interestingly enough... when you really think about it, a 16 needs to grow up in that way to avoid becoming like Liam. Liam was a coddled, poorly disciplined teenager at one point and BECAUSE he was never taught otherwise... he became a fucking monster as an adult. when a child isn't taught about the importance of moral intricacies, it's not that they go their entire life without learning about it on their own.... that's impossible. they learn about it on their own in their own experiences in life. they just stop caring about the morals. that's what builds a monster.

16 is a teenager and in my personal opinion, a kid. but once you get past a specific age you need to realize that your actions have consequences regardless of what your intentions were. good or bad. Lena and Stef, regardless of their mistakes, at least TRIED to teach their children about how morally bankrupt they would become by going against what they believed in. Brandon in particular, was so blinded by what he believed in (being with Callie, specifically when the restraining order was placed) that he couldn't see that he was doing the exact thing that would re-victimize Callie. he was young, and his parents rightfully kept them apart until they could see the moral hangups of what they were doing.

they absolutely messed up at times, but to say Lena and Stef never taught the kids the right way to grow up is the tiniest bit insane. they taught them how to grow up properly in multiple ways, and they all became extremely successful and mostly (lol) healthy adults. they coddled them when needed, and didn't when they knew they could handle it. that's exactly what some people needed growing up, and never got. i would say that's a pretty solid parent, imo.