being a good parent

Most humans crave to become parents because of biological and psychological needs. But are they ready to be good parents, i.e. parents with the know-how of good parenting in all the crucial stages of a child? It is one thing to be a successful husband or wife. It’s quite another thing to be a good parent. To be a good parent one must be selfless, responsible, hardworking on moulding their children’s character, getting them to study, coaching them in life skills, in interpersonal relationships, in leadership, in multi-tasking, giving the child a vision for his/her future, speaking to the child, playing with the child, watching over the child, looking for triggers, anxieties, fears, bursts of anger etc. Good parents spend a lot of their own time with their child/children. Their lives revolve around their children. Good parents waste themselves on their children without looking forward to anything in return for themselves. Good parents are willing not to be preoccupied with themselves and turn their attention and energies fully towards their children in order to give their children the right nurture, love, attention, and companionship. Even accomplished, wealthy, and cultured people fail at being good parents because they never foresaw what would come and what would be demanded of them. Being a good parent isn’t the same as being a good conjugal partner to your spouse. The two relationships are entirely different though one results from the other. The role of a parent in a family is completely different from the role of a husband or wife within a marriage. As one prepares for marriage one must also prepare to be a parent and to rear children. Parenting is responsibility. It is a burden one must be willing and happy to endure. It is a life change one must look forward to and not stumble into because of one’s own biological needs.