“Being close to all my family. Being active in my kids’ lives.”
Father, age 49
“Giving them more independence in what they want to pursue and not pressuring them to do what they are not interested in.”
Father, age 51
“I grew up in China where academic excellence is very important, and [for] my kid born here, well-rounded is more important.”
Mother, age 48
“To achieve a good education by sitting with them and helping them do all [their] homework.”
Mother, age 29
“I’m much more involved in their day-to-day lives, mental and emotional well-being and aware of their friendships, relationships in general.”
Mother, age 51
“I was raised in a traditional environment and my parents were principled and strict disciplinarians. I believe children benefit and turn out well in such environments.”
Father, age 45
“Emphasize education, hard work.”
Mother, age 37
“By teaching them to love, honor and respect parents; love and serve God faithfully; stay faithful; love the country and obey the laws of the land; read the Bible.”
Mother, age 58
“Loving, accepting and guiding home.”
Father, age 45
“I was raised in a migrant farm-working family where the whole family worked on the weekends and summers. No time for sports or extracurricular activities. My kids will actually focus on being kids and not have to worry about having to grow up too fast and worry about money or bills.”
Father, age 43
“I try to avoid spanking my children.”
Mother, age 34
“Encourage decision-making.”
Father, age 58
“Raising kids with a respectful parenting approach. My parents were respectfully parenters, but not starting at an early age.”
Father, age 31
“Keeping faith a strong component of our family beliefs and traditions.”
Mother, age 48
“Listening, respect, boundaries, leading with empathy and kindness.”
Mother, age 31
“I’m trying to raise them as respectful, productive adults with values, morals and integrity.”
Mother, age 40
“With emphasis on academic performance and attaining intellectual potential.”
Father, age 46
“Coach and mentor my children to be a contributing member of society. Be a parent, not their friend. Explain the ‘why.’ Educate children on being … kids and the many challenges of growing up and being an objective voice.”
Father, age 47
“Manners and strict guidelines without being too authoritative.”
Father, age 28
“Exposure to many opportunities – sports, leisure, etc. Good academic base and value education.”
Mother, age 43
“Spending more time with them which includes playing, helping in studies.”
Father, age 47
“Avoiding verbal abuse, cursing and put-downs.”
Father, age 44
“I want to raise my kid to be more independent and confident.”
Mother, age 29
“I am trying to be positive with my daughter. I encourage her and tell her she is smart. I also make sure she knows we love her and care about her.”
Father, age 45
“Encourage them to think independently, allow them to be creative and grow, give them opportunities to explore the world in a safe and supported way.”
Father, age 42
“Spend quality time with my child, read with them and sing songs.”
Mother, age 39
“Trying to push them a little more on grades and schoolwork.”
Father, age 46
“Stay away from family micro traditions and taboos.”
Mother, age 60
“Gentle parenting versus authoratative.”
Mother, age 36
“My mother always talked to me about bullies, she encouraged my education and prepared me for school, she attended school functions/meetings, taught me about God, took out time to meet my friends, etc. I do all these things.”
Mother, age 41
“Eliminating bad traditions. Teaching core values that work like respect, work, God, and country.”
Father, age 50
“Making sure my children get a great education.”
Mother, age 53
“Showing them daily and in many ways how they are loved and valued.”
Father, age 49
“Not Catholic; much more open in conversation about mental health, sex, drugs; sex-positive; more politically literate.”
Mother, age 47
“Setting limits but letting them know I love them.”
Mother, age 31 (translated from Spanish)
“I always knew that if I needed my family that they would be there for me no matter the situation. I always had their love and support. I want them to know that it’s never a situation that they can’t come to me.”
Mother, age 37
“By having a strong parent-child relationship. Keeping an open door and an open mind.”
Mother, age 37
“Outdoor school program. Not rushing academics at an early age.”
Father, age 44
“To not be dependent on the government, to not be limited in their beliefs in themselves, and to be a giver to humanity.”
Mother, age 49
“Teaching good values, respect others, and not to be racist. We all have the same value as humans, giving them advice that I never had. Times have changed, but we can’t change our morals.”
