Definition of the word parents

Collaborative Dictionary     English Definition

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A parent is a caregiver of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is the caretaker of a child (where «child» refers to offspring, not necessarily age). A biological parent is a person whose gamete resulted in a child, a male through the sperm, and a female through the ovum. Biological parents are first-degree relatives and have 50% genetic meet. A female can also become a parent through surrogacy. Some parents may be adoptive parents, who nurture and raise an offspring, but are not biologically related to the child. Orphans without adoptive parents can be raised by their grandparents or other family members.

A parent can also be elaborated as an ancestor removed one generation. With recent medical advances, it is possible to have more than two biological parents.^[1][2][3] Examples of third biological parents include instances involving surrogacy or a third person who has provided DNA samples during an assisted reproductive procedure that has altered the recipients’ genetic material.^[4]

The most common types of parents are mothers, fathers, step-parents, and grandparents. A mother is, «a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.»^[5] The extent to which it is socially acceptable for a parent to be involved in their offspring’s life varies from culture to culture, however one that exhibits too little involvement is sometimes said to exhibit child neglect,^[6] while one that is too involved is sometimes said to be overprotective, cosseting, nosey, or intrusive.^[7]

Types[edit]

Biological[edit]

A person’s biological parents are the persons from whom the individual inherits their genes. The term is generally only used if there is a need to distinguish an individual’s parents from their biological parents, For example, an individual whose father has remarried may call the father’s new wife their stepmother and continue to refer to their mother normally, though someone who has had little or no contact with their biological mother may address their foster parent as their mother, and their biological mother as such, or perhaps by her first name.^{[citation needed]}

Mother[edit]

A mother is a female who has a maternal connection with another individual, whether arising from conception, by giving birth to, or raising the individual in the role of a parent.^[8] More than one female may have such connections with an individual. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother’s social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to define a mother to suit a universally accepted definition. The utilization of a surrogate mother may result in explication of there being two biological mothers.^[9]

Father[edit]

A father is a male parent of any type of offspring.^[10] It may be the person who shares in the raising of a child or who has provided the biological material, the sperm, which results in the birth of the child.

Grandparent[edit]

Grandparents are the parents of a person’s own parent, whether that be a father or a mother. Every sexually reproducing creature who is not a genetic chimera has a maximum of four genetic grandparents, eight genetic great-grandparents, sixteen genetic great-great-grandparents and so on. Rarely, such as in the case of sibling or half-sibling incest, these numbers are lower.

Paternity issues[edit]

A paternity test is conducted to prove paternity, that is, whether a male is the biological father of another individual. This may be relevant in view of rights and duties of the father. Similarly, a maternity test can be carried out. This is less common, because at least during childbirth and pregnancy, except in the case of a pregnancy involving embryo transfer or egg donation, it is obvious who the mother is. However, it is used in a number of events such as legal battles where a person’s maternity is challenged, where the mother is uncertain because she has not seen her child for an extended period of time, or where deceased persons need to be identified.

Although not constituting completely reliable evidence, several congenital traits such as attached earlobes, a widow’s peak, or the cleft chin, may serve as tentative indicators of (non-) parenthood as they are readily observable and inherited via autosomal-dominant genes.

A more reliable way to ascertain parenthood is via DNA analysis (known as genetic fingerprinting of individuals), although older methods have included ABO blood group typing, analysis of various other proteins and enzymes, or using human leukocyte antigens. The current techniques for paternity testing are using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. For the most part, however, genetic fingerprinting has all but taken over all the other forms of testing.

Roles and responsibilities[edit]

Guardianship[edit]

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority (and the corresponding duty) to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward. Guardians are typically used in three situations: guardianship for an incapacitated senior (due to old age or infirmity), guardianship for a minor, and guardianship for developmentally disabled adults.

Most countries and states have laws that provide that the parents of a minor child are the legal guardians of that child, and that the parents can designate who shall become the child’s legal guardian in the event of death, subject to the approval of the court. Some jurisdictions allow a parent of a child to exercise the authority of a legal guardian without a formal court appointment. In such circumstances the parent acting in that capacity is called the natural guardian of that parent’s child.

Parenting[edit]

Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship.^[11]

Gender and gender mix[edit]

A child has at least one biological father and at least one biological mother, but not every family is a traditional nuclear family. There are many variants, such as adoption, shared parenting, stepfamilies, and LGBT parenting, over which there has been controversy.

