BOB Geldof has always struck me as an excellent parent - in spite of his unorthodox persona and family set-up.

He is dad to Fifi, Peaches and Pixie - his children with Paula Yates - and guardian to Tiger Lily, her daughter with pop star Michael Hutchence.

In a Channel 4 documentary to be screened next Monday he says, quite rightly, that divorce has appalling consequences for children, partners and the state.

He feels that individuals are to blame as their "because I'm worth it" philosophy puts their own interests first. He says we have become excessively selfish with unrealistic expectations of married life, and have "lost the ability to compromise."

He also states that "dual-parent upbringing produces healthier, better educated children."

Many of these are telling observations of how society has changed and, basically, how selfish we have become.

But I cannot agree completely with his assessment on parents and families.

In a perfect world, two, well-balanced parents rear children properly, instilling positive values in them and providing effective role models. The reality is sometimes that divorce, sensible custody and financial arrangements for parents and children is better than the living hell that is their domestic life.

Or - and this is the situation for thousands of individuals - lone parents, solo for a variety of reasons including choice, struggle to bring up their children the best they can.

Today, families can vary dramatically from a mum on her own with one or more children to two parents with a hybrid home of yours, mine and ours.

Most parents actually do their best, often under difficult circumstances, and in spite of surveys and crime figures which damn them at every turn.

Of course there are self-centred, uncaring parents uninterested in their children's development. Of course there are individuals far too quick to separate and unwilling to work at a relationship, for anyone's sake. But there are plenty of good parents around - in traditional two-parent relationships, alone or, dare I say it, in same sex relationships.

And, sorry Bob, it is unfair to dismiss them all and what they do because of the selfishness of just a proportion.