Copying a C++ class with a member variable of reference type

Question

I've a class which stores a reference to its parent, the reference is passed in the constructor. If I try to copy an instance I get an error "error C2582: 'operator =' function is unavailable" presumably down to the reference being non-assignable.

Is there a way around this, or do I just change the variable to pointer instead of reference?

e.g (over-simplified but I think has the key points):

class MyClass
{
public:
 MyClass(OtherClass &parent) : parent(parent) {}
private:
 OtherClass &parent;
};

MyClass obj(*this);
.
.
.
obj = MyClass(*this);

Answer 1

There is a way to do it and still use a reference, use a reference_wrapper. So

    T& member;

becomes

    std::reference_wrapper<T> member;

Reference wrappers are basically just re-assignable references.

Answer 2

I don't recommend this at all

but if you are really gung ho about doing this:

#include <new>

MyClass::MyClass(const MyClass &rhs): parent(rhs.parent)
{
}

MyClass &MyClass::operator=(const MyClass &rhs)
{
    if (this!=&rhs)
    {
        this->~MyClass();
        new (this) MyClass(rhs);
    }

    return *this;
}