120 Parent Quotes About Parenting
Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding yet challenging roles. As parents navigate the joys and struggles of raising children, they often look to others for wisdom and commiseration. This article aims to provide just that through 120 insightful quotes about the parenting experience.
The quotes are from parents representing different cultures, backgrounds, and generations. Ranging from humorous to heartfelt, the selected passages give a glimpse into the realities of parenting from those in the trenches. Whether dealing with tantrums or teen angst, sleepless nights or empty nest syndrome, there is a wide array of topics covered.
The quotes are organized thematically to help readers easily find relatable nuggets of truth. Sections include snippets about the early years with babies and toddlers, the school-age years, parenting teens, and reflections from empty nesters. Laughter and tears are both on full display here. While no parent has all the answers, we can all gain perspective from the shared wisdom of raising children. This lighthearted yet meaningful collection is a reminder that in parenting, we are not alone.
1. Powerful words of encouragement for parents
“Children need models rather than critics.” – Joseph Joubert
“The best inheritance a parent can give their children is a few minutes of their time each day.” – Unknown
“The courage to be imperfect is the courage to keep growing into who we want to be.” – Brené Brown
“Love all of your children equally – don’t make comparisons. Support their individual paths, listen without judgment, and believe in their potential.” – Unknown
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” – Nelson Mandela
“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots, the other, wings.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley
“Let your children go.” – Chinese Proverb
“A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.”- Robert Brault
“The most important things in life cannot be bought.” – Unknown
“A child misses its parent even in the lap of luxury.” – French Proverb
“Encourage your children to embrace all opportunities to learn; it will open more doors than grades ever will.” – Unknown
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“The beauty of parenthood is seeing your own beliefs come alive through your children’s deeds.” – P.J. Payne
“The advice I give to my children is, ‘Don’t do as I do. Do as I say.'” – Unknown
“Believe, teach, and inspire your children that they can change the world.” – Unknown
“Encourage their dreams, nourish their minds, embrace their uniqueness, and love them unconditionally.” – Maria Smith
“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank
“How much a child learns has very little to do with how much time a parent spends but everything to do with how the time is spent.” – Unknown
2. Heartfelt messages of parenting wisdom
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” – Neil Postman
“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around.” – William D. Tammeus
“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.” – Unknown
“Our daughters give us the most precious andlasting gifts a parent can have—unconditional love.” – Steve Chapman
“To a mother, the happiness of her child is more dear than any material possession.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulghum
“Every child begins the world again.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.” – Ruth E. Renkel
“My children are my heartbeat. I can feel them through all the moments, all the joys, and all the tears.” – Linda Sunshine
“There is nothing in this world like the love between a parent and child.” – Robert Palmer
“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” – Theodore Hesburgh
“A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again.” – Enid Bagnold
“A child needs your love most when he deserves it least.” – John M. Newton
“In the matter of bringing up children, hard is the word that I would emphasize.” – John Steinbeck
“What greater gift than the love of a child.” – Charles Dickens
“The most beautiful discovery true parents can make is that their children are human too.” – J. Donald Walters
“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” – Chinese Proverb
“The heart of a parent is a deep abyss of unfathomable love.” – David Mamet
“Becoming a parent changes you in indescribable ways. It puts everything else in perspective.” – Unknown
3. Inspiring thoughts on raising children
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johnson
“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and wings of independence.” – Dr. Denis Waitley
“Don’t handicap your children by making their lives easy.” – Robert A. Heinlein
“Our children learn what they live.” – Dorothy Law Nolte
“The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.” – William S. Burroughs
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin
“Whatever you do for children, do it for the child.” – Fred Rogers
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
“All children require guidance and inspiration.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dillard
“We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves.” – Henry Ward Beecher
“Let our children go forth prepared, not for a world that was but for a world that will be.” – Margaret Mead
“We worried about you growing up, yet now we know, it’s growing inside our hearts that matters most of all.” – Cathy Kirkpatrick
“Guiding children to love learning is one of the highest and purest pleasures known to human beings.” – Charlie Brown
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin
“Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.” – Will Rogers
“Start out as a young person with all your life ahead of you, with nothing but your own talent and determination to rely on.” – Sam Walton
“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu
“The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett
4. Meaningful quotes about unconditional love
“Unconditional love is not about ignoring faults or pretending everything is okay. It’s about seeing a person’s beauty and worth beyond their flaws.” – Shannon L. Alder
“Unconditional love is love that is given freely with no expectation of anything in return.” – Author Unknown
“Unconditional love is not built on conditions of the other person’s behavior. It is simply accepting the other person for who they are.” – M. Scott Peck
“True love is the deepest form of caring, showing empathy, compassion, and acceptance that goes beyond judgment or conditional acceptance.” – Psychologist Barbara Becker Holstein
