“Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the intricacies of raising a child and not exclusively to the biological relationship.” (Wikipedia).

It is the process of nurturing and training a child from infancy to adulthood. It is a deliberate act of planting virtues and moral values in a child with the aim that the child would grow to be a complete person.

This process is very important because lack of it can lead to character deficiency in the child involved. Whether as biological parents or foster parents, someone who has been well fathered must play the role of a father and someone who has been properly mothered must play the role of a mother.

So who is a father? A father is the male parent, a nurturer, a role model, a guide, an influencer, a shaper of character , an instiller of discipline, a judge, a protector, a provider, and a leader.

Who is a mother? A mother is the female parent, a carer, a homekeeper, a discerner, a moral support, a warmth provider and an emotional support.

Every child needs both the fatherly and motherly figures. The absence of either can significantly affect the complete formation of character for the child.

We will continue in this series by looking at each of the qualities of a father and mother next week.

Have a great week ahead.

Adewumi Oni

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