I was devastated when my father abandoned me — yet liberals make excuses for broken homes

New York Post - Mar 30th, 2025

Adam B. Coleman's new book, “The Children We Left Behind,” critiques how Western culture's growing emphasis on individualism and prosperity contributes to family separation and child neglect. Coleman shares personal experiences of feeling abandoned by his father, highlighting how a culture of silence and excuses allows parental failures to go unchallenged. He argues that while society often downplays the importance of two-parent families, the consequences for children can be profound, affecting their success in various life domains.

The book underscores the need for parents to prioritize their children and make necessary sacrifices for their well-being, challenging the current cultural narrative that excuses parental neglect and abandonment. Coleman calls for accountability from parents and society, urging a shift away from selfishness towards a more child-centered approach to family life. His personal story serves as a cautionary tale for the societal costs of neglecting children's needs and the importance of breaking the cycle of abandonment for future generations.

Adam B. Coleman Family Separation Child Neglect Parental Accountability Western Culture Individualism

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The story provides a compelling personal narrative that highlights important issues related to family dynamics, cultural values, and parental responsibility. Its strengths lie in its emotional engagement and relevance to public interest topics. However, the story's impact is limited by its reliance on personal experiences without supporting data or diverse perspectives. The lack of transparency and source quality affects its credibility, while the subjective tone may influence reader perceptions. Overall, the story effectively raises awareness about significant societal issues but would benefit from a more balanced and evidence-based approach.

Accuracy

The story presents several claims about the impact of broken homes on children, cultural shifts towards individualism, and the importance of parental sacrifice. The claim that children from two-parent families generally have better outcomes is supported by some studies, but such outcomes can be influenced by various factors like socioeconomic status and parental involvement. The story lacks specific data or references to studies, which makes the claims less verifiable. The narrative on cultural shifts and individualism is subjective and not backed by empirical evidence within the story, requiring further verification through sociological studies. Additionally, while the personal experiences shared are compelling, they are anecdotal and cannot be generalized without broader data.

Balance

The story primarily presents a single perspective—that of the author, Adam B. Coleman, who shares his personal experiences and views on broken homes and parenting. While it effectively conveys his emotional journey, it lacks a balanced representation of other viewpoints. For instance, it does not consider the perspectives of parents who might face complex challenges leading to family separation or the potential positive outcomes for children in some single-parent families. The narrative leans heavily towards critiquing modern Western culture without providing counterarguments or acknowledging the diversity of family dynamics.

Clarity

The story is written in a clear and engaging manner, with a strong emotional tone that effectively conveys the author's personal experiences and perspectives. The narrative is structured around the author's reflections and insights, making it easy to follow. However, the tone is subjective and may influence the reader's perception of the issues discussed. While the language is accessible, the lack of objective data and references may lead to misunderstandings about the broader implications of the claims made.

Source quality

The story is largely based on the personal account and opinions of Adam B. Coleman, without referencing external sources or studies to support its claims. The reliance on a single source limits the credibility and reliability of the information presented. There is no indication that the author's views are corroborated by experts in the field of sociology or psychology, which would enhance the story's authority. The lack of diverse sources and expert opinions reduces the overall quality of the reporting.

Transparency

The story lacks transparency in terms of providing context or methodology for the claims made. There is no explanation of how the conclusions about family dynamics and cultural shifts were reached, nor is there any disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The narrative is primarily based on personal experiences, which are not clearly distinguished from generalized claims. This lack of transparency affects the reader's ability to assess the validity of the arguments presented.