They're too busy playing "buddy" and/or "pal" to kids. The rest don't put any more effort into being parents than anything else they do.  Figure they went to all the effort to produce them,, jobs done once they come out into the world....

Many people lack committment to a job, raising kids is a fulltime job,, and the parents are drawing unemployment benefits.....

Edit..  "  both parents are highly educated and were/are very good athletes."    Has exactly ZERO to do with being a good parent. Actually,,, those parents are in a deficit situation with the Parental qualifications "highly educated" and "very good athletes". 

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