I do not agree with anything that you said. The mother should show her husband proper respect as head of the household and should teach her children to do the same.
It is obvious that this woman does not give a tinker’s darn about her children, or she would not have shacked up with the ex-con that beat her up. In this action, she also chose to dishonor her husband and her marriage.
While the couple should concentrate on making their marriage the center of it all, they must, also, make sure that the decisions they make will benefit the welfare of their children and not harm them. Choices such as mommy’s shacking up with some thug would fall into the latter category.
Believe me, I know what you mean when you speak of children who have been raised with a false sense of entitlement, as I used to teach high school.
I agree that the mother should show respect for the husband, and submit accordingly, but the husband also has the duty and obligation to serve her as Christ served the church, with sacrifice, as pointed out in Ephesians. If they do this, then the welfare of the children will more than likely be taken care of, as both parents will raise them with the ultimate show of love for a child, discipline and limits.
Your point about mommy shacking up is well taken. I was basing my comment on the supposition that once with said thug, she was going to make a proper go of it, and "act" like a couple should act. Of course, the relationship was doomed from the start, as it was not Christ-centric, and was all about each other's own needs. And yes, her first mistake was dishonoring her husband, and I pray that she has learned her lesson and that God will bless the reuniting of that family. It will be hard, and God will be necessary, because much forgiveness and grace will have to take place.