In my story the parents are all still alive, but they're part of the problem.

Kinda like my real life, actually

Same

I have a whole list of "I'm not sure I could write that kind of book, but I'd love to try someday" which now includes eldritch horror

The point of playing Sims is to have those tiny people work out your problems for you

Completely valid

Merlin from Sword in the Stone

Everybody was kung-gu fighting,
Those dinos were fast as lightning
(Raptor squacks)

And when it starts to reach the top, they pay for an add-on to make it taller