Here is what you appear not to understand: 1, a child’s peer group has a very big influence; perhaps more than parents. 2, poor parents have less time. Commonly, there isn’t enough time between the parents getting home and bedtime for younger kids to eat, bathe, do a few chores and do homework. I lived this. I was a much better mother before my children’s father left. There are not enough hours in school the day. I never made another parent teacher conference after my divorce, and not because I didn’t want to.