My parents were together my whole youth growing up.
Barely.....
When I was 9 and we were living in Cleveland my Mom got fed up with my Pops and his playa ways and told him she was taking me and my older sister to Texas (she graduated college in Texas). In a last ditch effort my Dad said he was coming too and he needed a change of scenary. We moved to texas and still had some issues but overall we held it down as a fam.
My Mom passed away when I was 20. She left me plenty of jewels but damn right at that time I had a baby on the way and was bullshytting in college.
Even from 20y/o up its hard without both parents.
I got alot of respect for those who grew up in 1 parent household man and are still out here being productive adults, I used to be envious of all my friends whose Dads weren't around cause they could stay out as late as they wanted, have girls over their crib at night, wear whatever they wanted, But when I got older i realize what my parents were doing and now that I have kids it all makes sense