The sins of the father

The abuser begets abusers who beget abusers, much as the abuse distressed them.

A delinquent is much more likely to have children who are also delinquents.

Neglect breeds neglect.  Never embrace your children and they will not know how to embrace.  Not knowing how to embrace they cannot teach their children.

We inherit much more from our parents than genetically determined attributes^[1] and predispositions.  We also inherit their transgressions, their errors of judgment, their moral deficits.

Regrettably, unless we are self-aware^[2], motivated and effective, we will in turn pass these onto our children, and they to theirs.