Parents shape and influence their children’s behavior. This is an undisputable fact backed up by countless studies from different focuses.
Parents will have the greatest negative and/or positive impact on your life. There are scenarios where one parent is not as crucial as the other, but in some way, your mom/dad influenced who you are today.
I can look back on my life and the decisions I have made, and say that my parents greatly influenced what I chose to do. Obviously, there were times when I went against my parents’ thinking, but they still affected what I did in some way. My mother has shaped my character tremendously. My father passed when I was in high school, but my mother’s strength in dealing with that situation helped me get through it.
I still hang on to the things she told me as a young kid. Keeping personal business personal, not telling people about your money and evaluating people’s trust are just a few things she instilled in me.
The main thing I feel children get from their parents is an all-important moral compass. Every human needs the ability to tell right from wrong.
My parents helped me develop this moral compass. I know what to do or not to do in any given situation. People that lack a moral compass will do any and everything without thinking about consequences.
I use the word “shape” to describe behavior because that is what parents should do.
Nobody has the exact same values, opinions or beliefs as their parents. As time changes, people’s thoughts on things should evolve. If beliefs didn’t evolve, slavery would still exist, women still wouldn’t be able to vote and cocaine would still be in Coke.
Parents should want to be a role model for their kids. Being role models and instilling character into the youth of the world is an important job. When kids see their parents doing something, they will mimic that behavior. Because of this, parents are indeed role models whether they want to be or not.
At the end of the day, parents are role models that help shape a kid’s life. Both good and bad parents influence their children and this is why parenting still matters. With technology and social media growing, parents are needed to help shape and support the younger generation’s morals.
Nobody, including myself, will know the impact of parenthood until they become a parent. Growing up is stressful and annoying at times.
Having steady parents to help guide you through life is something most people need.