Father, age 47
“I’m letting my children choose their own paths and how they want to express themselves.”
Mother, age 35
“I try to spend all the time I can with her and talk to her more than talk at her.”
Father, age 34
“I am trying to be more attentive to my children than my father was. Raising with more direct interaction and more forward-thinking and understanding nature.”
Father, age 35
“Same discipline, same punishments, same rewards.”
Mother, age 40
“More actively engaged in school and what they are doing for extracurricular activities.”
Father, age 53
“High expectations, but freedom to make and learn from mistakes.”
Father, age 48
“Give him a good-quality education [better] than the one I was exposed to.”
Father, age 36
“With a lot of unconditional love.”
Mother, age 40
“God-fearing and loving household, two-parent home, building kids with character and grit.”
Mother, age 36
“Being involved in my children’s extracurricular activities.”
Mother, age 43
“I don’t demand that my son conform to my expectations for his life.”
Mother, age 52
“I want my children to know that a parent is supposed to be there for them 100% of the time, not just when it’s convenient.”
Mother, age 33
“Don’t try to employ my values to them, let them define their own.”
Father, age 37
“Trying to keep them independent and not being a helicopter parent.”
Mother, age 47
“[Old-fashioned], having respect for others as well as the elderly, doing what’s right and living by the Bible!”
Father, age 50
“I want them to be independent, save money, invest in their future, and become obsessed with their idea of success and not society’s ideas of success.”
Mother, age 38
“Recognize individual differences and not to enforce parent’s agenda.”
Mother, age 43
“Encourage them to pursue their own interests and dreams and not ours as parents.”
Father, age 53
“Ability to think on their own versus being told what to do about everything. Also, open about sexuality versus sex not being mentioned or a sexual being not being acknowledged. Last major way is self-expression with clothes, style, etc.”
Mother, age 52
“Promoting independence and exploration of identity.”
Father, age 42
“Open communication on all decision-making.”
Father, age 28
“I am not taking my kid to the church, and I am trying to teach my kid to be open and friendly to people ‘different’ than her.”
Mother, age 44
“I’m giving my child the freedom to grow and pursue her passions.”
Mother, age 34
“I was never shown affection or told that my parents loved me. I am trying to show more love in my caregiving.”
Mother, age 44
“I was raised in a time where physical punishment was more common and much more socially accepted, but I almost immediately strayed away from that when raising children of my own. I also was raised under the philosophy of parents never being wrong; where children were never meant to question or combat their parents’ words. This took longer to unlearn, but I want my children to feel like there’s a proper channel of open communication available between us so long as a certain level of respect is maintained.”
Mother, age 51
“I prioritize school more and the importance of good grades. I also have one child instead of three (like my parents) to ensure we have enough resources for activities, tutoring and organic good.”
Mother, age 41
“Lead by example, and be tough but fair.”
Father, age 32
“I was raised in a very religious family, and I want my children to share the same faith.”
Mother, age 42
“More grounded and conservative.”
Mother, age 49
“Making family a priority. Having dinner at the table together every night. Being involved in my kids’ school, sports and extracurricular activities. Being present.”
Mother, age 50
“Loving my child unconditionally, and supporting their educational and creative expressions, thoughts and endeavors.”
Mother, age 57
“My wife and I are raising our children to be honest, respectful, hardworking, dependable yet letting them enjoy their youth while being responsible. All without child abuse.”
Father, age 38
“More religious beliefs, more striving for excellence, and more educated, and more walking by faith and financial independence.”
Mother, age 59
“Saying yes sir and yes ma’am. Taking responsibility for their actions.”
Father, age 37
“My parents were overprotective and didn’t let me do anything or go anywhere. They were also unable to afford to put me in any classes or lessons. They valued academics above all else. While I think academics is very important, I would like my children to have a more well-rounded upbringing.”
Mother, age 40
“Avoid any physical discipline or yelling. Being more loving, understanding and caring.”
Father, age 46
“Not giving them everything they want. Learning the value of a dollar and working hard for the things you want and need instead of expecting it to be handed to them.”
