Nishitha Gopinath Week 9 - The Power of Parental Influence
The Power of Parental Influence
Growing up, a question that has always intrigued me is how much of my identity is actually shaped by my own choices, versus the influences of the people I choose to surround myself with. A conclusion that I’ve come to is that while friends, relatives, and even strangers play a role in shaping us throughout the course of our lives, it’s our parents that truly hold an unparalleled influence on who we become as adults.
The influence parents wield can be dual–both positive and negative– and starts from the earliest stages of childhood. With a parent being their child’s first example of how the real world behaves, their character traits, habits, and ideologies often become the blueprint for a child’s worldview. A mother with a perpetual thirst for knowledge, who bonds with her daughter by reading books, can inspire a lifelong love of learning in that child. A child who watches her father’s endlessly extroverted personality blossom in social circles can grow up to constantly crave the company of her friends and family.
But this immense power isn’t always wielded positively, and faulty parenting–whether due to poor decision-making, unresolved trauma, or unrealistic expectations–can leave lasting scars on that child throughout their journey into adulthood. For instance, a child exposed to her father’s rapid emotional fluctuations can grow up to struggle with emotional regulation herself. Similarly, a mother who struggles with expanding her comfort zone to embrace novel experiences can unknowingly inhibit her child from developing her own confidence to explore new opportunities or take risks in the pursuit of growth.
The sheer impact of a parent’s role cannot be underestimated, simply because it’s a position of power that shapes not only a single person but potentially the generations that follow. A parent’s encouragement can motivate their child to chase their dreams with resilience, while their shortcomings can become obstacles that a child must overcome. The enormity of this weight stresses the importance of intentional parenting: of always striving to be a source of moral support for your child, while still acknowledging your own drawbacks. It is a responsibility so exhaustive that it implies the reality that not everyone is fit to be a parent.
The role of the parent is one of the most enduring forces in shaping who we are as humans. From childhood to adulthood, their words, actions, and even their flaws influence the people we become and shape the values we carry forward. While a parent’s guidance can inspire perseverance and confidence, their mistakes can also serve as lessons that affect our ability to grow and overcome challenges.
Hello Nishitha,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your viewpoints on the power of parental influence. The moment we enter this world is driven by, more or less, power coming from your parents, or specifically your mother. Therefore, it is no coincidence that growing up, children try to imitate their parents, because their parents are the ones who they live with for a decent portion of their lives. However, I really like how you also chose to recognize the power of poor parenting. It is unfortunate that many children grow up with parents who could care less about them, or parents who, even though they try, fail to prepare their children for the hard times that come. But, I also believe it is equally important to recognize the absence of parenting. Many children are forced to grow up without a parent, or without both parents, which forces them to have no present role model in their lives, equally influencing them.
Hi Nishita! I agree completely with your blog post and it actually reminded me of a quote I read from one of my favorite books: Circe, by Madeline Miller. The quote is: "But perhaps no parent can truly see their child. When we look we see only the mirror of our own faults." Children adopt so many bits and pieces of their parents that, even when we don't think so, we often are the striking copy of what our parents have taught us, both the good and the bad. I love how you contrast, with examples, of how positive and negative influences can alter a child's life in your second and third paragraphs, and also how not all influences are purposeful. As you said, a mother may involuntarily pass her "struggles with expanding her comfort zone" onto her children". The mother in question might want nothing but the best for her children, but whether she wanted to or not her children have adopted some of her personality. I really like how you mentioned the crushing responsibility it takes to be a good parent, and why not everyone may be up for the task. It stresses just how much influence a parent can have on their child and why it should not be taken lightly. Overall, I really enjoyed and agree with your post and am looking forward to reading more soon!
ReplyDeleteHi Nishitha! First of all, I love your writing style or whatever you did here because wow. Just wow. I feel like I'm reading a sophisticated essay! This week's topic is such a powerful one because I always think that one's childhood determines their adulthood. I appreciate your writing of both sides because certain people struggle to realize that there is no guidebook on parenting. It's really just two adults who end up with a baby and think, "well, what do I do now?", because the way that someone gains their parental insight is simply through the natural process of getting accustomed and trusting their instincts. However, just as much as I would like to give parents the benefit of the doubt, others take advantage of it. My sister once told me that she thinks "all children deserve parents, but not all parents deserve children", which I think is true (to an extent). It's important to shape a kid and influence them through proper parenting. After all, the way I think of it is that parents teach kids the essential life lessons and discipline before the world gets to in a much harsher way. It's truly walking on a tightrope when it comes to taking care of a kid because every individual is different and reacts to their environment in various ways. This, however, doesn't mean that parents should take that with a grain of salt. Whatever it may be, it is always important to ensure the prioritization of a child's needs. In the end, the way a kid is treated decides the way they impact others, which all together might end up biting the parents in the back at one point. Amazing blog, though! Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteHello Nishitha!
ReplyDeleteI truly agree with most, if not all, of your points regarding how our parents impact the people we grow to be. I feel that as your first teachers, authority figures, and friends our parents are the people we spend the most time with in our most important years of development so a lot of what we do is just a replication of what we observe them doing. I truly agree that our parents above any other group have a direct influence on us whether that be by nature or nurture. Overall, I truly enjoyed reading what you had to say this week and look forward to reading your next blog.