Chapter 1 Parenting: A Rewarding Choice 15
Look at the titles of this textbook and
this chapter. You see the terms parents and
parenting. Between these two words in the
dictionary, you will find the related term
parenthood. What do the three terms mean?
When you look up parent, you will find
that the meaning has two parts—a person
who gives birth to offspring and brings
up and cares for a child. Does the term
parent include grandparents or other family
members who raise a child, too? What about
nannies, child care teachers, school teachers,
scout leaders, coaches, and countless other
leaders of children’s programs who help
care for and raise a child? Although they are
not called parents, they do help raise a child.
When considering all these aspects, the term
parent applies to the following:
the mother and father responsible for
their child’s birth
the actions of a mother and a father in
caring for and raising a child
other people who care for a child by
serving the role of mother or father, such
as adoptive parents and foster parents
Related to the term parent is the word
parenting. Parenting is the act or process
of raising a child. It involves meeting the
child’s needs to age 18 or sometimes longer.
Parenting also means guiding a child toward
the goal of becoming a competent adult.
Biological, adoptive, and foster parents, as
well as family members, teachers, and others
can handle the process of raising children.
A role is a set of behaviors related
to a certain function you assume in life.
Parenthood refers to the role of parenting
in society. Parenthood is a highly valued
role that involves legal rights and
responsibilities. Because of these rights
and responsibilities, parents can make
many decisions about how to raise a child.
It is their legal right to make responsible
decisions. Responsible decisions are those
considered to be good for the child by
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moral and legal standards. When parental
decisions are thought to be harmful to
the child, the child can be removed from
the family and those legal rights ended.
Examples include cases of neglect or abuse.
At some time in life, most people become
parents. Of those who remain childless,
many handle parenting tasks for other family
members or friends. Sometimes they hold
careers that involve parenting tasks, such as
child care or teaching.
As you study parenting, think about
how you were raised. Also consider your
observations of parents and their children,
and your thoughts about ideal parenting.
Compare these views with what is known
about competent parenting. Consider
the challenges and the opportunities of
parenthood.
In this chapter, you will learn about
the job of parents, myths about the job of
parenting, and the responsibilities and
rewards of parenthood. This chapter will also
explain why parenting education is needed
and how to make the most of your studies.
The Job Description
Parenting is a series of related jobs and
work experiences. In this sense, parenting is
often called a career. It is probably the most
exciting and challenging career a person can
have.
Suppose you were reading the want
ads online or in your local newspaper and
discovered the ad in 1-1. Would a job like this
interest you? Why or why not?
You would probably not accept a job, even
one that looks interesting, before knowing
its responsibilities and salary. Likewise,
you should not become a parent before
learning about that career’s qualifications,
responsibilities, and rewards.
While reading the job description, did
you notice the qualifications for parenting?
Several factors determine whether a person is