The real point of 'leaving father and mother' is that the marriage relationship takes priority over the parental relationship.

Mike argues the passage establishes that the husband-wife unit is the center of human culture and family, taking priority over parental relationships. The family unit is husband and wife, not a multi-generational patriarchal structure. He notes this is often forgotten in marriage counseling -- if commitments to parents hurt the spousal commitment, the spouse takes priority.