I know a lot of terrible parents, and they aren't all dead-beats or alcoholics, they're just assholes who treat their families like shit. If one of the parental figures is an emotionally abusive person, then it'd probably be a net benefit to the family if that person were a workaholic who doesn't spend much time with the kids. Sure, they probably shouldn't have had a family in the first place, but it doesn't always work out that way. Not just anyone can stay at home and raise the family.