The mother was mentioned in the letter as taking the child to the museum. Somehow I latched onto that and created the idea that the child was being raised by a single mother (don't know why). It could equally be both parents or just a father 'leading the child astray.' The point I was trying to make was geared towards how the child is getting guidance and what kind as opposed to who was actually giving it.

[edit] Upon further reflection, I may have been projecting my own mother a bit but, the gist of what I was saying doesn't depend on who the parent is (mother/father/both) -- at least I didn't intend it that way, if that's how it comes across.