Logician-
you wrote “I think that’s a bit callous. Are there not agunos in pain ? Did the original version claim to be the only sad scenario out there ?”
without taking sides on this issue, just looking at the original version, it DOES strongly assume one sad scenario – namely that it’s the mother who is suffering – “their only wish is to Provide for their children a wholesome home where they can celebrate Shabbos With a loving mother (as opposed to a loving father) and step-father (not stepmother) together at the same table But, alas, it is impossible; these women (not men) must sit at a Shabbos or Yom Tov table with an endless hole in their hearts”
if one wants to be honest and not hypocritical then make the prayer gender neutral i.e. substitute the word ‘parent’ instead of writing ‘father’ or ‘mother’
if, on the other hand, one wants to ignore the fact that both parents are at times capable of this type of bad behavior, and instead always assume that it’s the father who’s wrong and that the mother can do no wrong, well then the original version should work just fine.
147 – every? that’s a bit strong. while there are definitely women who fit that description, for you to paint all of them in such a light does a dis-service to any party in such a situation who needs help – mother or father.