The Role Our Parents and Others Play in Raising Our Children
As a parent, you quickly realize that raising children is not a solitary endeavor. It takes a village—family, friends, neighbors, and other trusted adults who contribute to your child's development. One key part of that village is your own parents, and how they interact with and help raise your children can make a world of difference.
But with that, comes an important question: Do you allow your parents or other adults to step in and correct behavior when they see fit?
I know I’m not alone in having different parenting styles than my own parents did when I was a child. We’re all human, and we all have different approaches to discipline, behavior, and expectations. My style may not always align with my parents' approach, and that’s okay! However, one thing we all share in common is the goal of raising respectful, kind humans who leave a positive, lasting impression on everyone they encounter.
Though I don’t claim to be a perfect parent, I do take great comfort in knowing that I’m not alone in this journey. Alongside me, I have my parents and other adults who care about my children’s well-being. And I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have a network of people who hold my kids to the same standards that I do.
If my children are acting out or misbehaving, I trust that these adults won’t hesitate to step in and correct the behavior. This is especially important in public or social settings—if I didn’t trust the adults around my children to handle situations like this, they simply wouldn’t be a part of my kids’ lives.
This doesn’t mean I want everyone to parent my children, but it’s important to know that the adults in their lives have their best interest at heart and are willing to step up when needed.I want my children to feel safe around other adults, whether they’re family members, friends, or mentors. I want them to know that there are boundaries that must be respected, and that those boundaries don’t change depending on who they’re around. This consistency is key in helping children understand respect and how to interact with others appropriately.
It takes a village, and while no family or group of adults will ever agree on everything 100% of the time, I believe that we can all unite around the shared goal of raising good, respectful, and gracious children.
Parenting is not about doing everything perfectly on your own. It’s about having a solid support system of people who genuinely care for your kids and who will step in when you need them—whether that’s helping with homework, offering advice, or, yes, correcting inappropriate behavior when it arises.
To my parents, my in-laws, and all the wonderful adults in my children's lives—thank you. Thank you for helping me raise my kids.
Thank you for stepping in when I’m not there and for teaching them the lessons that I can’t always teach.
It’s not always easy, but I am grateful for your support in shaping my children into the kind, respectful, and loving individuals I know they can become.
Let’s continue to surround ourselves and our kids with people who share in the belief that we want to raise great humans. Together, we can teach them how to be good to others, how to treat people with respect, and how to leave a positive mark on the world. The village is strong, and I’m thankful for every single person who is part of mine.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.
XX, Kelleen
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