The problem is compounded by (in the USA) middle class requiring 2 working parents increasingly in most places. We aren't built as humans to function like this.

I agree with you so much. That's an aspect that stood out in The Expanse series. Holden was from Earth and was brought up with many "fathers and mothers" I'm assuming through a time where it was difficult to have children

Looking at today it feels we'd alleviate a ton of parental pressure if we had households like that and not depend on the traditional couple.

I understand that in the novel series that sort of setup was encouraged by institutions (there is a vague mention of taxes), and in The United States this is setup is disincentivized by institutions. However if greater than two parent households was a genuinely preferable way to live I would expect more people to choose that lifestyle now.

"It takes a village to raise a child" [0] sums it up nicely.

Teenagers and adults also need a "third place" [1].

It's all about community. Current individualistic trends and cost of living undermine this.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_takes_a_village

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place

There's 5 of of us. Me, wife, wife's girlfriend, my girlfriend, and my girlfriend's boyfriend. To my kids me and my wife are mom and dad and responsible for primary parenting duties, but we're all one big family and help each other out. Not unlike cultures where it's normal to have many extended family members under one roof.

People lose their minds when I tell them I have three kids and that my wife and I have rarely ever had less than six hours of sleep.