In The Father-Thing the only ones able to stop the possibly alien bug and cocoon 'people' from taking over the world are three kids. I found it odd that in this story the adults - mainly the mother - did not play a significant role in saving the world from the 'things'. She idly stood by. Was not phased by the fact her "husband" was running around trying to spank her child, which seemed out of the ordinary. The story even describes the 'Ted' as "grim", "hard and dark", like there is an aura to him that was not there before.
Even though this story was written in the 50's and maybe the wife is not questioning her 'husband' because of the family relationships and wife knowing their place and not questioning their husband, but the 'husband' ends up chasing the child around the house, almost preying on the child. The 'things' are defeated on by the children. They are able to move past the unlikelihood that this could be happening and accept the new sci-fi reality there are placed in. Maybe since kids still have a sense of wonder and imagination, the acceptance of their circumstance doesn't seem too out of the ordinary. Peretti took a little convincing, but still believed Charles enough to follow him to his garage. Daniels just starts looking for whatever is controlling the father-thing right away, no questions asked. The faith they put in Charles is amazing. They accept the predicament he describes to them and do whatever they can do take care of it. They are brave and methodical. When the father-thing becomes limp they immediately think there is something controlling it and even the very last line of the story portrays their dedication.
The adults have already accepted a reality they believe they are in. Children have yet to understand and disregard anything out of the ordinary that could occur. Therefore, when out of the ordinary events happen, they are more willing to accept them and take them for what they are. This is why only the children are able to save the day.
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