents, take heart! - Yours, etc,
CYNTHIA CARROLL, Portryan, Newport, Co Tipperary.