Realities of Parenthood
9:58 PM
When I was young I had a notion,
That parenthood was no mean obligation,
That there is no need for commotion,
And such heavy emotion.
Soon enough I found out,
What the heck it was all about,
And there was no trace of doubt,
For my children I will face a bout.
Parenthood
Parenthood is defined as a state of being a father or a mother to a child or children. The scientific definition is quite cold as it refers to a parent as any organism that produces another or is simply a source or origin of the offspring. In the human context and in some animal species, parenthood is much more than giving birth to a child in the case of the mother or providing the means to complete the process of procreation in the case of the father.
Parenthood carries the responsibility of raising and nurturing a child. It includes providing for the physical, emotional, material, and all other needs that will help a child develop into a responsible human being who is expected to continue the cycle to his or her own children. It also includes involvement in the many idiosyncrasies of growing up and a child's path to self-discovery.
The Parenthood Journey
"Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now
I have six children, and no theories" [John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester]
Most people think that they know what they are getting themselves into when they decide to get married and have children. They have certain standards and rules set for all the members of the family to follow. They find out soon enough that there is not such thing as hard-fast rules in raising children. The journey of parenthood is marked by adjustments, compromises, and giving.
Parents will have theories of how they should bring up their children and then there is reality. All theories are usually based on an ideal setting wherein everything happens as planned. Since a family is composed of human beings each having their own will and thinking, it would be a miracle if a family proceeds through life without any hitch.
Acceptance of Parental Responsibility
Parents will have to eliminate the thinking that they can control the children. Control is only possible up to that time when children need it such as in very early childhood. Once the children can think on their own, parents would have to be ready to adopt to the situation. Acceptance of the very essence of the parental role makes it a lot easier for parents to understand how they should approach parenting.
Children will have to be provided with their physical and material needs and parents have to work to be able to do this. Children will need emotional support and parents need to be present in their children's life to give this. Children will need to do some growing up on their own and parents need to step back a little to allow this.
My Say
Parenthood has humbled me a lot. As I learn more about my responsibility of guiding my children as they grow up, the more I understand that extraordinary opportunity I have been given of helping mold a human being not by force nor by authority but by love and dignity.
That said, parents will do well to dream, hope, and persevere while facing with strength and wisdom the realities of parenthood.
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