The 'yes daddy' was awful Iam. Children are so easily manipulated but whatever the abuse they sadly tend to still love the parent concerned. He is more likely to hold it against Helen for not being there for him I fear.
This is from the 'Pip Archer' biography on the BBC Character page:
But as she got older, she showed worryingly wayward tendencies. In 2010, she had a disastrous affair with a much older student. And once she got to University she threw herself far too enthusiastically into the social side, to the detriment of her work - both academically and on the farm at home. But nearly failing her first year pulled her back on track.
Are they showing she still makes bad decisions? Poor David and Ruth; I don't see Josh becoming a pillar of society either, but I suppose he has time to mature.