Mother, age 34
“More freedom for the children. Empower them to make their own decisions.”
Mother, age 46
“Let them be independent and not keep them inside the bubble.”
Father, age 51
“I hold my children accountable for their actions and don’t tolerate lying in any form.”
Father, age 48
“To raise them in a way that they can be respectful of everyone that shows them respect.”
Mother, age 45
“In a loving, caring and structured household.”
Mother, age 39
“No physical abuse, with a more open dialect and lots of encouragement and unconditional love.”
Mother, age 40
“My parents both worked so didn’t have a lot of time to play with me. I am lucky to be able to stay home now with my kids and spend a lot of time with them.”
Mother, age 42
“Education, values and respect, all adapted to technology and the times of now.”
Mother, age 45 (translated from Spanish)
“Not to be racist and to accept people in all colors, shapes, forms and sizes.”
Mother, age 50
“I am raising my kids with a strong Christian foundation. I strive to live my life as an example of good, godly values for my kids. I impart in them the importance of love, family and fellowship.”
Father, age 41
“We are raising them based on the biblical teaching that our parents used as well. Fear God and to remember the Ten Commandments, love one another as God so loved us.”
Father, age 41
“My parents were too strict and controlling. I talk with my sons and we make decisions together.”
Mother, age 55
“Instill morals, ethics, a sense of right and wrong, work ethic, respect for others, faith, and an understanding of correct principles that will help them succeed and to help others to succeed in life. I was raised the same way.”
Father, age 39
“Breaking the generational curses of just yelling. Trying to understand that my kiddos are tiny humans with big emotions and to provide a safe base for communication about anything, even things that may not seem important to me, but to them it’s the world so I do my best to listen and advise as needed.”
Mother, age 28
“Not trying to be a helicopter parent like my mom.”
Mother, age 28
“Give them a good education and encourage their interests. Also make sure they feel loved.”
Father, age 34
“No forced religious beliefs. Focus on teaching emotional intelligence and emotional regulation.”
Mother, age 43
“I try to give my children more trust, let them make more of their own decisions. I actively try to help them reach their own conclusions rather than forcing my beliefs on them. I see myself as a partner with them rather than a boss.”
Mother, age 39
“We are planning on home-schooling.”
Mother, age 37
“Telling them how important getting an education [is], so they can live a better life.”
Mother, age 46
“To have high academic expectations, good morals, and be a responsible citizen.”
Mother, age 36
“Having my kids do chores, be responsible for keeping track of their belongings and readying themselves for school/sports/extracurricular activities.”
Mother, age 49
“Giving them freedom to do what they want but reigning them in when they go outside of the boundary.”
Father, age 46
“Good morals. Knows right from wrong.”
Mother, age 35
“To have good morals, be patient, kind, generous, smart, hard-working and have good common sense.”
Mother, age 56
“Same model of discipline. Same morals and manners.”
Father, age 38
“Giving them a little more freedom to learn to make their own decisions.”
Father, age 30
“Being self-sustainable, less technologically dependent and more self-reliance in skills and abilities of hands-on work/labor.”
Mother, age 33
“I’m trying to be more open so my child and I can have more conversations, and not be so judgmental as my parent was.”
Mother, age 42
“I was homeschooled in a conservative Christian home, without any goals for higher education. My children are in public school and I have three in college now with great opportunities for their future.”
Mother, age 40
“My parents gave me a lot of leeway to explore my interests and relied on respect more than discipline to show us how to live.”
Father, age 46
“Trying not to scream at them as much as my parents did me.”
Father, age 39
“I didn’t have a safe place to express my emotions of feeling understood. I try to have weekly talks with my kids to check in on their emotions to see how they are. Even if they had a good week, I have found it is still good to remind them you are there for them.”
Mother, age 32
“With personal example in the first place. In the warmth of a united family, based on respect and tolerance.”
Father, age 50 (translated from Spanish)
“We decided to homeschool, I opted for a different spiritual path than the one I was mostly raised in, and we are a lot more flexible.”
Mother, age 54
“Emotional connection and more room to express feelings.”
Mother, age 39
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