What is the Role of a Parent?

Parenting in today's world is probably one of the mostAuthoritative parenting requires parents to be firm in
difficult tasks of all. What is the role of a parent?raising children, rearing them on love and warmth,
Where do you draw the line on authority? Who doesteaching and guiding, avoiding harsh discipline and being
what in their role as parents? What are yourclear in what they expect from the child, yet flexible
responsibilities as a parent? Parents today need all thewhen necessary. In order to be a good parent you
help they can get and this article seeks to answerhave to walk a fine line between overindulging and
some of the more baffling questions that plagueoverbearing in your treatment of children.
modern day parents.Families that make the effort to have family time
What is the role of a parent in the old fashionedsessions, share information, fun and laughter at
context was for the father to take on the authoritativemealtimes, and participate in the decision making will
role of provider and protector and the mother tocontinue to strengthen the bond that binds. There is a
nurture. We would be hard pressed to maintain thisvery popular saying, "Families that pray together, stay
concept in a society such as ours. Both parents worktogether." I would like to stretch that to include those
and more often than not single parenting seems to befamilies that share and care build an interdependency
the norm.and oneness that continues to grow over time. Treat
Children need to know and accept that parents are inyour children with respect and they will learn to
charge. Raise your children on love and teach themrespect you. If you have older children, involve yourself
the art of respecting people. Honesty, truthfulness,in their lives without intruding. Smaller children are easier
sincerity are virtues you can inculcate in your child withto manage, get them involved even in your shopping
the right kind of upbringing. Teaching your child moralsactivities and weekly cleaning and you will find they
and values in life is not something that is picked up asmake willing helpers.
your child grows, rather something that is taught fromChildren need to feel loved and wanted and that is the
the knee high stage onward.main focus of what is the role of a parent in a child's
What is the role of a parent? It certainly isn't a dictator!life.