wait years until a younger child is mature enough.) "The guard dog" (a parent who blindly attacks family members perceived as causing the slightest upset to their esteemed spouse, partner, or child.) "My baby forever" (a parent who will not allow one or more of their young children to grow up and begin taking care of themselves.) "The cheerleader" (one parent "cheers on" the other parent who is simultaneously abusing their child.) "Along for the ride" (a reluctant de facto, step, foster, or adoptive parent who does not truly care about their non-biological child, but must co-exist in the same home for the sake of their spouse or partner) (See also: Cinderella effect). "The politician" (a parent who repeatedly makes or agrees to children's promises while having little to no intention of keeping them.) "It's taboo" (parents rebuff any questions children may have about sexuality, pregnancy, romance, puberty, certain areas of human anatomy, nudity, etc.) Identified patient (one child, usually selected by the mother, who is forced into going to therapy while the family's overall dysfunction is kept hidden.) Münchausen syndrome by proxy (a much more extreme situation than above, where the child is intentionally made ill by a parent seeking attention from physicians and other professionals.) Dynamical Coalitions are subsystems within families with more rigid boundaries and are thought to be a sign of family dysfunction. The isolated family member (either a parent or child up against the rest of the otherwise united family.) Parent vs. parent (frequent fights amongst adults, whether married, divorced, or separated, conducted away from the children.) The polarized family (a parent and one or more children on each side of the conflict.) Parents vs. kids (intergenerational conflict, generation gap or culture shock dysfunction.) The balkanized family (named after the three-way war in the Balkans where alliances shift back and forth.) Free-for-all (a family that fights in a "free-for-all" style, though may become polarized when range of possible choices is limited.) Children Unlike divorce, and to a lesser extent, separation, there is often no record of an "intact" family being dysfunctional. As a result, friends, relatives, and teachers of such children may be completely unaware of the situation. In addition, a child may be unfairly blamed for the family's dysfunction, and placed under even greater stress than those whose parents separate. The six basic roles Children growing up in a dysfunctional family have been known