No, I don't think that it de facto makes it primarily about the parent, but I think a case can be made that in Angel's particular situation it was primarily about his own vanity.

I'm not sure I agree 100%, but as Shadowkat said, we all watch the show differently.

I do agree with her that Angel took the easiest way out and that the way he chose was morally heinous. He raped the minds of the Fang Gang just as badly as Willow raped Tara's mind and I don't think there is any excuse for it. With his resources there were any number of ways he could have dealt with that situation. Any number of witches he could have contacted to incapacitate Connor long enough to diffuse the situation and make a solid attempt at getting him the psychological help he needed. He chose to wipe the slate clean, sign any and all responsibility for Connor over to someone else, and start over so that no one could see how badly he'd botched the job of fatherhood. He couldn't live with the idea that he might just be as bad a father as his own was so he erased all the evidence. I do think that's horrible, and irresponsible, and vain.