I didn't read it as a justification for inaction but rather a reality check. The tone of the parent seemed to imply that the current situation is somehow unusua

I didn't read it as a justification for inaction but rather a reality check. The tone of the parent seemed to imply that the current situation is somehow unusual or unexpected. The difference between "he's gone mad" which seems to imply that an urgent response is warranted versus "unsurprisingly, his long standing madness continues".