Parents, the backbone of a child’s formative years, are tasked with making sure their children are taken care of and provided for. This means that sometimes their own needs take a backseat to those of their children.
This phenomenon is known as parental altruism. Professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State University Dr. Sabrina A. Brinson said parental altruism can be seen throughout many aspects of parenthood.
“There are a wide variety of considerations for parental selflessness,” Brinson said. “Comprehensively, it entails making whatever sacrifices are necessary to ensure that children are healthy, safe and thriving in all aspects of development.”
Freshman counselor at Nixa High School Carrie Stormzand said balancing being a parent while maintaining good mental health is one of the many challenges parents face.
“As a parent, you just have to maybe rearrange and be flexible,” Stormzand said. “But remind yourself that self-care is also a key ingredient because that makes you the best parent that you can be, but it might also mean that some of that self-care might not be at your prime … times.”
Managing director at Stained Glass Theater and booster club officer for Nixa Choir Chris McNeal said that she wanted to be more involved in her children’s lives.
“We just want to be involved in our kids’ lives, whatever our kids are interested in, whatever activities they want to participate in,” McNeal said.
McNeal said she finds it important to demonstrate acts of selflessness when it comes to her children but also other children.
“There’s a lot of kids, especially in today’s society, who don’t have a lot of support at home,” McNeal said. “My husband and I want to be there for not just our kids, but all the kids we know. … Maybe their parents don’t show up and cheer for them at the game or a competition, and so … we’re going to cheer for our kids, and we’re going to cheer for all their friends as well.”
While people may view parents’ actions as selfless, stay-at-home mother Kimberly Dana said that being a parent can be considered selfish.
“I don’t think that parents are selfless,” Dana said. “I think that we’re kind of selfish. We receive love, and we get to help raise awesome humans.”
Brinson said that a selfless parent can help find or create opportunities for their children.
“Children may have optimal opportunities to become their best authentic selves and be inspired to help others do the same,” Brinson said.
These actions can lead future generations to practice parental selflessness.
“In the future, children may model selflessness in a proactive manner with their own children, that sparks a legacy of more proactive practices of selflessness with future generations,” Brinson said.