Equal Responsibility
In the past, it was commonly believed that women should focus on taking care of children while men focused on being the breadwinners. However, this belief has changed and now both parents share equal responsibility in raising a child. Parenting is seen as a joint effort where one parent should not have more responsibility than the other for a child’s development. While mothers and fathers have different roles in parenting, both are equally important.
Fathers serve as role models for their sons and ideal husbands for their daughters, while mothers are viewed as sources of endless love for both sons and daughters. Both roles contribute to the healthy development of a child. When there is an imbalance in parental responsibility, it can lead to a child favoring one parent over the other. If one parent is absent due to work or other commitments, the child spends more quality time with the available parent. Consequently, this may result in unequal feelings of love towards both parents.
Imbalance in parental responsibility can cause social disconnection in the child when one parent carries most of the responsibilities due to lack of time from the other parent.
It is essential for parents to share equal responsibility in raising a healthy child, as studies indicate that when both parents are equally involved, the child is more likely to have a normal upbringing (Rosenburg). According to the divine plan, a child should be brought into the world by both a male and female. Since both genders contribute to their creation, it is only fair for them to have equal responsibility in raising them. The child does not exclusively belong to one parent; it would be unjust for one parent to assume greater responsibility. Carry Fitness, which promotes healthy lifestyles, states that societal expectations have changed and mothers no longer bear sole responsibility for family and household duties. Nowadays, mothers handle multiple roles alongside being a mother. However, this doesn’t exempt fathers from their responsibilities. While women traditionally take care of household chores and childcare tasks, there are now men who stay at home and fulfill these responsibilities while women pursue careers. Even if both parents cannot dedicate an equal amount of time to caring for the child, they can still find balance by sharing responsibilities whenever either parent has available time.
It is crucial for a child’s healthy development to have both parents actively involved in their care. The presence of both a mother and father is essential for the child’s overall growth and well-being. Each parent contributes uniquely to the child’s development, making them a well-rounded individual. The role of the father is particularly important in shaping the child’s development, as research shows that children with an active and engaged father perform better academically, displaying improved verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and higher academic success (Rosenburg). Moreover, having a father present has positive effects on a child’s emotional well-being because those who have strong relationships with their fathers are more likely to feel emotionally secure. Therefore, relying solely on the mother for raising a child would deprive them of these crucial aspects of development.
Collaboration between parents is essential for a child’s upbringing, as both the mother and father have important roles in their development. The quality of the parent-child relationship significantly impacts the child’s well-being and growth. Effective parenting requires teamwork, shared responsibilities, and consistent support from each parent. How parents treat each other greatly influences their children’s sense of security and overall happiness. Additionally, the individual relationships between each parent and child also affect their happiness and development. Research suggests that intense conflicts between parents can negatively impact children’s behavior and development (Moon). Children learn by observing how their parents interact, so it is crucial for both parents to equally assume responsibility to nurture a meaningful relationship. Unequal involvement from one parent can create emotional distance between the child and less involved parent.
The child’s perception of having only one parent who spends time with them may lead to feelings of abandonment (Moon). This can be particularly challenging for single parents with multiple children as individual attention may be limited. As a result, the child may resort to attention-seeking behavior, such as creating messes, screaming, or crying, in order to gain attention. These tactics can lead to the development of undesirable habits.
In Sumner’s essay “Marriage,” a similar issue is discussed where her husband fails to clean up after drinking milk at night despite her reminders; this habit proves unbreakable according to their marriage counselor (Convergences 463). It is possible that Sumner’s husband acquired this habit during his upbringing. Similarly, children who rely on problematic behavior for attention are also likely to develop ingrained habits.
To prevent these undesirable habits, it is crucial to ensure that both parents have equal responsibility for the child. In cases where one parent is absent, single parents must take on the roles of both mother and father. However, raising a child alone is not as effective as providing a stable two-parent household due to high divorce rates and many children lacking access to both parents’ involvement in their upbringing. The influence of a mother and father cannot be replicated by each other.When a single parent assumes complete responsibility, there is no backup or support available in case of any accidents. It is important for a child in a family to have an admired role model. Normally, children tend to look up to their same-sex parent as someone they aspire to be like (Campbell). For example, a son sees his father as an important male figure, while a daughter idolizes her mother.
When a daughter is raised by her father, whether due to divorce or lack of maternal responsibility, she lacks a female role model. The challenges faced by males and females differ, making it difficult for a father to fully raise a daughter alone. Without firsthand experience of being female, a father cannot provide the same level of support as a mother could. Sharing equal responsibility would ensure that the child receives necessary assistance. It is crucial for a child to have both parents rather than just one. For instance, my friend Jeffrey Le only has his father caring for him since his mother passed away when he was young. Consequently, Jeffrey’s outlook on life is negative and he has struggled in his education. Without the love and affection of a mother, Jeffrey is missing an essential aspect of his upbringing. Both parents possess the ability to instill moral lessons in their child; however, without one or the other parent present, certain lessons may be overlooked. Thus, Jeffrey only received half of the lessons that children with two parents would have learned.
Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that not every parent is flawless; everyone has their imperfections. In Scott’s short story “Report on the Difference between Men and Women,” these flaws in gender dynamics are explored as Scott’s husband requests frozen lemonade from her.
The story highlights that men have a preference for having tasks completed on their behalf rather than doing them themselves (461-462). This mirrors the dynamic between Scott and her husband, who complement each other through their imperfections, underscoring the significance of balance in parenting between mothers and fathers. During my own upbringing, both of my parents made efforts to raise me; whenever needed, my father and mother stepped in. The involvement of both parents in raising me allowed me to experience the love of both paternal and maternal figures, greatly contributing to my overall success in life. The teachings from both parents played a crucial role in shaping who I am today as each parent offered unique perspectives and knowledge that the other could not provide. This dual perspective enabled me to gain a wider range of experiences and understanding. Additionally, each parent made distinct contributions to my development; while my father imparted valuable lessons, my mother shared her thoughts and experiences which further enriched my upbringing. Being raised by two parents offers numerous advantages for children including financial, emotional, mental, and physical support. According to Sun Myung Moon’s “Raising Children in God’s Will,” parents have a vital role in guiding their child towards becoming an authentic person by providing for them based on their understanding of human nature. This process involves parents seeking guidance from society on how to be effective parents and taking the necessary steps to implement that advice.My parents played a crucial role in shaping me into the person I am today. They guided me and supported me at every step of my journey to help me become the individual I aspired to be. Through life’s lessons and experiences, they instilled in me a strong sense of morality. Their parenting style was strongly influenced by their aspirations for my future and their vision for my personal growth.
Both my father and mother took equal responsibility for my upbringing as their child, emphasizing the importance of balanced parental roles in a child’s development. It is crucial that both parents share the responsibilities of raising children as there is no adequate support when one parent assumes all the duties. With both parents actively involved, they can support each other in their parenting roles, recognizing that parenting is a collaborative effort rather than a one-person task.
Works Cited
Campbell, Janice L. “Why a Mother’s Happiness Matters.”Momscape: Your life – easier, betterand more balanced. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2010. . Moon, Rev. Sun Myung. “Parents’ Responsibility for Their Children’s Lives – Raising Children
“In God’s Will – Sun Myung Moon.” Reverend Sun Myung Moon, Moonies, and
the Unification Church in their own words. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2010.
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“Roles of Mothers in Society.” Natural Home Remedies. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Dec.
2010.
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Rosenburg, Jeffrey. “Fathers and Their Impact on Children’s Well-Being.”
Child Welfare
The web page titled “Information Gateway” provides information and can be accessed through the web. The source of this information is not specified.
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