Would You Feel You Failed as a Parent....

Yes because I feel very strongly that a child reflects some of what you teach them and who you are. I do understand that we all have our own will, but we still instill things into our children whether from genes or everyday life. I mean in my family it was not acceptable to quit high school all 6 of us finished except one and my parents have been on him for the last 12 years. I think that it does not reflect on them because 5 of us finished. My husbands side of the family though has 6 kids and none of them finished I think this is a direct reflection.

My oldest is only 11 at this time, but I can already tell he may be the type to drop out of school and not go to college. He just isn't interested at all in school or grades. Nothing I do can change this. I will be disappointed, and probably fight him on it and try to keep him in school, but I don't think I will have failed as a parent. The only time I ever feel like a failure as a parent is when I mess up. My kids actions have no affect on my ideas of whether or not I am a failure. Of course there are certain actions they do that make me realize I am a successful parent, like when another person approaches me about how well behaved my kids are, or how well they use their manners. That is when I think I must have done something right.

I think it would depend on the circumstances surrounding why he did not graduate. I have one son who will not graduate in the typical sense of high school graduation. He will not graduate until he is 21 or 22 and I believe he will receive a certificate of some sort but not a diploma. To me this will be a success for him. I think if my other son did not graduate I would feel I had failed to set a good example for him as I am trying to show him how important education is by going back to school myself. So it all depends on the circumstances surrounding the why of incompletion.

If my child did not finish high school, then yes, I would feel that I failed as a parent. I JUST got out of high school in May, and I am looking back on it going, "That was it? Seriously? It's over?" I would tell my child to just get it over with, that s/he will be done with basic school before s/he knows it. If my child was not doing well in school, I would do what I could to fix it. If my child was still not doing well in school, and was not able to finish, I would feel like a failure.

I think every parents always want thier kids to finish college and earn a degree.As a mother that is my dream for my daughter.But its not in our hands anymore,its on them.We are just here to guide and support them.But if they chose to go in the wrong path , we can't do anything anymore but still to accept them and help them learn from their mistakes and guide them again to go to the right path.We do love our children and no matter what happen it never change the fact that they are our blood.Assuming that my daughter won't finish high school,i hope and pray she will.I would be disappointed but still life must go on for her.I would encourage her to do things that make her happy perhaps she will be successful in other field other than finish her studies.There are many who didn't finish school that became successful through hard work.

I see a lot of parents being disappointed to their daughters or sons because they did not manage to finish their schooling.One friends that i know is that her parents do everything they can just for her to have a good education from a very reputable school even though her parent were struggling they still manage to put her to an expensive school only to find out that she got pregnant and the worse part is her family sacrifice a lot. Her parents feel that they done something wrong but the girl i think she is sad but not that sad as her parents.I for one has disappointed my parents because i shift to other course because i failed to the course they want me to have.I tried so hard to do everything they want but i could not bring myself love the course that they want.Just to cover up for the mistake i take a course that is more relevant to the course that they want i graduated but still i feel like something is missing in me.

In a way yes. It is the parents job to make sure they put their kids in school and make sure they go to school. Parents need to be involved in their kids schoolwork and monitor their progress. This is basic stuff in elementary and middle school and most parents don't keep up with it once they hit highschool. I think you have to keep them motivated. Parents need to stress the importance of getting a good education at least by finishing highschool.

I would feel I failed as a parent if my children turned to a life of crime, or just became lazy bums, if they joined a cult, and stuff like that. If they did not finish high school, but still worked hard and got a trade, then at least they are accomplishing something. I just do not want to see their names on wanted posters as suspected terrorists, or the mad dog killers.

I don't Think Parents are responsible for such failure bcoz each parent try to the best of their abilities to educate their child and if still due to some financial problems they are not then i think its a understanding between the child and parents. At least,it happens in my area.

Hi eihdra, I think I would wonder what I could have done differently that might have helped them. Of course there would really be no point in blaming myself, I think I would just see what I could do now to help my kid have the best life possible. Blessings.

Well I would sit and think about what I could have done differently if anything to assist...but sometimes as parents we have to admit that we can do everything in our power to help our kids, but yet they will rebel and seek their own path...the most you cna do is continue to be there for them and encourage them. Also, no matter what, our kids should know we love them whether or not we approve of their lifestyle

i have to say that I would be disappointed, but I also think that I would do whatever it took for them to go ahead and get their GED and perhaps some vocational training of some kind.

I think on some level I would probably feel as though I failed. Probably more so because I'm a homeschooler! But it would depend on the reason. I know my children are very intelligent, do not have any learning disabilities, etc, so I can't imagine any reason why they wouldn't finish. I hope that they will enjoy learning someday! Right now my 7 yr old just thinks of it as a horrible evil that has to be done! lol

I'd have to say in some fashion that yes, I would somewhat feel like I failed as a parent. I don't think there is any reason to not finish high school. I graduated and I want to encourage my son to do the same. You just have to be a good role model to them and hope for the best.

Of course it is every responsible parent's dream that their children would finish their education. it is one of parent's pride that they can say to other parents that they have made their children finish schooling. Thinking it is a filure on the parents I say is true. It is a big disappointment in them that they would not be able to let their children get a good education. But making that as an excuse that they would not love and support them is wrong. Being parents we should love our child unconditionally no matter what they decide to be in the future. Its partly their choice that they have to pay the price in the future and us parents are just there to support them in any way we can as their parents.

I have 4 children and one got into trouble and did not finish highschool. Did it cross my mind that I failed as a parent? you bet it did. Never did I feel that my girl failed me....I just felt that I somehow let her down. I did not give up on her and we did a lot of "tough love". I was doing it all alone and at times, I just felt that I could not do enough for all of them. I stopped kicking myself a while ago. I am only human and could only just do so much. She is grown now and we've talked about those days often. She is going back to school at some point and finish her education. I have savings bonds for her and they are to be used for education only...it's the deal. There was a time that she was pretty darn angry with me for not handing them over to her but I knew they would be used for things not good. Not once did I feel she failed me. She has grown and come a long way. Even when she was in all the trouble, I did not think she was failing me...I was never ashamed.

As parents, we want what's best for our children. And giving them a chance to be educated is one of them. But my answer is no to your question. I have already done my duty and responsibility as his parent in enrolling, motivating and guiding him. And if in the end, for whatever reason that he can't finish high school, I would not feel that I have failed him. Sometimes, as parents, there are things that are just not within our capacity to control. I would feel the biggest failure if I will still demand that he finishes high school because I WANT HIM TO. And I didn't even bother to understand the reason behind his unfinished schooling.

I would feel like I have failed in some way, yes. Would I love him less? No, definetly not. They are my children, no matter what happens in live, no matter which decisions they make. I will do whatever it takes to make them finish high school, but you never know what happens in live. And you know what they say, if live gives you lemons, make lemonade, so that's what I would do in that kind of situation. I would make the best of it, without letting them think they failed me in some way. Have a nice day

Nope, cause I've been there, done that. My son dropped out of high school after his sophmore year. Not something his Dad and I wanted, but even driving him there every day didn't keep that kid in school. He finally grew up and got his GED a couple of years ago. While I was sorry to miss his graduation with his class, I'm very proud of him and tell him this often.

Happy and productive,thats all I want. Of couse I would like them to get a good education.But to answer your question I probly would feel I failed a little.