Parenting Responsibilities: Where Do You Stack Up?
- Chris Theisen
- Dec 8
- 3 min read
Parenting is one of the most rewarding—and overwhelming—roles a person can take on. Every parent parents differently, every child learns differently, and every home runs on its own unique rhythm. But when we step back and look at parenting as a whole, there are general responsibilities that nearly all caregivers share, responsibilities that go far beyond the basics, and a surprising number of responsibilities parents often think they have but absolutely do not.
Let’s break it down and see where you stack up.
General Parenting Responsibilities
These are the foundational responsibilities that come with raising a human. They aren’t extraordinary—they’re simply part of the job description:
Providing for basic needs
Food, shelter, clothing, sleep, access to medical care—these are non-negotiables.
Creating a safe and stable environment
Both physically and emotionally. Kids need structure, consistency, and security.
Teaching right from wrong
Boundaries, expectations, accountability, and consequences help children grow into
responsible adults.
Modeling healthy behavior
Kids imitate what they see more than what they hear. Emotional regulation, communication, kindness, empathy, and resilience start at home.
Offering love, connection, and attention
Not perfection—but presence. A child who feels seen and valued builds internal security that lasts.
Parenting Responsibilities That Take It to a Whole New Level
Some responsibilities aren’t required, but parents who embrace them often create opportunities for stronger relationships and lifelong success.
Teaching life skills
From doing laundry to managing money, these “adulting” abilities set kids up for confidence and independence.
Supporting passions and individuality
Encouraging a child’s interests—not imposing your own—helps them develop identity and self-worth.
Guiding—not controlling—their path
Hardest job ever: letting children make choices, experience consequences, and learn from mistakes.
Prioritizing emotional education
Helping kids manage stress, communicate needs, and advocate for themselves is the new modern parenting MVP skill set.
Respecting the child as a human, not a project
Acceptance doesn’t mean agreement; it means a child’s voice matters in their own life.
These extra-mile responsibilities shape more than childhood—they shape future adults who thrive.
Responsibilities That Parents DON’T Have
And here’s where many parents feel guilty, judged, or overwhelmed: there is a long list of things parents are not required to do, no matter what the world, other parents, or even your child might suggest.
❌ Catering to their child’s every want
Needs are valid; wants are negotiable. Over-catering creates entitlement, not gratitude.
❌ Cleaning up after them forever
Teaching kids to clean up after themselves is respect—for you, the home, and themselves.
❌ Being their entertainment system
It’s okay for kids to be bored. Boredom fuels imagination, problem-solving, and independence.
❌ Preventing every failure
Failure (in safe doses) is experience. Experience builds resilience. Resilience builds character.
❌ Enabling unhealthy behaviors
Whether it’s avoidance, aggression, helplessness, or manipulation—rescuing repeatedly becomes enabling.
❌ Sacrificing your well-being for theirs
Parenting is noble, not martyrdom. Kids don’t need a perfect parent; they need a healthy one.
❌ Making their life easier than yours was
The goal is progress—not perfection, and not overcompensation.
Final Thought: Parenting Isn’t a Competition—It’s a Relationship
Wherever you stack up, remember this:
No parent excels in all areas, all the time.
Some days are “gold star” days.
Some days are survival days.
Both still count.
Parenting isn’t measured in grand gestures—it’s built in small, consistent ones: a listening ear, a hug on a hard day, teaching responsibility, modeling respect, creating safety, and loving them through every season.
So—where do you stack up?
Maybe exactly where you’re meant to be: learning, growing, and trying again tomorrow.
