Looking to nature, I wonder if it would be a healthier attitude to look at dead-beat dads using this lens? If instead of calling them dead-beat and constantly being disappointed that they can't be active dads, what if we were to look at them as givers to the survival of the species? I know that most mothers didn't expect to raise children alone, while instead this spider probably knows that she is going to kill off her mate... or does she? Either way, if we helped children of single mothers--and the mothers themselves--look at the male as a valuable service needed to create life and nothing more, would the children be more positive and adept at finding role-models to fill emotional needs?

Just a thought...