Being a good parent means being selfless, caring, and attentive. These qualities are integral to being good parents.

Parenting is one of the most difficult, and yet most rewarding tasks a person can undertake. From working long, hard hours to provide for the needs of their children to providing adequate amounts of guidance, parents must do everything in their power to raise children to be responsible adults. With this being the case, it is important to identify what qualities make a person a good parent. Being selfless, caring, and attentive are a few of the most important.

Selflessness means that a parent must put the needs of their children before their own. A parent who only focuses on their own wants and needs is not being a good parent. If a child is neglected, hungry, or sick, the parent must be there to provide for their needs. This does not mean that the parent must sacrifice everything they have, but they must put their children’s needs above their own. Selflessness also encompasses a willingness to sacrifice one’s own desires to help the child. For example, a parent who refuses to allow their child to go out with a group of friends because they know that their friends are a bad influence is not being a good parent. Selflessness also includes giving to the child, not grasping for things the child can have or taking the child for granted.

Selflessness, however, does not mean that a parent must sacrifice their happiness. Parents who are selfless tend to do everything they can to ensure that their children are happy. There is no greater joy than seeing a child grow up into a healthy, happy adult. This does not mean, however, that a parent must ignore their own needs. A person who is selfish, but provides for their children, is a good parent. This is not necessarily a parent who thinks that their child’s happiness is more important than their own, but rather a parent who realizes that they are happier when they are with their child. Caring means putting the needs of the child above any concern for feeling. Parents who are constantly angry, yelling, and blaming their children when things go wrong are not good parents. Such parents may love their children, but their actions and words show that they do not care. A caring parent is patient, kind, and understanding. They do not take their children’s misbehaviors personally and do not take revenge. They simply forgive and move on. Although a selfish parent, such as one who ignores their child’s needs, may not care, if the selfish parent’s child is sick or hurt, they will try to provide for the child. This parent may neglect their own needs in the process, but they are still a caring parent.

Finally, being attentive means that a parent must be there for their children. This is not only being present physically, but also being present emotionally. A parent must be available to their children, to listen to their problems, and to be there when they need guidance. Supportive parents, who encourage their children and listen to them, are good parents. These parents also encourage their children to try new things and to set personal goals. These goals can be as simple as wanting to learn to knit or as complex as going to college. Parents who insist that their children have only one career, however, are not good parents; such parents may be focused on their own needs, rather than those of their teenager.

The important thing to remember is that being a good parent is impossible unless a parent is selfless, caring, and attentive. These qualities are integral to being good parents.