Many children are born to lives of poverty in this country- to young single parents, ill-educated, ill-equipped to look after them. They grow up with often insecure, chaotic home lives, in poor housing, with decreased life chances, and are more likely to end up in care or with poor educational experiences and repeating the patterns of their parents mistakes.
I'd bet the children of the Ramseys and the Coren-Mitchells don't suffer that insecurity, poverty, reliance on the State, poor housing, poor education and any lack of stability .
Any child can lose a parent at any age. I'd rather grow up with two parents in a secure home, who are mature, in a happy relationship, decent housing, have a good education and have 30 years of the best chances in life. The damage done to many children by poor parenting is lifelong.
My parents were in their mid- 40s when I was born. I was an only child. They were very happily married for many years before they had me. Not well-off but financially stable, emotionally stable, it was a happy, secure, clean, warm home and I was really loved and well-looked after physically and emotionally. School was important, reading, I had decent clothing, a comfortable bedroom, holidays, was encouraged to do well at school. I went to university (first generation in our family) - because of my parents support and encouragement. I was encouraged to be independent and to think fir myself. My dad died, unexpectedly, after an operation in my early 20s (nothing to do with his age, an allergic reaction to something in the operation)and my mam 13 years later. I feel very grateful to have had them as parents- not deprived of anything by the fact they were older. They enhanced my life in every way. If I'd had older siblings I'm sure I'd have felt supported by a relationship with them.