> That assumes that their parents are the ultimate source of authority and in many cases they aren't.
They're in early age.
> Parents don't typically enforce much of a dress code for instance, but schools will often require uniforms
Ultimately it is on parents. If parents DGAF, kids are likely to stretch the dress code. At least here, schools can only call home and ask parents to make sure they will wear uniforms. Worst school can do is send kid home. Then it's on parents to enforce the uniform.
> Kids have to learn a different set of rules for different contexts
Different context. But multiple-mom-dads at home would be same context with simultaneous nodes.
> The only thing that seems to prevent it (or limit it anyway) is constant enforcement, but that's also usually limited to where they have authority
And with multiple-mom-dads it's likely there won't be constant, consistent enforcement.
We've a saying in my mother tongue that roughly translates to "9 nannies and the kid is headless". So far in my observations it's 120% true. Both in kids raising and elsewhere in life, e.g. project masnagement. If there's no single person who takes responsibility (or multiple persons coordinating fantastically well), you're in for a rough ride.