The social science literature rejects the notion that there is an optimal gender mix of parents or that children and adolescents with same-sex parents suffer any developmental disadvantages compared with those with two opposite-sex parents.^[12][13] The professionals and the major associations now agree there is a well-established and accepted consensus in the field that there is no optimal gender combination of parents.^[14] The family studies literature indicates that it is family processes (such as the quality of parenting and relationships within the family) that contribute to determining children’s well-being and «outcomes,» rather than family structures, per se, such as the number, gender, sexuality and co-habitation status of parents.^[13]

Genetics[edit]

Parent–offspring conflict[edit]

An offspring who hates their father is called a misopater, one that hates their mother is a misomater, while a parent that hates their offspring is a misopedist.^[15][16] Parent–offspring conflict describes the evolutionary conflict arising from differences in optimal fitness of parents and their offspring. While parents tend to maximize the number of offspring, the offspring can increase their fitness by getting a greater share of parental investment often by competing with their siblings. The theory was proposed by Robert Trivers in 1974 and extends the more general selfish gene theory and has been used to explain many observed biological phenomena.^[17] For example, in some bird species, although parents often lay two eggs and attempt to raise two or more young, the strongest fledgling takes a greater share of the food brought by parents and will often kill the weaker sibling, an act known as siblicide.

Empathy[edit]

David Haig has argued that human fetal genes would be selected to draw more resources from the mother than it would be optimal for the mother to give, a hypothesis that has received empirical support. The placenta, for example, secretes allocrine hormones that decrease the sensitivity of the mother to insulin and thus make a larger supply of blood sugar available to the fetus. The mother responds by increasing the level of insulin in her bloodstream, the placenta has insulin receptors that stimulate the production of insulin-degrading enzymes which counteract this effect.^[18]

Having children and happiness[edit]

In Europe, parents are generally happier than non-parents. In women, happiness increases after the first child, but having higher-order children is not associated with further increased well-being. Happiness seems to increase most in the year before and after the first childbirth.^[19]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• National Educational Network, Inc. (NENI) – free online resources for parent education, curriculum. They also have a parent blog with information about child care, after-school, trends in education, tutoring, college, grants, etc.
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). «Parents» . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. – A Roman Catholic view of the position of parents.

Depending on your point of view, you might not be ­surprised to learn that permissive parents don’t get more truth-telling from their teens than stricter ­parents. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Promoted to Headline (H3) on 3/26/09: Is parents ‘rally in Boston a harbinger of wider protests? yahooBuzzArticleHeadline =’ Is parents ‘rally in Boston a harbinger of wider protests?’ ❋ Unknown (2009)

In Honor of Anthony and Mary Guarisco (A Son’s Tribute to his parents ‘many accomplishments in life) yahooBuzzArticleHeadline =’ In Honor of Anthony and Mary Guarisco (A Son’s Tribute to his parents ‘many accomplishments in life)’; yahooBuzzArticleSummary = ‘Article: Operation Crossroads was a series of two 23-kiloton plutonium atomic bomb tests in which the US government used 42,000 of its own uniformed citizens as guinea pigs. ❋ Unknown (2008)

” In pure Malay society, we are told, a man is never asked his name, and the custom of naming parents after their children is adopted only as a means of avoiding the use of the parents’ own names. ❋ Unknown (1922)

Marriage without consent of parents they do not make void, but they mulct19 it in the inheritors: for the children of such marriages are not admitted to inherit above a third part of their parents’ inheritance. ❋ Unknown (1909)

Young persons need to be reminded, however, that even the impiety of parents is no sufficient reason for disrespecting them _as parents_; and if you possess the inestimable treasure of religion, it will be best evinced in soothing the cares, ministering to the necessities, and setting an example of every duty before the eyes of those who are still so unhappy as to be destitute of it. ❋ Francis Augustus Cox (1818)

Luz is 43 years old and lives with her 3 children and parents in her parents´ house. ❋ Unknown (2009)

School district officials ought to have the authority to send violent kids under 18 to state boarding schools *without the consent of their parents* if disciplinary problems inside and outside the school committed by the violent kids are proven and properly documented – if a trial by the district convicts the children, the children will be sent away and will be unable to leave, and the parents will only be able to get them out if the conviction is reversed. ❋ Unknown (2009)

(γονεῖς): these are — parents, grandparents and _their parents_, if they are still alive: ❋ Unknown (1906)

My cousin Wendy has moved back home and is staying with her parents (my Rocking Aunt and Uncle who I adore and wish had been MY OWN parents… ❋ Trulypoetic (2005)

Throughout this chapter, I use the word parents only for convenience. ❋ Sean Covey (2006)

For since it was likely they would say, ` Can you not have both us and ours? ‘he adds with much grace this excuse for them, saying, «For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children;» instead of teachers and disciples, employing the term parents and children, and showing that he does as a matter of duty what was not of duty. ❋ Editor (1889)

