From what I've seen the community functions perfectly well like this. There is a community and familial responsibility
which is accepted as normal. Children are seen as an important part of life here, not some financial burden as in so-called developed countries.
The illusion of happy family life as presented on our western commercials is not considered a requirement and children here are celebrated,with or without wedlock.
I see the kids going to and from school, coming for baseball games, playing on the street and generally being pretty much kids.
This is unlike the community of fear and overprotection now engendered in our "first world".
In a small, sleepy town in Florida not so long ago I watched as armed school crossing wardens herded kids along.
I did find that quite astonishing.
I could not imagine deciding to make my life in a country which so many here seem to denigrate,judge by other principles and hate...
Baffles me completely...
Totally agree with your first world culture of fear comments. But your idealizing how things are in the DR...generations of kids
are From broken homes.
No amount of "it takes a village " karma...which is present to a degree..true, can make up for, polygamy,
broken homes, domestic violence, parents whom sometimes both have more
Interest in disco and dominos, casting aside all responsibility for their kids assuming Tia or abuela will pick up the slack.
These kids I see daily when in the barrio, are damaged goods treated marginally better than street dogs . Who will grow up to
repeat the cycle.
A majority of the millions of barrio kids will grow up in these households. Some will even make it past 8th grade and later
hop the metro and get a quasi education At UASD...but make no mistake, infidelity, pregnancy, and irresponsible parenting
is epidemic and suffocating to family Stability and child rearing for an alarming if not majority of kids in the DR.