“Unconditional love means loving someone for who they are, not what you want them to be.” – Author unknown
“Unconditional love means loving without expecting anything in return.” – Marian Wright Edelman
“Unconditional love means loving another person the way God loves them – for exactly who they are and what they’ve done, not conditionally upon their behavior, performance or responses to us.” – Eric and Leslie Ludy
“Unconditional love means accepting all of who you are – your light and your dark – just as you are.” – Mandy Hale
“Unconditional love accepts faults and defects in another person and loves them despite their flaws and weaknesses. It endures through hardships and accepts them with all their imperfections.” – Amy Morin
“True unconditional love means choosing to continue loving someone despite their flaws, weaknesses or mistakes.” – Shannon Alder
“Unconditional love means that no matter what happens, my love for you will remain constant and won’t fade away.” – Author unknown
“Unconditional love does not judge, criticize or find fault to change a person. It accepts the flaws, forgives transgressions and keeps on loving.” – Author unknown
“Unconditional love is beyond reason or logic. It accepts people for who they are, not who we want them to be.” – Author unknown
“Unconditional love accepts both the positive and negative qualities of those who are loved. It is given freely without any strings attached.” – Terry Eagleton
“Unconditional love accepts the worst in a person without loving them any less. It is an unchanging love not based on the actions or feelings of the other.” – Shannon L. Alder
“Unconditional love is being willing to give without counting the cost or expecting anything in return. It’s finding your worth in who you are, not what you do for others.” – Shannon L. Alder
“Unconditional love is standing by someone through both their successes and failures, while believing in them unconditionally.” – Kent M. Keith
“Unconditional love means loving someone no matter how much anger, sadness or joy they show you. It’s loving them throughout all their moods, without conditions or expectations.” – Shannon L. Alder
“Unconditional love does not mean enabling or excusing hurtful actions. It means caring for someone’s well-being and humanity even when you cannot support their behavior.” – Brené Brown
“Unconditional love means that you will love someone for who they are despite their mistakes or shortcomings.” – Author unknown
“Unconditional love accepts without judging. It helps without demanding. It forgives without punishing. It understands without explaining.” – Author unknown
5. Uplifting sayings for challenging times
“Dark times are just times that are dark.” – Unknown
“Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” – African proverb
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
“The storms make the port stronger.” – unknown
“The sunscreen expires, parental worry does not.” – Unknown
“Better days are on the way. Hang in there.” – Unknown
“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” – Robert Schuller
“This too shall pass.” – Unknown
“Stay strong, brave and kind.” – Unknown
“Keep your head up through the heartache and pain, cause sunshine is bound to shine through the rain.” – Unknown
“Stay hopeful, the storm never lasts.” – Unknown
“If you are going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling
“When you get to the end of all the light you know, faith is a little glimmer that glows.” – Unknown
“Keep calm and carry on.” – Motto of Britain during World War II
“This too shall pass.” – Persi Proverb
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” – Melody Beattie
“Don’t give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” – Robert H. Schuller
“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” – Unknown Proverb
6. Motivational reflections on the joys of parenthood
‘There is no heart quite like a mother’s.’ – Emma K. Dowd
‘A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.’ – Unknown
‘The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.’ – Swedish Proverb
‘There is nothing in the world so wonderful as your child’s smile, and no stress worse than their tears. The satisfaction of motherhood is beyond description.’ – Carol Burnett
‘While a child may not remember exactly how or when they were cared for, they will always remember the feelings of love, trust and care they experienced.’ – Joyce Brothers
‘The days are long but the years are short.’ – Unknown
‘Each new child brings new challenges but also new rewards.’ – Unknown
‘My children are my garden and being a parent is the most wonderful journey anyone can take. While the path is long, never give up for the destination is beyond worth it.’ – Unknown
‘Having children is like living on a near endless rollercoaster. The ups outnumber the downs and every moment is a blessing.’ – Unknown
‘A mother’s greatest joy, her top priority, and her lifetime duty is nurturing her children.’ – Michelle Obama
‘The joys of parenthood come not from the accomplishments of one’s offspring, but from the lessons we learn as we accompany them through life’s journey.’ – Gail Sheehy
‘There is no greater joy than seeing your children happy.’ – Unknown
‘Every moment you spend with a child is special. Treasure each one; before you know it the moments are memories.’ – Unknown
‘However many troubles he may have at other times, the baby in his mother’s arms seems to forget them all.’ – George Eliot
‘Each stage of parenting comes with its own unique challenges and rewards. Focus on the joy each new season brings.’ – Unknown
‘My child is a beautiful gift and each new discovery they make is a reminder of life’s endless wonders.’ – Unknown
‘Children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see.’ – John W. Whitehead
‘The reward for a good upbringing is good children and grandchildren.’ – Yiddish Proverb
‘Cherish the small moments, as one day you’ll look back and realize they weren’t small moments at all.’ – Unknown
‘Every day is a new beginning. Treat it as such.’ – Unknown
Conclusion
Being a parent is one of life’s most rewarding yet challenging roles. This collection of quotes from mothers and fathers throughout history captures the profound experience of parenting in mere words. From the joys and sacrifices of nurturing children, to the lessons imparted at each stage of their development, these quotes illustrate universal truths about family that transcend time. Reflecting on the wisdom and insights within may help any parent feel less alone in their successes and struggles. This reflection could inspire and reinvigorate our efforts to guide, support and love our children as they grow into their best selves.