If one of your parents is addicted to gambling the odds are high that you will be as well, research has revealed. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Dear Frank, the archive of my parents is accessible at the Deutsche Museum in Munich. ❋ Unknown (2009)

Moving in with your parents is always a strange thing. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Taking children away from their parents is a very big deal and should never be done without an exceptionally good reason. ❋ Unknown (2008)

(If it is, then removing children from their parents is a worse one.) ❋ Unknown (2008)

i’d be [getting laid] [if it] weren’t for my parents. ❋ Amanda (2004)

it never occurs to parents that it doesn’t [take] [a genius] to get [knocked up]. ❋ Happiness_is (2006)

[Parents] [dont] know what [its like] to be us. ❋ Loathsome Child (2005)

parents think they [rule] [the world], but they just [invaded] it. ❋ Megatron Prime (2019)

[Screw] parents, take care of your [F-ing] self. Get out as soon as you can, before you end up having to change their [diapers]. ❋ Chrizzy (2006)

My parents [ruined] my life.
When [3 am] becomes late you must be a [parent]. ❋ Da Zeg (2005)

Your [the reason] that everything [in my life] [sucks] ❋ Sarah (2004)

My parents just [told] me that [i have to go] home [tomorrow]. ❋ Anonymous (2003)

1. parent A and parent B are my parents.
2. parent A told me, «You cannot go to your friends party. if that means me not getting to get my hair done, [so be it]. as long as you are in pain.»
3. «Parent B, can I go to the mall tomorrow?»
«No.»
«Why?»
«[Because I said so].»
«What kind of answer is that?»
«BE QUIET OR I WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR IPOD»
«Mom, I paid for it!»
«I’M THE PARENT HERE, I CAN STILL TAKE IT.»
4. Suzie said, «I’d rather [eat a scorpion] then visit my parents for the holidays.»
*group of friends laugh*
5. Parent B says, «YOU’LL THANK ME FOR THIS 10 YEARS FROM NOW!!!!!!!»
[-10] years later-
«Boy am I glad I’m not a teen anymore, my parents ruined my childhood.» Says Joe.
6. Parent A: YOU CAN’T LISTEN TO RAP!!!!
Ann: Why? I like it!
Parent A: DOESNT MATTER!!! I DONT LIKE IT SO YOU CANT EITHER!!!! AND YOU CANT WEAR ABERCROMBIE EITHER BECAUSE I DONT LIKE IT!!!!
Ann- It’s my music and my body!! Whats it to you?
Parent B: [GO TO YOUR ROOM], YOU WHORE
7. Parent B: If you don’t get all [A+’s], you’re not allowed to use the computer for the rest of the year.
Jon: Dad I’m in advanced math! that’s too hard!
Parent A: DONT TALK TO YOUR FATHER LIKE THAT. GO TO YOUR ROOM, [STUPID CHILD].
8. Parent A: Go to the [cvs] to get me some ointment.
Jen: mom, you said i’m not allowed to go to cvs alone.
Parent A: DONT TALK TO ME LIKE THAT. GO TO YOUR FUCKING ROOM, FUCKING WHORE.
Jen: Mom! You said not to listen to people who curse!
Parent A: FUCK YOU! LISTEN TO ME NOW YOU BITCH OR I’LL TAKE AWAY YOUR CELL PHONE AND TV.
9. Tom: Mom, can I go to [Zoe’s] party?
Parent A: NO!!! I DONT TRUST YOU!!! YOU’LL GET HER PREGNANT!!!
Tom: Why don’t you trust me? what have i done?
Parent A: BECAUSE I DONT!!! GO DO YOUR CHORES.
10. Parent B: I love you, Sally. Give me a kiss.
Sally: no thanks.
Parent B: YOUR SUPPOSED TO SAY [I LOVE YOU BACK]. ITS POLITE. GO TO YOUR ROOM STUPID CHILD.
11. Parent A: So, do you have any crushes at school?
Eva: Well… i kinda like jon. dont tell anyone.
-later that day at salon-
Parent A: Oh, Eva is totally in love with jon. *giggles*
*friends laugh along*
12. Joe: ok mom i’m going to [liam’s] house. bye!!
Parent B: NO YOU CAN’T. YOUR GONNA GO WITH US TO MY MOTHERS HOUSE.
Joe: but just last night you said i could go!
Parent B: DOESNT MATTER. GO TO YOUR FUCKING ROOM, YOU [LITTLE BRAT].
13 and 14, no example needed. ❋ ImSoGladIMovedOut (2008)

Hey man [your parents] [caught] you again man, did they take your [computer]? ❋ Aaron (2005)