So true. Had a kid with major, major anger issues - yelling, throwing stuff, hurting other children etc. Dad shows up and it quickly becomes apparent that he's a bitter, angry prat who still hates Mum from the divorce (and his kid clearly knows it) and blames her for son's rage issues despite his "parenting techniques" involving telling his six year old that if he gets too angry his head will explode and showing him a video to illustrate. Mum came across as well-meaning but useless. I left the parent's evening wondering how the hell I was supposed to counteract 5 years of shit parenting in the 4 months I had remaining with their son.

Equally, another child whose behaviour was initially all over the place - he really struggled to focus on his work, didn't sit still, liked to charge around the playground etc. He soon calmed down with boundaries in place and became one of my best students. Parents were convinced he had ADHD and pushing hard for medication. Met them, dad is wearing his anarchism shirt, mum has a blue mohican and they tell me that they don't believe in telling children what to do. Both sons charged around the school hall screaming whilst dad occasionally gives a weak "[son's name], mate, do you want to come here?" until I eventually gave up and intervened, at which point their son immeadiately sat down and read a book quietly. But hey, why put a modicum of effort into disciplining your child when you could convince your doctor to drug them, ey?