What is the difference between what is good for a child and what is right? This is a fundamental core principle and element of parenting that the overwhelming majority of us fail to understand; and because of this, we are a lot of times unknowingly and unwittingly, by definition bad parents.
The biggest struggle that comes with parenting especially in this 21st century is the aspect of single parenting. And in the cases where both parents are still in the child's life, while not together, the single most parenting issue is the issue of parenting collaboration or as we call it, co-parenting today. This is an ever-increasing and ever essential detriment or benefit to the ultimate and overall well-being and upbringing of the child.
But this is unfortunately to significantly dependent upon the mental state ability of comprehension desire and motivation and level of understanding off both parents equally regarding the child and the direction the child must take what should take and their life and with their life.
There once was a time where allow your child to imitate or emulate adulthood in their youth was seen as cute especially with the case of female children or manly in the case of male children or in the least this was viewed as entertaining or funny by clothes members of the family or friends in the neighborhood.
This has opened the door to a lot of issues and problems that we face and that our children suffer from as a result. Being a native of Philadelphia I have seen on many occasions and have even developed in the ability to watch what I have learned over the years to be a pattern of children starting off young progress into their teens and then hyper progressing or hyperextending and therefore over-reaching themselves into adulthood.
I see in Philadelphia in particular and while I know it's not unique to the city alone, but the customary culture in the city is that once a child becomes 18 years old they are thus "grown" and therefore pushed out of the home away from the family mentally and emotionally for the most part, detached and disconnected and given the idea that they are therefore adults and should go into the world, to deal with its coldness and brutality, on their own. Nothing could be far from correct or worser to the detriment of that child.
What I see evening as close as my own family is that when you have two parents and one parent is of the ideal as previously mentioned that a child emulating adulthood or pushed into adulthood when not properly mentally or socially prepared for such is cute, what that does its instill a false sense of confidence in that child.
We as a people bicker back and forth in courts over parenting rights and custody, but never think of what's best for the child when evaluating ourselves. "What can or will I bring that's beneficial to my child?" "What kind of influence and example will I set?" Or "What set or system of values will I instill in them?" are some of the main thoughts we should have as parents.
In a two-parent situation or co-parenting situation if both parents are not consciously aware of these core values and issues then the double parenting or co-parenting method and purpose becomes defunct and worse yet detrimental to that child. Because children are naturally followers of the examples and influences of the parents, if you are a parent who just goes about your everyday life and thinks that a child is only a benefit and blessing, then you are a harm to that child.
"all I got to do is feed you, clothe you , put a roof over your head and feed you" and the belief that "oh youb18 now, you grown" and the mindset that a child has to go through life and makes the samw mistakes you did, in order to learn, is without question the worst ideology to obtain or adopt when parenting in the 21st century and a world full distraction and intentional manipulation diversion. It is nothing more than a cop out for being lazy, unwilling, or unable to teach that child so that they do not make the same mistakes as you did. Wasn't this the whole point of parenting anyway?
But when faced with two contradicting sets of views and values if you are parent and you know you come from multi-generational degeneracy and ignorance or you simply lack the ability or knowledge or sad to say, willingness to parent in a manner that is to, not your best comfort but, is in the end to what's best for the child then it is your obligation, responsibility and duty as a truly loving parent to if not completely remove yourself, then to take a back seat to the parent who's core values and system of beliefs, standards and sets of principles are what's right for the child and not what's "good".
As a single parent myself, I will not, nor should any parent, debate or dispute any matters concerning the critical and vitality of that child's mind, emotions, sense of self-worth, and knowledge of position in the society, with any co-parent who lacks those same aspects with regard to their self as an adult. If you as an adult still have not figured your own life out yet, if you as an adult still have not found your own path, or found yourself in life, then despite the fact that you have children, you are in no position whatsoever to try to lead teach and guide another life in preparation of their future; and expect that it will have a beneficial result.
When you are blinded by your own emotional based desires then your influence upon that child as a parent is harmful to them so you must step back if you really love that child. When a child has only one parent who is rightly guided or in more communal terms will we say has their "head on straight", then the debate and question of parental rights is dramatically reduced. I don't care how much you claim or even may genuinely love your child, if they're exposed to you and your influences is harmful to them then in the least it must be governed if not completely absolved; and trying to spite the other parent for issues between you and them does not harm that parent 90% of the time it only harms the child.
By the actions you would take against that parent and or your influences which would negatively affect the overall well-being of that child. Allowing a child to behave in a way that is detrimental to their future just because it feels good to you or makes you feel like you are winning is wrong, and when another parent opposes your position not because of the conflict between the two of you but because that parent can see the short and long-term detriment of the entire situation to that child oh, then that parent is not wrong and it's not being spiteful childish or Petty but is being responsible and is being loving and caring compassionate and most importantly understanding or comprehensive of the overall matter or let's say the bigger picture.
I digress from going into a social-scientific analysis of the topic at this time but suffice it to say that what is best for child, that is, what is right for a child should and must supersede any emotions between the parents or in the case of two parents with contrasting contradicting views. and when the one parent knows and fully acknowledges this, take a back seat and enjoy the exposure you get to the child and to watch the child be raised properly and become something good something that will make you proud in old age.
Do not interfere when a parent can clearly distinguish the difference between that which is "good" for the child and that which is right, because a parent with the natural inclination to defend that child will do so at anyones expense, including the other parent. And if you cannot do this, or will not do this, it does not make the parent who does crazy, evil, or wrong. It makes YOU ignorant, disrespectful, irresponsible, and ultimately a Bad "Parent;" and thus by virtue of your relation and therefore closeness to the child, one of if not the, greatest danger to that child's life and future.